Guojing. Oasis. Guojing, Illus. Henry Holt / Laura Godwin, 02/2025. 151[+9]pp. Graphic. Trade $21.99. 978-1-2508-1837-9. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-81838-6. GRADES 5–8. ADDITIONAL.
Estranged from their mother, JieJie and DiDi, two young, isolated siblings wander a bleak desert to meet their daily needs. Full of exhaustion and sorrow, the children become distracted by a small fox while gathering water and end up at a dump. Amongst the trash, the children discover a human-like AI robot that brings experiences of joy and comfort, helping them forget their hardships. This haunting and deeply philosophical graphic novel uncomfortably captures the existential conflict parents often face when working tirelessly to provide for their children, while simultaneously wanting nothing more than to be with them. Guojing’s softly lit, heavily shaded illustrations support the text and cast a gloomy feeling, interspersed with a few hopeful pops of color. Despite the dark storyline and imagery, there are threads of hope and wonder as we watch humans and AI team up to create a successful hybrid parenting model to raise happy children. Best suited for preteens, the Oasis narrative provides insight into the parenting struggles that mistakenly manifest as child abandonment. The characters in the book appear Asian, and the race of the supporting AI is non-descript.
Stacey Miller—South San Francisco Public Library