A review by knkoch
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I care a lot for this book. It’s one I could see myself owning some day, with the sort of emotional story it feels important to tell, similar in tone to Blankets or Spinning. I love the art style, a mix between realistic enough to convey the breadth and depth of what these characters go through and animated enough I never forgot this was a comic.
Most of all, I loved this for the treatment of what this time of life is like to live. Lately I’ve felt so dismissive of my preteen years, looking back on that age as one of privileged free time and innocence, almost foolishness in what I thought was real or true. I’m definitely not young anymore; I know more about this world and how hard it can be. But god; we all start out not knowing about sex, loss, and mental illness, until either someone informs us or we learn through harsh experience. I regained a sense of empathy for myself then, and the pain of growing and learning what the world requires of us as adults and especially as women. Coming of age is both a growth and loss, and that was expertly captured here.
Most of all, I loved this for the treatment of what this time of life is like to live. Lately I’ve felt so dismissive of my preteen years, looking back on that age as one of privileged free time and innocence, almost foolishness in what I thought was real or true. I’m definitely not young anymore; I know more about this world and how hard it can be. But god; we all start out not knowing about sex, loss, and mental illness, until either someone informs us or we learn through harsh experience. I regained a sense of empathy for myself then, and the pain of growing and learning what the world requires of us as adults and especially as women. Coming of age is both a growth and loss, and that was expertly captured here.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Mental illness