"Empathetic and stunningly depicted story about the power of the imagination and true friendship to overcome chronic illness."
October 2024 Graphic Novel of the Month
This graphic novel is really something extraordinary. It is hard to believe that this is Leo Marcell’s debut as a graphic novel illustrator, but I predict that it will not be his last! The expressiveness of the characters, the evocative body language, as well as the beautifully realised authentic detail in landscape, interiors and costume, contrasting with the gloriously vivid imagined sequences, make this a book to linger over. But it is the inspiring and moving story that will really live with you and the way the carefully crafted words and images work together to tell the story explains just why graphic novels are so popular and accessible, and also that they can be as moving and empathetic as any full-length novel.
When we meet Tosh, she is on the cusp of adolescence, about to move up to ‘big’ school. She lives on a Kentish hop farm with her loving adoptive parents. She enjoys helping out on the farm and is sporty, adventurous and bold. She has a best friend, Millie, who is perhaps keener on growing up than she is. Everybody goes through a lot of physical changes and emotions at this time of their lives, but for Tosh, this is exacerbated by the rapidly developing onset of chronic illness and crippling pain.
At such a crucial period of transition for a young girl, to have to cope with her body letting her down is incredibly difficult and we become completely immersed in her struggles with the new school and the inevitable friendship dramas, made worse by her increasing ‘difference’. Her one solace throughout this and the search for a diagnosis and subsequent gruelling treatment, is her vivid imagination and love of stories, shared with a new friend she made at her favourite beach.
Inspired by Linda Sargent’s lived experience, as we see from the author’s letter and photos, we can see why every nuance of this sensitively told story rings authentically true. It is so rare to see disability and chronic illness ever depicted in children’s fiction and to be done so well makes this an important and welcome addition to any collection.
Any reader will be inspired and uplifted by the resilience and positivity with which Tosh meets her changed future.
Join LoveReading4Kids Editorial Expert Joy Court in conversation with authors Linda Sargent & Joe Brady, and illustrator Leo Marcell in this exclusive event that explores the story behind Tosh's Island.
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