Big City Reads is a campaign ran by Nottingham City of Literature to get thousands of free books in the hands and hearts of local young people. There are four different books on offer, so we asked young people to write a review of each one. Here, Daniella Hoyland gives us her thoughts on Vern: Custodian of the Universe.
Vern: Custodian of the Universe is not what you expect. In this thrilling, adventure-packed and out-of-this-world graphic novel, you will dive into a universe of space travel and inter-galactic exploration.
This comedic and light read will inspire you to doodle and draw your own worlds. Tyrell Waiters brings to life Vern’s story in his incredible use of illustrations which deals with reconnecting with ourselves, our loved ones and the world. As a reader, we get to follow an average guy Vern who is struggling to find his calling in the world, jumping from job to job metaphorically and physically (pun intended), and all is not what it seems.
The world-building in this novel is truly impressive and I instantly fell in love with the plot. The story is a combination of Matrix meets Star Wars and is captivating from the start with a few twists along the way. As well as being an action-packed adventure, Tyrell subtly interweaves themes of loss and love which made me reflect on my own life, and the relationships I have with family and the environment.
The story is a combination of Matrix meets Star Wars and is captivating from the start with a few twists along the way
Vern: Custodian of the Universe explores the dangers of artificial intelligence and technology, but what makes this read so interesting is how Tyrell realistically portrays in this science fiction storyline how “Technology is neither good nor bad” specifically emphasising how human use of technology is the real problem.
If I’m honest graphic novels were never really my thing but after reading Vern, I realised that illustrated stories are more than they seem, they can truly make an impact on the way you perceive the world, and in the character Vern’s case he comes to understand what is the point in life.
This novel truly is a thrilling adventure and a good read if you like science, space, aliens, talking alligators, living computers, time travel, space travel, universe travel and so much more. I thoroughly enjoyed this read, and I felt like I was part of the story, space jumping from planet to planet, exploring Florida, Uris, Neuron, and Urth. You will be taken on an adventure that is bizarre, wild and thrilling.
You can read more about Big City Reads here, or go straight to the Big City Reads website for more info on how to get hold of the books.
We've teamed up with Big City Reads to offer a unique prize in celebration of the campaign. Enter our competition here to win an original Vern: Custodian of the Universe illustration by author and illustrator Tyrell Waiters.
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