The Red Zone, An Earthquake Story for ages 8 and up

In 2016 a series of earthquakes hit central Italy. Author Silva Vecchini was not in the affected area, but did assist many of the survivors. Along with artist Sualzo, they’ve created an original graphic novel about the aftermath of a major earthquake, moving on and it impacts children. That’s a tall order. But it pulls it off as The Red Zone was awarded the 2018 Attilio Micheluzzi Awards for Best Comics For Kids.

Graphic novels are an amazing tool that allows people to learn and share emotions or feelings. Granted they can also be mindless, silly, escapist fun. That’s the stereotype that some have of comic books or graphic novels. Those people, the ones that think of graphic novels are incapable of real-life dialogue or passing down stories that people can learn from, are among those that would enjoy The Red Zone, An Earthquake Story. This is a graphic novel that won’t have broad appeal, due to its subject nature. However, for those readers who are looking for a non-fiction based story with heart this could be your ticket.

The story takes place in the aftermath of a massive earthquake that’s devastated the city and left the city center, the red zone, a place that blocked off by police tape. We quickly meet Matteo, Giulia and Federico, three ordinary teens whose lives have been turned upside down, but they’re alive.

Each youth deals with the disaster in their own way. They also mask their frustration, anger, regret and guild in ways that any middle school kid would do. The art by Sualzo is realistic and detailed enough to where you’re able to realize the devastation, but not graphic.

The illustrations show the soft sides of an earthquake, the small objects that move, the jostling of a book and the darkness that dominates the area over the table that they’re hiding under. Afterwards, each kid has their own take on what’s the worst part about it. One is forced to live in the trailer that they’d previously given away. Some complain about having to eat the same foods every night. School is also challenging, the temporary classrooms don’t have any room for soccer fields and people just aren’t themselves.

Nor should they be. Our 9 year-old liked The Red Zone, but couldn’t figure out what to make of it. The book isn’t what he’s used to reading. This is a kid’s view of a life and death situation. This is not action for the sake of entertainment; this is life in the form of a graphic novel. The content is appropriate for those in upper elementary and older. The slow pace won’t initially attract readers, but the carefully muted illustrations and their silence will reward those readers who give the book a chance.