Critically acclaimed creator Thao Lam, author of The Paper Boat and
THAO, is back with a wordless story about conflict resolution
A monster meanders down a beach, dragging a stick behind them and
leaving a line in the sand. Meanwhile, a group of friends is at
play--flying kites, building sandcastles, tossing a ball--until two of
them become curious about the line that now seemingly divides them.
What does the line mean? Tensions mount as the two ponder the
situation. Should the line be crossed? Can it be crossed? Eyes narrow,
feathers get ruffled, and a scuffle starts, stemming from a series of
misunderstandings and aggravated by the innocent, and very untimely,
arrival of a bee. It's only when their stomping and kicking has
completely erased the line in the sand that the friends realize their
scrabble was senseless. They rejoin the others at play, where the line
becomes part of their games, while in the background, the line's creator
continues to meander across the page, oblivious to the impact of their
actions.
This powerful wordless story, told in panels and illustrated in striking
collage art, is at once simple, relatable, and profound and will
encourage readers to think about conflict, communication, and the
meaning of the lines we all draw, whether intentional or not.