Higher Ground: A Graphic Novel - by Tull Suwannakit (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

An inspiring coming-of-age tale of resilience, courage and spirit that illuminates how life can be beautiful even in the darkest of times.

After a great flood swallows their city, a wise grandmother, her two grandchildren, and their pet rabbit find themselves stranded on the only safe place left--the rooftop of their home. With nothing but their small garden and a handful of supplies, they must learn to survive in a world where the familiar streets have turned to endless water.

Days turn into weeks, and weeks into months, as they face hunger, storms, and the uncertainty of what lies beyond the horizon. But through each hardship, the grandmother shares words of wisdom, teaching her grandchildren the power of resilience, kindness, and hope. As their garden grows, so too does their belief that even in the darkest times, life finds a way forward.

Higher Ground serves as both a warning and a call to action for future generations, urging readers to honor and protect the environment before it's too late. Told through beautifully illustrated panels, this dystopian middle-grade graphic novel is a powerful meditation on survival, family, and the delicate balance between humanity and nature.

Perfect for fans of The Arrival and Amulet, Higher Ground is a poignant and breathtaking story that shows readers that even in a devastated world, hope can take root and flourish.

Review Quotes

"Higher Ground, an innovative children's graphic novel by Tull Suwannakit (illustrator, Sad, the Dog), is a moving account of a family relying on each other and a bit of hope in the face of a natural disaster ... Stunning, dynamic watercolor, graphite, acrylic, and gouache illustrations bolster sparse text; wordless sequences of flipbook-like panels create visceral visual storytelling; and bird's-eye-view depictions of the granddaughter's journal pages provide facts and instructions readers can return to repeatedly ... This captivating work is both a warning about the effects of climate change and a reflection on the power of resilience and hope in the face of disaster."--Shelf Awareness

"A rich tapestry of watercolor, gouache, and acrylic paints, along with mixed-media collages, create an immersive, breathtaking visual exploration of a post-apocalyptic world where nature, at once brutal and beautiful, has won out over the attempts of humans to assert dominance over it. Despite the heartbreaking, heavy content, there is still a wide audience for whom this will be thought-provoking and deeply memorable read."--The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

About the Author

Tull Suwannakit is an author and illustrator of books for children including graphic novel, Higher Ground. A graduate of the Savannah College of Art and Design, his many books have been published internationally, translated into multiple languages, and recognized by many awards including, The Children's Book Council of Australia Awards, The Crystal Kite Awards, among others. Tull was born in Thailand but now lives with his son and their dog in a quiet rural town in Australia.