Early Reader Review: You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez

Source: From DC Comics in exchange for an honest review. This in no way alters my opinion or review.

You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez, Illustrated by Julie Maroh
Publisher: DC Comics
Publication Date:  June 9, 2020

 

Format: Paperback

Rating:

Goodreads Synopsis: 

Jake Hyde doesn’t swim––not since his father drowned. Luckily, he lives in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, which is in the middle of the desert, yet he yearns for the ocean and is determined to leave his hometown for a college on the coast. But his best friend, Maria, wants nothing more than to make a home in the desert, and Jake’s mother encourages him to always play it safe.

There’s nothing “safe” about Jake’s future—not when he’s attracted to Kenny Liu, swim team captain and rebel against conformity. And certainly not when he secretly applies to Miami University. Jake’s life begins to outpace his small town’s namesake, which doesn’t make it any easier to come out to his mom, or Maria, or the world.

But Jake is full of secrets, including the strange blue markings on his skin that glow when in contact with water. What power will he find when he searches for his identity, and will he turn his back to the current or dive headfirst into the waves?   

Review: 

You Brought Me the Ocean is a graphic novel about self discovery, friendship, and is also a coming out story as well. The book follows Jake Hyde, a teen with an overbearing mother and a yearning to see and work with the ocean. He spends time with his best friend Maria, hiking and trying to figure out himself, his dreams, and how to tell those around him that he wants to move away. 

This book has a lot of layers, it is a coming out story at its heart but it is about friends and family, secrets, its a hero story of sorts, and it covers bullying as well. Jake grows a lot in these 186 pages. The coming out story was not over the top, it was built up very well through the dialogue and internal thoughts of Jake - the feelings of not being the same as others, the fish out of water feeling, which in this case has so many other meanings.  Jake also learns about his birthmarks and his family and how he again is different, but the important take away is that he moves through these stressors and dramatic elements with purpose and meaning. He is a strong character.

Other great things about this graphic novel - it has a fully diverse cast of characters. Jack is African American, Kenny seems to be of Asian decent and Maria and her family Hispanic / Latino.  I love seeing diverse characters. Additionally, the book was written and illustrated by Alex Sanchez and Julie Maroh, both part of the LGBTQIA+ community and are able to tell and show this story so accurately. 

Following the story there is a page of resources as well as a note from Julie and then an illustration sketchbook and prior to the story a heartfelt note from the author as well. 

Overall this was a very good read, I really enjoyed it. It would be great for any readers, especially those that would like a good Pride Month read or just a diverse cast.