Starred Review ALA Booklist (Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Starred Review Mariko and Jillian Tamaki earned critical acclaim for Skim (2008), and they return here with another coming-of-age tale about the awkward transition from carefree childhood to jaded, self-conscious young adulthood. Rose and her parents spend every summer at their lakeside cabin in Awago, right down the path from Rose's best friend, Windy, and her family. They spend lazy days collecting rocks on the beach, riding bikes, swimming, and having barbecues. But this summer, Rose's parents are constantly fighting, and her mother seems resentful and sad. In that unspoken way kids pick up on their parents' hardships, Rose starts lashing out at Windy and grasping at what she thinks of as adulthood rning up her nose at silliness (at which Windy excels), watching gory horror movies, reading fashion magazines, and joining in the bullying of a local teenage girl who finds herself in a tough spot. Jillian Tamaki's tender illustrations, all rendered in a deep purpley blue, depict roiling water, midnight skies, Windy's frenetic sugar highs, and Rose's mostly aloof but often poignantly distressed facial expressions with equal aplomb. With a light touch, the Tamakis capture the struggle of growing up in a patchwork of summer moments that lead to a conclusion notably absent of lessons. Wistful, touching, and perfectly bittersweet.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Thu May 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Gr 8 Up-Every summer, Rose and her parents vacation at a lakeside cottage. The rest of the world fades away as Rose reunites with her friend Windy and delves into leisurely games of MASH, swimming, and the joy of digging giant holes in the sand—but this summer is different. Rose is on the cusp of adolescence; she's not ready to leave childhood behind but is fascinated by the drama of the local teens who are only a few years older, yet a universe apart in terms of experience. They drink, they smoke, they swear. As Rose and Windy dip their toes into the mysterious waters of teen life by experimenting with new vocabulary ("sluts!") and renting horror movies, her parents struggle with their own tensions that seem incomprehensible to Rose. Layers of story unfurl gradually as the narrative falls into the dreamlike rhythm of summer. Slice-of-life scenes are gracefully juxtaposed with a complex exploration of the fragile family dynamic after loss and Rose's ambivalence toward growing up. The mood throughout is thoughtful, quiet, almost meditative. The muted tones of the monochromatic blue-on-white illustrations are perfectly suited to the contemplative timbre, and the writing and images deserve multiple reads to absorb their subtleties. This captivating graphic novel presents a fully realized picture of a particular time in a young girl's life, an in-between summer filled with yearning and a sense of ephemerality. The story resolves with imperfect hope and will linger in readers' mind through changing seasons.— Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

Horn Book (Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2014)

Rose's family goes to Awago Beach every summer. This year she's feeling too old for some of the activities she used to love--and even for her more-childish friend Windy. Rose's contemplative observations and flashbacks, along with the book's realistic dialogue, offer insight into her evolving personality, while the dramatic perspective changes and purply-blue ink illustrations capture the graphic novel's raw emotional core.

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Rose and Windy, friends for two weeks every summer in nearby Ontario lake cottages, have hit early adolescence. Rose, a bit older, has knowledge and polish that tubby, still-childish Windy lacks, and Windy sometimes bores her. Yet Windy-s instincts are often sound, while Rose is led astray by an infatuation with a local convenience store clerk. As Rose-s parents- marriage founders and the taunts of local teens wake her to issues of social class, Rose veers between secret grief and fleeting pleasure in the rituals of summer. Jillian Tamaki-s exceptionally graceful line is one of the strengths of this work from the cousin duo behind Skim. Printed entirely in somber blue ink, the illustrations powerfully evoke the densely wooded beach town setting and the emotional freight carried by characters at critical moments, including several confronting their womanhood in different and painful ways. Fine characterization and sensitive prose distinguish the story, too-as when Rose remembers the wisdom a swimming teacher shared about holding his breath for minutes at a time: -He told me the secret was he would tell himself that he was actually breathing.- Ages 12-up. Agent: Sam Hiyate, the Rights Factory. (May)-

Voice of Youth Advocates

Usually, Rose's summer holiday at Awago Beach is full of happy family times, but this summer her mother, Alice, is tense and withdrawn. Rose's father tries to compensate but Rose thinks her mother is upset because she wants another baby. Younger friend Windy is a good diversion and the two girls joke and talk about babies and "boobs" while they swim, play, and watch horror films on the sly. Duncan (Dud) is the summer crush and the girls overhear snippets of conversation that Dud's girlfriend, Jenny, may be pregnant. When Jenny tries to drown herself, Rose's mother races to save her. Rose eavesdrops as Alice finally opens up to Windy's mother about her ongoing struggle over her miscarriage the previous summer. As the family departs, there are signs of healing and Rose's growth toward maturity.Carefully chosen prose skillfully accentuates the novel's dramatic art and readers will need to synthesize both for complete understanding; for example, Alice's reaction to her husband's kiss. While all the characters are boldly drawn, the young girls are remarkable. Slightly older Rose acts more guarded and reserved while the exuberant fireplug Windy is still child-like and open. The tweens' frank and often humorous conversations and their jubilant fun together provide a counterpoint to the turmoil around them. Tamaki's drawings of Awago Beachthe trees, stars, and the waterare outstanding. Some strong language and heavy topics, such as miscarriage, unwanted pregnancy, and parental turmoil, widen this novel's appeal to readers of diverse maturity.Barbara Johnston.