Review: This One Summer

This One Summer

by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki

★★★★★

Synopsis:

Every summer, Rose goes with her mom and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mom and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

In This One Summer two stellar creators redefine the teen graphic novel. Cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, the team behind Skim, have collaborated on this gorgeous, heartbreaking, and ultimately hopeful story about a girl on the cusp of her teen age—a story of renewal and revelation.

My Review:

It’s been awhile since I read this, but I still wanted to get out a review. This was definitely a lazy day, summer read, but it was a bit more serious than I was expecting. It wasn't fluff. It dealt with real life issues, like teen pregnancy and the sorrows of miscarriage. 

The two girls in this story who are dealing with these encounters from an onlookers point of view are left with trying to figure out who they are in the world. They spend their summer as usual, except there's now the sneaking of horror films under the watchful eyes of their parents, a growing crush on one of the local older guys, arguments between these two girls that they hadn't ever experienced before, and a growing tension brewing in Rose's family.

It left me with this peculiar, nostalgic feeling, of summer vacations and friends you no longer talk to. It's definitely a good growing up book, where Rose and Windy experience new emotions and situations that make them that much older by the end of the summer. It was a nice book, but one that left you contemplating life rather than just with a warm, fuzzy feeling.

Overall, I really liked this book. It's different than what I normally go for, and even though I felt the art was a bit rough, I still felt it deserved such a high rating. It made the characters feel more realistic, more human. I also liked how it wasn't just black and white, or an explosion of color. The blue tint of the ink gave it a rather dream-like quality that I think enhanced the summery bliss and the tensions spread throughout the story, which also made it that much more believable.

It makes me miss the beach so much...

Suggested Reading Level: Young Adult+