Global is a fantastic graphic novel that follows two young people in different regions of the world as they deal with different issues arising from our changing climate. Sami lives in the Bay of Bengal with his grandfather, the only family he has left. They are fishermen and have to grapple with storms that grow more intense and overfished seas. Suki lives in the Canadian arctic circle and is determined to prove her theory that a bear that has been chasing trouble for her village is a growlar, a mix between a grizzly and a polar bear. Both Sami and Yuki pursue their ideas despite the hardship of the weather and cha.ging environment, risking their lives in the process.
The stories illustrate that the climate crisis is already affecting millions of people and give a face to the children who will grow up in more and more hostile environments. They also address the interconnectedness of life on Earth. The illustrations are beautiful and moving. A section at the end provides readers with facts around the climate crisis as they relate to Sami's and Suki's stories.
The book is recommended for children aged 10 and older and I agree with this assessment, as the stories could be a bit too sad for you ger children. However, this is not only a book for children, but for everyone, especially people who are still relatively sheltered from the effects of climate change. I was moved by the authors' appeal to consider the vulnerability of children worldwide and hope that the book inspires many to take action.

Global: One fragile world. An epic fight for survival.
By Eoin Colfer, Andrew Donkin

This is a graphic novel with a social conscience themes; climate change and immigration. It is based on two stories, one on each side of the world. One a boy, the other a girl. Both end up in severe danger. It also showed the many dangers of climate change in so many ways that most of us would not think of unless you lived there. Both stories really drew me in. Both kids were trying to do something right, despite the danger, but disobeying at the same time and regretting it later. But things worked out but not how they planned.

The text was easy to read which is not the case in many graphic novels. The art was terrific! I could picture this as a movie! Story, plot, action, suspense, and underlying morals were great.
I want to thank the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read this terrific book!

This book is terrifying and poignant, and just the kind of thing we need to be reading.

Yuki is a 14 year old in Canada, who lives in a desolate small town, and is trying to capture a grolar bear (a climate-change evolution that's a cross between a polar and grizzly) on camera. Sami is a 12 year old in Bangladesh who lives with his grandfather, and their poverty is exacerbated every year by the cyclones and the reduced catch of fish in the ocean (thanks to climate change).

Both of their stories are terrifying - not just because of the narrative action (and there's a lot!) but because of the very real implications of climate change, which trigger all the events in the story. It's a book for all readers, not just the intended middle grade audience, but it will definitely hit home with kids today who are actively thinking and talking about these issues. Honestly, I'd like to pass this on to a bunch of adults I know.

The only critique I have is that the story in Bangladesh seems a bit romanticised - like a yes, they are poor, but they have each other. Or maybe that's just me! Either way, a grandson who says the cyclones "might be because of Bramha" (a Hindu God) wouldn't have a granddad called Solomon (a Christian name).

Overall though, everyone should read this book. 4/5 stars. And thanks to Netgalley for the ARC - here, take this totally honest review!

PS. Love the appendix with all the info on climate change. Love how the author and artists aren't afraid to actually teach things.

PPS. Lockjaw is one of the best drawn dogs / best boys ever!

The impacts of climate change, on a boy om the shores of the Indian Ocean, and a girl in an Alaskan village. They are connected in a subtle and surprising way. P.S. Don't go tramping in the Alaskan wilderness without bringing some snacks. Just sayin'.

Gripping, sad and yet hopeful
A beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a story that feels more than real.
I highly recommend this book for middle-grade readers and think this would be a wonderful addition to the curriculum. The characters are beautifully written and one immediately thrives to read their whole story and learn more about their lives.
It should be noted though, that the story is very thrilling and I've felt anxious more than once. Being able to read this in one go is definitely an advantage.

This story follows two children who both live different lives. Unbeknownst to them, they are more linked than they’d ever imagine.

The use of colouring in this story is sublime, drawing you into the setting and the stories. It tells a real story that is plaguing our world today and this graphic novel would be a perfect way to describe it to children.

The adults in this story all teach the young ones with maturity but honestly which is something we should all be aiming to do.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC. I can’t wait to post it onto my storygraph.

3.5 OUT OF 5 STARS

The story follows two children on different parts of the world. Both children experience the effects of global warming. The authors have a way of speaking to children (and adults) through this graphic novel about the dangers of global warming. The way they pour emotion, frustration and thoughts into this story, can be understood by anyone who reads this novel.

It is an emotional, charming but harrowing story. I have chuckled, gasped and even sat with high nerves to see how a chapter would end.

I highly recommend everyone to read this, even if you know little to no information about the harms of global warming; this book has a great way to explaining the most important things to you.

What a wonderful graphic novel, addressing the very serious topic of climate change in a gripping manner. It's very well drawn, and the main characters Sami and Yuki are relatable. The use of colours and style is really well done and drew me in right from the start. I also love the climate change explanation at the end, with drawings also.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy of the graphic novel Global. The artwork in this is wonderful! I loved how we followed two children throughout the story. One in the Canadian arctic and one in the Bay of Bengal. The adventures they go on; nearly eaten by a bear and swallowed into the ocean kept me turning the pages to see what happened next. I loved the ending! I thought it was cool how they both ended up using an umbrella….even cooler when it was the same one!! I’m glad that Sami survived the ocean and even though he didn’t actually get his mom’s knife, they were able to get a new fishing boat out of it. Overall, I thought this was a great book and everyone should read it! Thank you again to NetGalley for the ARC of Global!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This graphic novel talks about climate change and how it affects 2 kids in different parts of the world. I’ve never heard of a Grolar Bear so that was interesting to read. I like that there’s also tips and facts in the back of the book.

I would highly recommend this book to fans of Illegal by the same authors. It's aimed at children and would be a great way to encourage kids to think about the impact of climate change, but it is suitable for all ages. It follows two children's experiences living in a changing world, miles apart. The characters were very engaging and their stories based on the real-life and current consequences of climate change. Both stories end on a positive note but still give plenty of food for thought.

beautiful book about the impact of climate change on the life of two kids, both on a different side of the world.

Two seemingly unrelated stories. Both linked because global warming is affecting their worlds. Richly illustrated, compelling characters.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
This graphic novel covers the story of two young people in different parts of the world. Sami is a fisherman with his grandfather in the Indian Ocean and Yuki is a budding environmentalist living far north of Canada. Yuki is on a quest to save local bears and Sami is fighting to improve his and his grandfather's lives. Both end up in danger due to changing and extreme weather.
This was an interesting story of survival that highlights just how much global warming can change the lives of people living on the edge. By telling the story from the point of view of children, it points out just how extreme the effects are.
This is a good book for mid-level readers and up.

Two seemingly unrelated stories.

Here in the Bay of Bengal, the Indian Ocean consumes more and more of the coast, forcing already-destitute villagers to move higher, but never high enough. There is always more water, but fewer and fewer fish.

There in Northern Canada, the ice caps of the Arctic Circle are melting at an alarming rate. A new beast walks the land, its existence only made possible when territories were blurred by global warming.

Here in the Bay of Bengal, a boy named Sami is obsessed with finding a lost family heirloom, convinced that it would turn the fate of himself and his grandfather.

There in Northern Canada, a girl named Yuki sets out to prove the existence of grolars - the product of grizzly and polar bears cross-breeding - in order to save them from being shot.

Two seemingly unrelated stories. Two young characters from different countries and economic classes, getting into the kind of trouble with water that the other could have never imagined.

Both linked because global warming is affecting their worlds.

Without preaching, Global did a fantastic job of showing how the climate is affecting communities and nature. If readers need a breakdown or a refresher, there are several pages discussing the environmental issues in the story.

However, each character's specific situation draws curiosity. Is this really happening? How? Why? And can we do anything to stop the decline?

Richly illustrated, compelling characters.

The two main characters are interesting and 3 dimensional, and despite the differences in location and conflict in their parts of the story, they work well together to highlight the issue of climate change’s effects for the reader. The writing and dialogue flow smoothly, and the artwork is gorgeous, especially the character designs.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, the writers, and the illustrator for this galley! I hope to copy this review to goodreads when possible.