Prison Island - by Colleen Frakes (Paperback)

About the Book

The author shares her memories of growing up on McNeil Island in Washington State which also housed the prison where her parents worked.

Book Synopsis

McNeil Island in Washington state was the home of the last prison island in the US, accessible only by air or sea. It was also home to about fifty families, including Colleen Frakes' when she was growing up. Colleen's parents--like nearly everyone else on the island--both worked in the prison, where her father was the prison's captain and her mother worked in security. The island functioned as a "company town," where housing was assigned based on rank, and even children's actions could have an impact on a family's livelihood: If you broke a rule, your family could be kicked out of their home.
In the graphic memoir Prison Island, Colleen tells her story of growing up on the McNeil Island. Beyond the irregularities of living in a company town near a prison, remote island life posed other challenges to Colleen and her sister. Regular teenage activities like ordering a pizza or going to the movies became extremely complicated endeavors on the island, and the small-town dynamics were amplified by their isolation from surrounding cities. Prison Island tells the story of a typical girl growing up in atypical circumstances using stark, engaging graphic novel panels. It's a story that is simultaneously familiar and foreign, and readers will be surprised to see parts of themselves in Colleen's unique experience.

Review Quotes

Colleen Frakes was awarded a Xeric Grant to publish her book, Tragic Relief. Her graphic novel, Woman King, won the Ignatz award for Promising New Talent in 2009.

"This is a charming story that just goes to show that, no matter where you live, a family is a family. I think that Frakes has an endearing drawing style and great enthusiasm for sharing some slice-of-life observations. And she provides a positive and realistic portrait of living in close vicinity to a prison." -Comics Grinder "Full of heart, humor and an interesting look at a typical teen living a not so typical life, Prison Island is a fun entry point into the memoir category. It's also a great book to put into the hands of reluctant readers."--Teen Librarian Toolbox "Frakes's loose b&w cartooning and straightforward dialogue provide a solid sense of both McNeil's history and the peculiarities of life on a prison island (such as having to lock up pool toys that could potentially be used in an escape). . . the overall tone of the book is nostalgic and melancholy, a highly specific example of the idea that one can't go home again."--Publishers Weekly "[A]n interesting look into a pretty unique childhood, and it's definitely worth a read for fans of graphic memoirs."--Stacked Books

Colleen Frakes was awarded a Xeric Grant for her book, Tragic Relief (2007), and an Ignatz Award for "Promising New Talent" for her book, Woman King (2009).

About the Author

Colleen Frakes received an Ignatz Award for "Promising New Talent" for her book, Woman King. She has created comics for Mirage Studio's Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Dark Horse Comics.