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ON A SUNBEAM Sneak Peek
Download a FREE sneak peek of ON A SUNBEAM by Tillie Walden.On a Sunbeam is an epic graphic novel about a girl who travels to the ends of the universe to find a long lost love, from acclaimed author Tillie Walden.Two timelines. Second chances. One love.A restoration crew travels to the deepest reaches of space, rebuilding beautiful, broken structures to piece the past together.A boarding school student meets a mysterious classmate and falls deeply in love—only to learn the pain of loss.With two interwoven timelines and stunning art, award-winning graphic novelist Tillie Walden creates an inventive world, breathtaking romance, and an epic quest for love.“Tillie Walden is the future of comics, and On a Sunbeam is her best work yet. It’s a ‘space’ story unlike any you’ve ever read, with a rich, lived-in universe of complex characters.” —Brian K. Vaughan, Saga and Paper Girls
640 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2018
27 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
About the author
Tillie Walden
38 books3,270 followersTillie Walden is an American cartoonist and illustrator.
Born in 1996 in San Diego, California, Walden graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, where she is currently a professor.
Walden started publishing short comics when she was just a teenager. Her first long-form graphic novel The End of Summer was published by the British publisher Avery Hill in 2015. Her second book I Love This Part came out only a few months later, winning the 2016 Ignatz Award for promising new talent. Later Walden received the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work for her memoir Spinning (2017). Among her other works are A City Inside (2016), On a Sunbeam (2018), Are You Listening? (2020), Alone in Space (2021) and the series Clementine.
Born in 1996 in San Diego, California, Walden graduated from the Center for Cartoon Studies in Vermont, where she is currently a professor.
Walden started publishing short comics when she was just a teenager. Her first long-form graphic novel The End of Summer was published by the British publisher Avery Hill in 2015. Her second book I Love This Part came out only a few months later, winning the 2016 Ignatz Award for promising new talent. Later Walden received the 2018 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work for her memoir Spinning (2017). Among her other works are A City Inside (2016), On a Sunbeam (2018), Are You Listening? (2020), Alone in Space (2021) and the series Clementine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
March 11, 2019
I don't know why the book isn't on here but hopefully, it will be soon. This graphic novel was 533 pages not 400..
February 25, 2019
Overall: 3.5 stars
Art & colors: infinite stars - so incredible! Just absolutely mesmerizingly gorgeous!
Concept: 4 stars
Story: 3.5 stars
Characterization/Dialogue: 2 stars - this is really what killed it for me after being drawn into the beautiful art and the world. From the get-go I couldn't tell how old the characters were - they all seemed like teenagers. They all talk and interacted and rolled their eyes and used sarcasm like 2019 teenagers. They drop f-bombs all the time , to the point of distraction, at least for me. (don't get me wrong, I love a good fucking f-bomb now and again). Eventually I gathered that two of the crew members were probably 19? And the other three maybe mid to late 20s? Not 100% sure. Then I found out that this incredibly talented artist and creator is only 22. So, there you go. The dialogue and characterization feels very age 22. YMMV. My point is, they all talk to the same. And while the color palettes and set design is amazing, the character differentiation through design was only slight more clear to me than the dialogue. I had to really pay attention to what the characters were wearing to help me differentiate some of them. Then at the climax, the author does that split screen thing where the characters are split up having different crises. The art just didn't really help me figure out what was going on very well. I do admit to not being a visual person, so maybe it was just me.
I still recommend this, for the art alone.
Art & colors: infinite stars - so incredible! Just absolutely mesmerizingly gorgeous!
Concept: 4 stars
Story: 3.5 stars
Characterization/Dialogue: 2 stars - this is really what killed it for me after being drawn into the beautiful art and the world. From the get-go I couldn't tell how old the characters were - they all seemed like teenagers. They all talk and interacted and rolled their eyes and used sarcasm like 2019 teenagers. They drop f-bombs all the time , to the point of distraction, at least for me. (don't get me wrong, I love a good fucking f-bomb now and again). Eventually I gathered that two of the crew members were probably 19? And the other three maybe mid to late 20s? Not 100% sure. Then I found out that this incredibly talented artist and creator is only 22. So, there you go. The dialogue and characterization feels very age 22. YMMV. My point is, they all talk to the same. And while the color palettes and set design is amazing, the character differentiation through design was only slight more clear to me than the dialogue. I had to really pay attention to what the characters were wearing to help me differentiate some of them. Then at the climax, the author does that split screen thing where the characters are split up having different crises. The art just didn't really help me figure out what was going on very well. I do admit to not being a visual person, so maybe it was just me.
I still recommend this, for the art alone.
September 23, 2018
I got into this amazing story immediately. It has a feeling about it, I could not put it away. A perfect combination of interesting characters, wonderful places, fantastic artwork and beautiful storytelling. My new favorite graphic novel.
February 29, 2024
I wanted to love this so bad but it was incredibly boring. The story took very long to develop and become interesting. The art was beautiful and I do like some of Tillie Walden’s graphic novels, just not this one. I feel bad for giving it only 2 stars but if I feel like I have to force my way through the story then the book just isn’t for me.. I hope a lot of other people get to enjoy it though! :)
April 28, 2021
Very fun and different.
June 29, 2021
Graphic novels aren't really my deal but the imagery in this was gorgeous. I enjoyed the story but wished I could read more background and more of a story.
September 29, 2025
Beautiful, inclusive, and wonderous. This book is incredibly well thought out and sucks you right into each character's worlds and the family they build together.
July 30, 2019
The art in this book is really captivating, and the author often uses color to set a mood or to place you in time. It has a lot that I love about a graphic novel, like queer story lines and characters, and also sci fi with complicated universal politics that characters have to navigate. I left feeling like I wanted more, but maybe that's because there is more? It's a webcomic, or used to be? I will have to look into that because if there is more then I am left happier, but if not, it means there were some things that happened plot wise that felt way more interesting than the initial love story that should have been given a lot more pages. The end also seemed abrupt and tied up things so neatly, so again, hopefully there is more. I'd like that.
March 16, 2019
Not sure why you can't find the book on goodreads, so I'll comment here! Beautiful, evocative drawings with splashes of color - my favorite graphic artist right now. The worlds created here are intricate, wild, & leave much to return to & discover in 2nd/3rd readings. I love the lush interiors of these characters & the epic queer/lesbian quest for love (across space & time).
May 28, 2019
There's a lot going on in this graphic novel. The timeline, which jumps between the present and the past, confused me at first. I also had some difficulty keeping some of the characters straight at the beginning.
That being said, I loved the illustrations and the central story of the making of family and acceptance of differences.
That being said, I loved the illustrations and the central story of the making of family and acceptance of differences.
September 7, 2019
This is a brilliant, imaginative graphic novel, yet I DNFed at about 75% of the way in because the lettering was so hard to read. In perfect sunlight, it would not be bad perhaps. In the evening, even with a lamp, I was squinting. Tried to get through several times. Old eyes and all of that. Wish it had been more accessible. Still gave it 4 stars though.
July 14, 2019
I read the 533 page graphic novel. I liked the premise of the story and the artwork, but I had a really hard time keeping the characters clear in my head and really knowing who was who and their role in the story. I’m not sure why I had difficulty with that.
October 19, 2019
I have no idea why goodreads hasn’t updated this with a regular book entry now that the whole 500+ page graphic novel is available, but yeah this was good and gay and the illustrations are absolutely stunning (the COLORS!!!!!)
November 24, 2019
Phenomenal art, interesting narrative chronology, a beautiful love story, and a universe that I definitely want to live in. This if four stars only because some of the character development was a bit flat, particularly with the crew members.
May 3, 2020
Очень атмосферно нарисовано плюс цвет конечно, свет идеально заходит через всевозможные цвета. Хоть я и не фанат фантастики , которая противоречит законам физик и вообще не то , но тут это не бесит. Отдельный респект за полный онлайн , куплю обязательно печатную при случае ...
March 7, 2019
Beautifully illustrated and imagined, with a sweet story.
February 10, 2019
GN that does much of what a print novel does. Characters, plot, conflict-this one is in space- young readers looking for a lovestory-adventure tale with enjoy reading this.
February 26, 2019
Quite good. Interesting pallette of colors. Good story. Quick read.
May 13, 2019
cutest ever!! also dunno why the whole book isn’t listed on here
July 19, 2019
If you think Tillie’s other books are good you’re going to die when you read this one On A Sunbeam made everything.
June 11, 2019
Junior Library Guild Selection; Graphic Novel; Diverse Books; Diverse Characters; LGBT; Sci-Fi; Strong Female Lead Character; Romance.
July 3, 2019
(4.5, some cranky old lady niggles made this not quite 5 stars)
August 9, 2019
a beautiful story accompanied by amazing artwork.
August 14, 2019
Incredible.
October 5, 2019
I read the whole novel, not just the sneak peek, but goodreads doesn't seem to have it on here.
October 10, 2019
i like this book because its a funnnnnnnny book and i like the way they talk in there and they don´t hold nothing back.
November 11, 2019
BOY HOWDY IS THIS A GORGEOUS BOOK.
Those illustrations really rustled my jimmies.
Those illustrations really rustled my jimmies.
November 22, 2019
A feminist space fling featuring beautiful color scheme, complex characters, deep caverns, and a warm ending.
March 9, 2020
Beautiful book by a very talented artist.
September 2, 2020
good book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews