Treasure in the Lake

July 1, 2021
Grades 3-6 A square of naturalistic light through the window of a beautifully ruined clock tower is emblematic of the theme and aesthetic of this heartfelt adventure. The lush forests and rushing waters complement the design of the vast, abandoned city as its soaring towers and secret passageways are discovered and investigated by the intrepid Iris and her best friend, the more cautious Sam. Iris yearns to escape their small town of Bugden, while Sam loves his home and wants his best friend to stay, and their exploration brings them to the heart of their differences. Splitting apart, Sam meets the friendly, knowledgeable hermit Benjamin, as Iris comes across the evasive, inexplicable Lily, and they're both drawn deeper into the city's history and the danger it still presents. Pamment's art is intricate and generous, and he proves as sensitive to young readers' urge for adventure and mystery as he does to the stakes of their friendships and emotional lives. Includes a beautiful mini-guide to real submerged towns that will fire the imaginations of young explorers.

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August 1, 2021

Gr 3-6-Childhood friends Iris's and Sam's interests have diverged now that they have reached middle school: Iris dreams of leaving their quaint town for archaeological adventures, while Sam is content with his life as is. When the local river suddenly goes dry, the kids happen upon a formerly submerged town downstream that had been abandoned years ago when a nearby dam threatened the villagers and was revealed only because of low waters. Adventures await these two friends, but soon an argument and rising waters put them in danger. Relying upon a Chibi style for the characters, debut author and illustrator Pamment has created an appealing town that seems inspired by the French countryside. Sharp-eyed readers will pick up on clues in various panels about the fantasy element in the second half of the story. Not everything is spelled out, but readers will gain a greater understanding through the illustrations. The palette is soft, with blues and purples dominating. Both Iris and Sam are white. VERDICT A strong story about friendship that incorporates fantasy and whimsy; fans of "Hilda" and Adventure Time will be charmed. A great addition to any middle school library collection.-Nancy McKay, Byron P.L., IL

Copyright 2021 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 30, 2021
Adventurous Iris, 13, and content-at-home Sam,12, both light-skinned, have been best friends since childhood: a sepia-tinted prologue pictures them as grade-schoolers, Sam trailing behind Iris, as usual. In their quiet town of Bugden, Iris collects odd “artifacts” and imagines becoming an archaeologist; unbeknownst to Sam, Iris intends to leave for boarding school, but when her mother deems it too expensive, Iris runs away. Sam catches up with her, and then things take an uncanny turn: the local river has run dry overnight, uncovering an abandoned city. A mysterious red-haired girl named Lily promises to lead Iris to “treasure,” and a rising shadow—submerging white negative space in black backgrounds—suggests that time is coming undone. As Sam loses track of Iris, another boy races to rescue Lily in the past, and the duos’ fates are twinned—even if a character’s suggestion of “young love” between Iris and Sam feels premature. In this graphic novel debut, Australian animator Pamment showcases a sharp eye for architecture, natural settings, and dynamic compositions, allowing rectangular panels to expand, contract, and break form, crashing down or shattering into shards, in this fine-tuned puzzle. Back matter includes inspiration and process notes. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sara Crowe, Pippin Properties.

January 1, 2022
In this vivid graphic novel, adventurous thirteen-year-old Iris believes that she has explored every last corner of her small hometown with her best friend, the trepidatious Sam. She acutely feels Bugden's limitations and how they hinder her boundless ambitions. After a fight with her mom, Iris camps out at the river, her place of solace and possibility. Sam finds her in the morning, peering down at the strangely dried-up riverbed. Iris ropes Sam into exploring the riverbed, which soon leads them to the dripping remnants of a once-submerged town. The more Iris investigates, the more she realizes how cautious (and complacent) Sam has become, and this frustration culminates in an outburst that separates the two friends just as the first traces of true danger appear. A skilled animation artist, Pamment balances his plentiful and cinematic sequential storytelling with bright, personality-building dialogue to create a cohesive and immersive narrative in both art and text. Detailed visual motifs and many potent sound effects handily extend the narrative beyond the page and activate readers' senses. Hand this mesmerizing tale about hidden histories and friendship growth spurts to cautious and intrepid young explorers alike. Niki Marion

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

January 1, 2022
In this vivid graphic novel, adventurous thirteen-year-old Iris believes that she has explored every last corner of her small hometown with her best friend, the trepidatious Sam. She acutely feels Bugden's limitations and how they hinder her boundless ambitions. After a fight with her mom, Iris camps out at the river, her place of solace and possibility. Sam finds her in the morning, peering down at the strangely dried-up riverbed. Iris ropes Sam into exploring the riverbed, which soon leads them to the dripping remnants of a once-submerged town. The more Iris investigates, the more she realizes how cautious (and complacent) Sam has become, and this frustration culminates in an outburst that separates the two friends just as the first traces of true danger appear. A skilled animation artist, Pamment balances his plentiful and cinematic sequential storytelling with bright, personality-building dialogue to create a cohesive and immersive narrative in both art and text. Detailed visual motifs and many potent sound effects handily extend the narrative beyond the page and activate readers' senses. Hand this mesmerizing tale about hidden histories and friendship growth spurts to cautious and intrepid young explorers alike.

(Copyright 2022 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

July 20, 2021
Friendship, hidden cities and all-round adventure lie at the heart of Jason Pamment’s immersive graphic novel Treasure in the Lake. Sam and Iris have been best friends since they were little, but as the two find themselves about to venture into high school, it’s unclear if their friendship will survive. Iris is desperate to escape the small town they live in; frustrated with its limitations, she longs for adventure. Sam, however, struggles to understand her desire to escape, content with life in their close-knit community. A dried-up lake and uncovered artefacts lead an adventurous Iris and a loyal Sam into the world of a hidden city. As they discover its secrets they learn more about themselves, what their friendship means, and ultimately gain a new appreciation for home. With a background in comics, animation, video games and children’s TV, Pamment is a skilled visual storyteller and unfolds the story scene by scene with his vivid illustrations. He captures a strong sense of time and place and brings his colourful cast of characters to life through dynamic dialogue and text. Pamment brings a fresh voice to the growing and evolving genre of graphic novels aimed at a middle-grade audience. His style will capture the attention of both avid and reluctant readers in the 8–12 age group, pulling them into Iris and Sam’s world and providing a few unexpected twists along the way.  M H Alessandrino is a Perth-based writer and a freelance reviewer.