Michelle's Reviews > As the Crow Flies

Loooved this, though I'm super disappointed at where it left off (I wasn't aware that this was going to be a 2-volume release).

Charlie, a queer black teen, has committed herself to an all-white Christian backpacking camp. Charlie doesn't feel like she fits in with the other campers but is resolute to finish the week-long hike the camp has every Summer.

It's a brief description, but that's more or less the plot. Gillman is much more interested in exploring Charlie - her feelings, thoughts, and doubts. It examines and challenges well-intentioned groups (in this case, Christians and Feminists) and how, despite the good intentions, they often exclude minorities. Gillman also takes on microaggressions, but in a subtle way. None of the characters are outrightly racist, but they say and do things, often without even realising it, that are hurtful to minorities like Charlotte and Sydney (a side character who befriends Charlie and is later revealed to be trans). The way Gillman navigates intersectionality in a small, claustrophobic (in the sense that Charlie is stuck with a small group for an extended period of time) setting like this is nuanced and thoughtful - I really loved it!

Gillman's art is also beautiful. There are many pages and panels dedicated to lush landscape shots drawn with coloured pencils. The way these panels are done helps accentuate the contemplative nature of the story. (They're also just really pretty to look at.)

This is also being published as a webcomic which can still be read for free. Updates seem to be sporadic, but I'm tempted to read up until the most recent strip because I need to know what happens next! Waiting for the next volume is going to be excrutiating.