The Gulf

Years ago, best friends Olivia (Oli), Liam and Milo made a pact. Instead of heading off to university right after graduation, they were going to run away together and join the Evergreen Commune on a remote island off the Salish Coast in British Columbia. However, things got a bit complicated when Oli and Liam entered into a romantic relationship and Oli then put Liam solidly into “the friend zone”. Upset and confused Liam, spreads a rumor about Oli, and that’s when the bullying starts.

Sick and tired of being bullied, and unsure of what to do with the rest of her life, Oli decides to stick with her plan and run away with Milo on the second last day of school, right before graduation. Milo, who is crushing on Alvin, decides to invite him as well in the hopes of finding love on the commune.

And so, Oli, Milo and Alvin embark on the adventure of a lifetime, travelling by ferry to the tip of Arbutus Island. Once they arrive, things do not seem as idyllic as Oli hoped they’d be. There are way too many tourists, and so Oli and her friends decide to hitchhike across the island to find the Evergreen.

Along the way, the group begins to bond over the beautiful landscape and simplicity of nature. They slowly start to open up to each other, discussing their fears about growing up and not knowing what they want to do with the rest of their lives in a world that seems so out of balance. And not surprisingly, they also meet some interesting characters along the way, including a fun-loving bus driver and a supportive park ranger, with each helping out the group in their time of need.

While Oli and her friends are out on their adventure, Liam begins having second thoughts about how things ended between him and Oli, and so he decides to head over to the Evergreen in the hopes of apologizing. In a series of near misses, Liam and Oli are on the island together, missing each other by only a few minutes.

When Oli, Alvin and Milo finally reach the Evergreen, they are disappointed to find that it is no longer a commune; it is a private residence. The owners, Sunny and Charlie, explain that the commune disbanded over a decade ago after no one wanted to do the dishes. Initially distraught, Charlie and Sunny help Oli learn that, even if things do not turn out the way you wanted them to, you still have to try and live your life as authentically as you can. As Oli is trying to process this advice, Liam finally arrives at the Evergreen, apology in hand, and Oli and Liam are able to finally make up and remain friends.

In the epilogue, Oli, Liam, Milo and Alvin are all staying at the Evergreen. They are happier and just trying to figure out their lives, wondering what they are going to do once the summer ends. Oli, who is finally at peace, decides to embrace the present and just enjoy the moment.

A truly poignant YA graphic novel, The Gulf delves into some very real issues in a young person’s life. Finding your first love, then losing it, and then, to top it all off, you have to figure out what you want to do with the rest of your life when you feel like the world is falling apart. This is what Oli and her friends are dealing with, and Adam De Souza does a fantastic job at making their struggles relatable for young readers. And then there is his artwork which adds another layer to the storyline. His use of black, white and beige tones adds much depth to the writing and helps readers understand the intensity of the characters’ feelings.

Overall, The Gulf is an absorbing coming-of-age story.