A review by bookishandlegal
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki

adventurous emotional lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Wow…this graphic novel took me right back to being an awkward pre-teen trying to figure out relationships with friends, crushes, family, and yourself. I was Windy as a preteen girl—hyper, loud, short, chunky, annoying, obsessed with things my friends didn’t care about, trying to make jokes and worrying that my friends didn’t like me. Like whew…put me in a mirror, she is me. I really liked seeing Windy and Rose’s relationship change and develop over the summer and it was interesting to see that they were starting to grow apart as they got older and were realizing they’re only “summer beach friends”. 

The storyline with Rose’s mom and her depression/miscarriages was also really well done. It was clear that she had depression and was struggling, even though it’s never explicitly said. It was also interesting to see Rose, a young girl not really understanding what’s going on, reacting to and dealing with her mom’s depression and just thinking she’s sad or a drama Queen. I can’t even imagine having to explain my depression to a young child and you can totally see Alice’s grief and struggle with that. 

I love graphic novels because they can tackle really difficult subjects in an easy to digest way for teens and adults alike. Overall, I enjoyed this one and I’d recommend it! 
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