Tall Water by SJ Sindu and Dion MBD

Tall Water is the story of Nimmi and her desire to reconnect with the mother she hasn’t seen since she was a baby. Nimmi’s father is a journalist who was reporting on the war in Shri Lanka when he met Nimmi’s mother, and they started dating. Soon after Nimmi was born, conflict erupted in that area, and Nimmi’s father fled with Nimmi while her mother stayed behind. Nimmi and her mother only have a relationship through letters because her mother doesn’t have access to the internet at the orphanage she runs and hasn’t been able to get a visa. When Nimmi’s father tells her he’s going to Shri Lanka to report on a story, she decides to hijack his trip and meet him at the airport. Nimmi gets more than she bargained for as she discovers the tumultuous country her mother lives in.

The author did a great job of balancing the horrors of Shri Lanka and the war with the beauty as well; we get a balanced view of the place and the people, and we grow to understand why her mother wasn’t able to leave — both logistically and emotionally. This would be a good read for high school readers who like history, world cultures, learning about other places, and, of course, graphic novels. The artwork is very engaging and well done. I really loved how, in one part, when difficult things were happening, the colors got darker to help reinforce those ideas. Overall, I think this is an important story and well told. This was a four-star read for me.

Reviewed by Katy Jones, Gardiner Area High School Library, Gardiner