Created by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, This One Summer is a coming-of-age story focusing on two pre-teens, Rose and Windy, who are vacationing in Awago. The oldest of the two, Rose, narrates the turbulent events of the summer while she feels caught between the ‘childish’ games she and Windy liked to play in the past and her fascination with the lives of the older teens in Awago (drinking, dating, partying). Poignant and wistful, Rose and Windy grapple with the silences between adults and the graphic novel highlights the struggle of young people trying to make sense of the world when adults are determined to protect them. Pitched as a YA book, it remains an intriguing read even for adults. Both relaxed and incredibly tense in some places, it is a tricky book to get the measure of. There are so many things left unsaid between Rose and Windy, Rose and her parents and even Rose and the teenagers she meets in the shop. Parts of the story feel unresolved and as the characters return to their regular lives, you’re reminded that life is just like that: things happen and then life moves on.
Like the cover, the colour palette is a mix of deep blue-purples, lilacs and cream. Incredibly detailed, the artwork really stands out with precisely composed panels depicting the beach, the forests, Rose’s bedroom, and kinetic drawings of the girls swimming, running and scared out of their minds by horror films. While reception of the storyline is mixed, audiences agree that the artwork is stunning and engaging!
As you can see from the stamps on the cover, This One Summer won the 2014 Ignatz Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel and is recommended by The New York Times. It also won the Printz Honor, Caldecott Honor and Eisner Awards in 2015. However, libraries in Henning, Minnesota and Longwood, Florida banned the book in 2016 following complaints from parents that the book uses too much profanity and has too mature themes for children. The book’s removal from libraries is being challenged by the National Coalition Against Censorship.
