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This week, we’re taking a closer look at Powell’s Pick of the Month, Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki.

I think most of us have had a trip that was felt like a milestone of adultness, a demonstration (to ourselves, if no one else) that you’re now someone who can afford and handle the logistics of becoming a tourist. Like the characters in Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki’s Roaming, my personal first adult trip was also to New York City, though I was a few years ahead of them. The highlight of my trip was seeing the all-too-short Broadway run of Lisa Kron’s Well. For the cast of Roaming, things go a bit differently. 

I think most of us have had a trip that was felt like a milestone of adultness, a demonstration (to ourselves, if no one else) that you’re now someone who can afford and handle the logistics of becoming a tourist.

The creative team behind Roaming absolutely won our hearts – and so many awards — for This One Summer, and here they follow an older set of characters who spend a week in an NYC hostel. Dani, the planner, has brought together her high school friend Zoe and her new artsy college friend, Fiona. They soon find they have different appetites — for museums, bars, NYC pizza, and each other.

The push-pull of wanting to see the famed sites of New York, without wanting to be a tourist is brilliantly mirrored with the push-pull of discovering yourself and others at one of the most tumultuous periods in personal development. Jillian’s drawing capture a tremendous range of expressions with subtlety, and her color palate is so well balanced, warm at times, and cool at others — much like the emotional states of her characters.

Her color palate is so well balanced, warm at times, and cool at others — much like the emotional states of her characters.

Roaming is a beautiful, smart tale of how long-planned vacations can still come with growing pains. I think we’ve all been there, figuratively and in many cases literally. NYC vacations are great and recommended, but sadly, Well is long-closed.

Don't miss Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki's event on October 19 at Powell's City of Books! They'll be in conversation with Carson Ellis. You can preorder a signed copy here.