SHAKE THE LAKE

A graphic novel about growing up, hanging with friends, and riding the waves.

Twenty-three-year-old Cal and his four friends have pretty much always been a tight-knit group. After Cal’s girlfriend breaks up with him and they’re all kicked out of their rental house, the boys decide to take a trip out to Arizona for the summer. The five boys, who are used to getting away with pretty much everything, immediately find themselves up against Zeke and Dalton, local park rangers who will ticket anyone for the smallest infraction. On top of that, much of the local community is clique-oriented and unwelcoming. Cal and his friends decide to organize a big event on the lake, featuring music, food, and water sports. However, the boys aren’t just going up against the park rangers, who want nothing to do with a new group of ne’er-do-wells, but also the citizens of the town, who are just fine with things the way things are. Authors Zach Block and Machi Block and illustrators Diego Lopez Mata and Andrea Lopez Mata effectively deliver a coming-of-age graphic novel with a laid-back feel. The main characters may prefer choppier waters while wakeboarding, but the book that they inhabit has a calm vibe that flows smoothly from one scene to the next. What truly makes this graphic novel stand out, though, is the action-oriented art style, which truly shines in two-page spreads. The complex, midair wakeboarding tricks come across well, and the stream of movement is consistently clear in each image.

A well-executed graphic novel about a group of friends bringing a community together.