MAP TO THE SUN SC

It’s impossible to talk about Map to the Sun without first mentioning the colouring; even before you open the first page, the book is a vivid and beautiful object. The use of colour throughout is jaw-dropping, as the intensity of the pinks, reds, and yellows brings an added layer of depth to Sloane Leong’s thoughtful and grounded storytelling. Map to the Sun follows two girls from very different backgrounds, Ren and Luna, who form an unexpected friendship one summer. After a year apart, they find themselves at the same school, and eventually, as founding members of an all-girls basketball team. This isn’t a lighthearted tale of team-sports, but instead a deep and meditative exploration of friendship, and different pressures put on these girls by their families, friends and society, as each navigates the difficult path to adulthood.