Here is a great summer read for a tween in your life or for you. I found this graphic novel on a list of new ya lit books to check out. I basically stood in the middle of the library and read half the book. I checked it out with the rest of my stack. But then I sat in the car and read the other half before heading home.
Now I am excited to share this middle grades graphic novel with some young people I know this fall. The story of two stepsisters, whose family is changing again is both realistic and heartbreaking but also full of sweet and lovable moments. It’s not a fairy tale but also not super harsh.
I appreciate the representation of a combined family, the reality of difficult times and change in families and the stepping in of an elder as support person. Not all of the adults are doing great with adulting, but at least one is! That feels about right.
I also really liked the depiction of two sisters with different interests. I appreciate that while Quinn is interested in romance (talking on the phone and texting with her girlfriend), Kenzie is a rock collector. I like this representation of romance in that one person is super into it and the other not at all. Both ways of being are valued in the story.
I love the way nature is an important aspect of these adolescent character’s summer. They are out adventuring on the Outer Banks, still children, still exploring, while I also growing up. And I love finding books set in North Carolina. It’s often a sweet connection point for young readers I work with here.
Finally I love the way the graphic novel genera can so seamless weave in representation of prominent facial birth marks and how bodies are different without calling big attention to these differences. Yaaassss.
Basically I really loved it. When I finished reading it, I slipped it back into the library return box and looked online for a used copy to have in my classroom. Let me know if you read it!