ALONE SOMETIMES

A child goes in search of alone time.

Best friends Kit and Ren do everything together, from baking to playing the video game Whalio World. But when Ren doesn’t show up for their video game tournament, Kit seeks her out, only to find her in her backyard, sitting in a hole in the ground. “Sometimes everybody needs a hole in the ground,” Ren explains. “I want to be alone, and this hole is calm and quiet.” Kit keeps coming back periodically, updating Ren on the tournament, building a tent over the hole when it starts to rain, and offering snacks and company. After the competition goes badly, Kit realizes she needs to retreat from the world, too, and it’s her turn to sit in the hole. Amann pairs gently paced prose with cheery but unpolished artwork that depicts a summery, suburban setting. Though the message that sometimes we all need some quiet solitude is an important one, this tale falls a bit flat. Ren’s explanation for why she needs to be alone feels lacking: Why do we all need a hole in the ground? Ren also doesn’t actually spend much time on her own; Kit comes back for frequent visits. Kit’s request to use the hole after her setback may make things a bit clearer—withdrawing from the world can help when we’re upset—but overall, the story likely won’t resonate. Both characters present white.

Earnest but perplexing musings on solitude.