Look

April 15, 2017
Always sticking to his programming, surveillance bot R-TY, or Artie, finally leaves with a purpose, namely, to find his purpose. Artie, along with robotic bird friend O-WN, or Owen, leaves the safety of his everyday routine to explore the surrounding world, and in the process, their adventures touch on themes of friendship, loss, and the meaning of life. Talking about such issues in a cartoonish, almost childlike art style can be difficult, but Nielsen makes a worthy attempt. The overall message by the end of the piece is a bit vague, which might confuse some readers, but the open interpretation might spark an internal dialogue in others. This contemplative volume has a lot of heart and artwork to match. Nielsen's oblong character design keeps the tone light, making the overall message bittersweet and hopeful instead of bleak. Much like Jeff Smith's Bone (2004), Look straddles the line between kid's and adult graphic novels with a story that's deep and thought-provoking while still being fun and appealing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)