Some solid comics journalism, Denali Sai Nalamalapu interviews six different climate activists, from different backgrounds and ethnicities, who have fought (and continue to fight) the construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Nalamalapu illustrates in a spare style with a fairly uniform line and a few flat colors (often just two or three tones), which draws attention to where color is used dramatically, especially with drawings of destruction or environmental impacts.

The stories of the individuals are presented (in terms of pacing and framing) in a documentary style, mixing in elements of interviews with personal narratives of how each came to acts of resistance and disillusionment with official channels and government. Holler is not a difficult or particularly graphic read, but it doesn't shy away from loss and explanation of the local consequences of the destruction of the pipeline construction or its possible impacts from an explosion or leak.

It's a brief read, that doesn't overstay its welcome, but it might have been nice for the individual narratives to have a bit more breathing room to give us a more three dimensional sense of each person. Still, it's a solid entry on the local impacts of national issues that are too easily reduced to talking points and abstraction, here given some real concrete examples of the immediate environmental effects of pipeline construction on the communities affected.

This is the most fascinating and inspiring read on the most burning topic of recent times. Gripping illustrations add flavor that keeps you hooked till the last page. It offers a wider perspective on the issue interlinking many themes, keeping the stage open for the audience till the very end. I had to ask my friend to read it too so we can debate on many compelling ideas that this work evokes. I highly recommend reading this book in pairs

My family has lived in the mountains of Southwest Virginia for centuries, and I'm only now truly starting to appreciate that history and our connection to the land. When I came across this book, I knew I had to check it out; I'm so thankful that I did! I hadn't heard of these tenacious, everyday activists who are taking things into their own hands and working endlessly for a change. I'm so deeply inspired by their resistance and resilience! Mountain people have guts and grit, and it's more than evident in these profiles. Nalamalapu does an amazing job of showcasing their hearts and authenticity vs. the overwhelming, greedy powers they're up against.

If you have even an ounce of concern about the environment and climate crisis, read this and prepare to be inspired.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

this is empathetic journalism at its finest. denali sai nalamalapu captures the hollers of appalachia with such grace and delicacy, using sparse backdrops in the illustrations to highlight the bigness of the topic at hand. the mountain valley pipeline is something i feel that the masses don't know much about, and this graphic memoir captures the beauty of the region while educating on a very impactful issue. this is done so, so well.