Decelerate Blue is a graphic novel from Adam Rapp and Mike Cavallari. In this new world, speed and efficiency are everything, and the populace zooms along in a perpetually stimulated haze. Angela thinks she's the only person in her family—maybe the only person on the planet—who sees anything wrong with this picture. But the truth is she's not alone. Angela finds herself recruited into a resistance movement where the key to rebellion is taking things slow. In their secret underground hideout, they create a life unplugged from the rapid-fire culture outside. Can they free the rest of the world before the powers that be shut down their utopian experiment?
Decelerate Blue is a well done graphic novel, with a nearly perfect connection of story and artwork. I really enjoyed the art style, and thought the choice of black and white for the majority of the book, with very important choices of where to use partial or full color to bring out important moments or themes. I thought the story itself was a important one, in a world where the importance of always being busy, always doing, seems to be overwhelming all of use. Even young kids seem to be moving faster and faster, scheduled to the minute of every day. The benefits of slowing down and enjoying a moment or more seems to be less and less important to most. I thought the graphic novel was a solid story, and one that was engaging and thought provoking. Combined with the art style I think it was pretty close to perfect.
Decelerate Blue is a graphic novel for teens and adults that can perhaps make a difference with those too caught up in always being on. I know it encouraged me to take a moment and just breathe, enjoying some unseasonably nice weather rather than rushing to do whatever task was next on my to do list. It still got done, but taking a moment to slow down made my day much better. I think many others will enjoy the book and take a moment (or more) of their own.
