#IntYALitMonth: Shadows on the Ice

Posted on by katieday

Today’s post comes to you from Nadine Bailey

A Decade in the Making, a Lifetime to Forget: The Andes Disaster in Graphic Form

Shadows on the Ice – The 1972 Andes Disaster
By: Frédéric Bertocchini (Writer), Thierry Diette (Artist), Pascal Nino (Colors)
Format: Graphic novel
Language: Translated from French by Andrew Benteau
ISBN: 978-1-990521-29-4
Audience: 16+
Published by: Black Panel Press – English Edition 2024
Length: 109 pages

The 1972 Andes flight disaster is etched into popular memory as one of the most famous modern cases of survival cannibalism—often drawing historical parallels to tragedies like the Donner Party and the Franklin expedition. This non-fiction graphic novel recounts that harrowing ordeal, beginning on a deceptively light note as the traveling group shares laughs and bravado while waiting to reboard their plane.

Despite the foreboding warnings from the pilots, the passengers insist on proceeding with the trip, which ends in catastrophe as they cross the Andes. Originally carrying 45 people—including the “Old Christians” rugby team, their friends, family, and crew—the sparse text clearly captures the macho, “can-do,” and invincible attitude of the young athletes prior to the crash.

Visually, the dark, muted color palette—primarily maroons, mustard, black, brown, and touches of green—creates a menacing, claustrophobic presence. The jagged artwork and cold, atmospheric tones effectively immerse the reader, offering a very visceral sense of the freezing temperatures and impending danger.

As supplies run out and rescue seems impossible, the grim turning point arrives on day 10, about a third of the way into the story. Even though the reader knows the survivors will eventually have to consume the flesh of the deceased to stay alive, the moment still elicits a feeling of revulsion, even as one completely understands the necessary, agonizing arguments made by Roberto Canessa.

While the graphic novel effectively captures the psychological weight of the ordeal, it falls a bit short on logistical details. It omits the exact number of passengers on board and lacks a comprehensive look at the aftermath, glossing over the fate of the 16 individuals who ultimately survived the 72 days on the mountain. Additionally, because of the sparse dialogue, it is sometimes difficult to differentiate between the voices and text of key figures like Roberto, Nando, and Canessa. However, despite these minor omissions, it remains a gripping, atmospheric introduction to the tragedy, making it an excellent gateway text for older adolescents drawn to intense, high-stakes survival non-fiction.

Behind the Book

The meticulous visual tension in this book is the result of a decade-long project. Illustrator Thierry Diette made his major debut in the bande dessinée (Franco-Belgian comics) scene in 2012 with La Cordillère des âmes, Tome 1: De chair et de sang, originally intended as a two-part series. The second volume was never published on its own.

Ten years later, Diette and writer Frédéric Bertocchini teamed up with a new publisher to release the fully completed, integrated story as a single graphic novel in France. Bertocchini brings a strong historical background to the project, having authored over 30 graphic novels and books focusing on Corsican history and biographical works on famous musicians like Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.

Review in Publishers Weekly

Read Further

For those looking to explore the 1972 Andes disaster in more detail, here are some notable titles:

Adult / Young Adult Crossover (Ages 14+):

Adult Historical & Memoir:

Nadine Bailey is middle school teacher librarian, currently living and working in Dubai, formerly in Beijing China, Singapore and a bunch of other cities around the world. Next year she will be working in Switzerland.

Passionate about our students seeing themselves and their worlds in literature and developing curiosity and a passion for reading and learning. You can read her previous GLLI posts here; see also her blog, “Informative Flights.”

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect those of GLLI.

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