This Was Our Pact

This is one I just discovered (and have only read once, so far) but I immediately ordered copies for all my nieces and nephews. An important element of the kind of adventure graphic novel I love is art that conveys a carefully observed world, one which reminds us that if we slow down and pay attention marvels will reveal themselves to us. This Was Our Pact does precisely that. It starts off with kids on bikes setting off into the night, following their curiosity, and then swerves into the fairy tale territory of ancient rituals and magical creatures.

This one starts with what seems like a normal night. Some friends ride their bikes as far as they dare, dropping off one by one. The world becomes more and more magical as it goes, with witches and talking bears. But the kids never seem fazed and roll with the increasingly odd happenings. It recalls those magical nights as a kid when you could explore and everything felt wondrous and new. On top of that, you can really feel Andrews’ pencil on the page and the colors create an engrossing atmosphere.