The Process

I mind mapped some initial ideas that I had which were based on the heavy content and themes throughout the book. I focused on the emotions - anxiety, grief, loss, fear - and thought about the colours associated with those feelings

I wanted to carry the dark themes inside the book to the cover in a delicate and captivating way.

Being a marine-life enthusiast, I always enjoy incorporating them into my work in some way.

Here I used manta rays as representations of all things peaceful and healing, emotions coming over you like a wave, and then letting them pass.

This is a task that the protagonist faces and struggles with, as the writer explores themes of power, powerlessness and its relation to masculinity.

I didn’t choose the first sketch idea as I wanted to avoid the character looking so obviously forlorn and pained as it could allude too much to the storyline and be a give away to intuitive readers.

I chose to handwrite the title to convey imperfection, youthfulness and relatability.

Alex is a character that exists in the real world as all young black boys in America. They have to deal with not only the growing pains of adolescence and manhood, but also the heavy weight knowing that the world that awaits them will have little to offer except for a lifetime of micro aggressions and systemic racism.