Copyright Date:
2024
Edition Date:
2024
Release Date:
08/27/24
Pages:
237 pages
ISBN:
0-593-47978-5
ISBN 13:
978-0-593-47978-0
Dewey:
Fic
LCCN:
2022049143
Dimensions:
21 cm.
Language:
English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews
(Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
A middle schooler struggles to handle changes in his life.As much as Lonnie loves living with his mom and sister, he misses his dad. Since his parents' divorce, Lonnie primarily spends time with Dad when he picks Lonnie up from school. Although he's embarrassed about the split, he's unable to share his feelings-even when his parents ask him how he's doing-until he can't hold everything in anymore. After getting in trouble at school, Lonnie finally reveals how much he wants life to go back to the way it was, but he still ends up in detention for getting back at a kid who mocked him for having divorced parents. Gradually Lonnie uses his time with Dad to be more open about his feelings and sexuality; he also expresses enthusiasm for comics and finds common ground with his father. When his parents mutually decide on family therapy, Lonnie is initially anxious but ultimately grows into healthier relationships and self-expression. The graphic novel format, with its clean backgrounds and bright colors, effectively conveys the variety of emotions the family members experience, and the many wordless panels propel the story forward. Time spent with various configurations of the family riding in cars together nicely captures their dynamics (particularly the father-and-son tensions); with the characters facing forward in their seats, Lindell can highlight their expressions. Lonnie and his family are Black.A successful blending of text and image that results in engaging storytelling. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
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Kirkus Reviews
(Mon Oct 07 00:00:00 CDT 2024)
Figuring out family is no easy street, especially in a divorce. Perfect for fans of New Kid and Smile, this contemporary graphic novel introduces a young boy navigating life with his dad, one car ride at a time.
Lonnie is going through big changes in his life—with his parents newly divorced, he's trying to figure out his new normal. He likes living with his mom and sister, but misses spending time with his father—and the short drives to and from school just aren't enough.
His dad is determined to make every moment count, relying on the car rides to talk about all of the big things that are hard to talk about elsewhere—divorce, sexuality, racism and more. As Lonnie gets used to this new dynamic and hard conversations, will he be better able to connect to his dad? Or will this new family structure force them even further apart?