Rose’s family is going through a difficult, putting a dark cloud over their summer vacation they take every year. A crush on an older boy who may have made his girlfriend pregnant make her vacation even more emotionally complicated.
Title: This One Summer
Author: Mariko Tamaki, Jillian Tamaki
ISBN: 1626720940 (ISBN13: 9781626720947)
Genre: Contemporary, Graphic Novel
Series: No
Reading Level/Interest Level: 9th grade +
Publisher: First Second
First Publication Date: May 6th 2014 (320 pages)
Available Formats on Amazon: e-book, paperback, hardback
Synopsis:
Going to a lake house on Awago Beach during the summer is a tradition for Rose’s family. It is their home away from home and an escape from the real world. Windy, Rose’s summer friend, is also there too making the vacation fun. Unfortunately, this summer real world problems sneak into their vacation time. There is tension between Rose’s parents and they just won’t stop fighting. Staying away from the awkward atmosphere at the cabin, Rose and Windy stay outside more, but have found drama going on with the locals. Rose and Windy end up involved in the local problems, so there is no escape from the real world.
Evaluation:
This book is very ‘teen.’ I do not mean this in a bad way, but just as fact. I think the writing and the way the characters present themselves will be factors that help teens connect to the characters and the story. Rose and Windy are very different, yet still friends and are going through different situations and stages in their life. Rose’s curiosity and wanting to experiment with new things may resonate with teens especially with the confusion, anger, and embarrassing moments that go along with it. While there are some morals to the book, the book never gets preachy.
The story is not action-packed or strong, with no definite resolution. It is a quiet book that fits with the summer laze feeling. This slice-of-life story is simple and well done with Rose not always being in the middle of the action or drama by observing it. This allows the reader to put themselves even more firmly into Rose’s shoes.
The art is also interesting in itself. Instead of using black, the book is in blue/lavender making it stand out. The blue looks less harsh and feels more like a beach, summer read. I also want to point out how the characters are drawn. Everyone looks like normal people and not shown to be models. Rose and Windy, while talking about their growing boobs, are still not fully developed, and they look like it. They look like normal teens, which I think teens will appreciate.
All in all, this is a book many people will enjoy reading, although the content may make some boys shy away.
Author Information from their website:
Mariko Tamaki: Mariko Tamaki is a Canadian writer living in Oakland. Works include New York Times bestseller This One Summer (First Second/Groundwood Books) and Skim (Groundwood Books), with Jillian Tamaki, Emiko Superstar (DC Comics), with Steve Rolston, and the YA novel (You) Set Me on Fire (Penguin Canada).
Mariko’s new book, Saving Montgomery Sole, is a YA Novel (prose) about California, gay families, unsolved mysteries and frozen yogurt.
Jillian Tamaki: Her and her cousin Mariko Tamaki are the co-creators of the graphic novels SKIM and This One Summer, which won a Governor General’s Award and Caldecott Honor. She is the author of SuperMutant Magic Academy and Boundless, a collection of short comic stories.
She has been a professional illustrator since 2003, when she graduated from the Alberta College of Art and Design. She is a cartoonist and illustrator who grew up in Calgary, Alberta and currently lives in Toronto, Ontario.
Curriculum Ties:
- Health Ed (growing up, pregnancy)
Booktalking Ideas:
- This is a booktalk that can benefit by showing the pictures of the book. I would introduce Windy and Rose by showing their pictures.
- I would describe the problems Rose is going through and the drama they stumble into.
- Mentioning that this book is a quiet slice of life, would be best so that people don’t go in this with unreasonable expectations. I would compare it to My Neighbor Totoro.
Challenge Issues:
- Unsuitable for Age Range
- Encouragement of “Damaging” Lifestyles (drinking, drugs, underage sex)
- Offensive language/ Swear words
- LGBT representation
Challenge Defense!
- Active listening
- Library Selection Policy
- Books and other library resources should be provided for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community the library serves. Materials should not be excluded because of the origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation.
- Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.
- Awards
Ignatz Award (Outstanding Graphic Novel, 2014)
Caldecott Honor (2015)
Printz Honor (2015)
E. B. White Award Young Adult Book of the Year (Honor, 2015)
Governor General’s Literary Award (Children’s Literature – Illustration, 2014)
ALA Notable Children’s Book (2015)
YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens (2015)
Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens (2015)
A Horn Book Fanfare Best Book (2014.2|Fiction, 2014)
BCCB Blue Ribbon Book (2014.1|Fiction, 2014)
CCBC Choices (2015)
North Carolina SLMA Young Adult Book Award Nominee (2016.2|High School, 2016)
Deutsche Jugendliteraturpreis – Jugendbuch – Nominiert (2016)
ALA Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2016.2|Get Graphic: Graphic Novels—Fiction, 2016)
The White Ravens (English / USA, 2015)
- National Council of Teachers of English “Right to Read”
- Positive and negative reviews: Novelist (expert reviews), Goodreads, Amazon
- ALA Strategies and Tips for Dealing with Challenges to Library Materials
- ALA Bill of Rights on Intellectual Freedom
Why this book:
This is a calm graphic novel which speaks to teens who are trying to figure themselves out in a dramatic time. I believe this is one many teens can relate to and find comfort from.
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