Review by Ian Keogh

Dani and Zoe have known each other since way back when, and accompanied by Dani’s college classmate Fiona, they take that trip to New York they’ve planned forever.

Beginning with the wonder of what to some is a mythical city, Jillian and Mariko Tamaki simultaneously begin to explore Dani and Zoe’s friendship and the impact Fiona has on that. She’s depicted as selfish, confrontational and opinionated from the start, able to dismiss New York’s Museum of Art as a monument to Western imperialism. In real life you’d put up with her as the friend of a friend, but tolerance for a desperation to impress only stretches so far. There’s never any addressing as to why Dani would bring someone else to what’s established as a personal trip, yet without Fiona Roaming would only concern two close friends enjoying themselves.

There’s plenty of that anyway in what’s a naturalistic story with Jillian Tamaki’s art an adoration of the city and friendship. Little details abound, like the decorative design of Fiona’s coat, and using only warm shades of pink and blue for colouring gives what’s familiar about New York a new level of interest. A spread of the subway, for instance, in reality grimy and dull, is transformed into a wondrous location. Spreads are relatively common, defining an awe it seems Dani is feeling more than anyone else.

It feeds into the writing being really evocative about what it’s like to be nineteen, and not exactly sure of who you are yet, no matter what’s projected. Dani eventually becomes the central character in this respect. As well as being influenced by what she sees, she takes on board what she hears, and chance conversations. A brief interlude in Central Park with a disenchanted New Yorker is revelatory and afterwards Dani becomes more objective, which is an interesting transformation. The recurring use of other people’s overheard conversations is a nice touch, almost all intrusive, people imposing themselves, wanting to be heard for whatever reason. Whether it’s just to give a sense of place or comment on New York is uncertain.

Unfortunately, so is the ending with the naturalism extending to a non-resolution in which matters come to a head without the closure readers would want. At it’s best Roaming is a well observed delight, and that’s for most of the book, but unanswered questions leave it lacking.