This One Summer
First Second (US), Groundwood Books (CAN), 2014
co-created with Mariko Tamaki
320 pages, Ages 13+
Rose and Windy are summer friends whose families have visited Awago Beach for as long as they can remember. But this year is different, and they soon find themselves tangled in teen love and family crisis. From the creators of Skim comes an investigation into the mysterious world of adults.
Sure, Rose’s dad is still making cheesy and embarrassing jokes, but her mother is acting like she doesn’t even want to be there. Plus, being at the cottage isn’t just about going to the beach anymore. Now Rose and Windy are spend a lot of their time renting scary movies and spying on the teenagers who work at the corner store, as well as learning stuff about sex no one mentioned in health class.
Pretty soon everything is messed up. Rose’s father leaves the cottage and returns to the city, and her mother becomes more and more withdrawn. While her family is falling to pieces, Rose focuses her attention on Dunc, a teenager working at the local corner store. When Jenny, Dunc’s girlfriend, claims to be pregnant, the girls realize that the teenagers are keeping just as many secrets as the adults in their lives.
"This One Summer is a graphic novel for readers who appreciate the form, as well as for fans of traditionally told coming-of-age stories. If I worked at a bookstore, I’d be hand-selling it to customers who adored Raina Telgemeier’s graphic memoir “Smile” but are now ready for more complex themes. Eagerly hand-selling it: This is a lovely book.” –The New York Times Book Review
New York Times Bestseller PB GN / 2014 Governor General’s Award (illustration) / 2015 Caldecott Honor Book / The Guardian’s Best Comics of the Decade / 2015 Printz Award / New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2014 / 2015 Eisner Award / LA Times Book Awards Finalist / 2015 Canadian Library Association YA Book Award / SLJ Best Book of the Year / Kirkus Best of the Year / YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens / Globe and Mail Best Book of the Year / Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize / Max & Moritz Prize (Best International Comic) / Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis (nominated)
