This One Summer

This post is about the magic of early summer sunsets, of the sweet smell of linden flowers that fills the air around this time of year, about warm days and chilly evenings and about unique moments captured in books.

I read by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki in a few sittings, going to or leaving from work and I got caught in this quiet, low-key story of..exactly what the title says: one summer in the life of Rose, her family & friends. If you know me, you know how much I love coming-of-age stories, everything that has to do with the time of uncertainty between childhood and adolescence. This particular tale is not necessarily one that I could completely identify with, but I think it captured beautifully that point in life when (as a girl) you struggle with self-consciousness and the image of yourself that you wish to project, while at the same time constantly comparing yourself to other girls and trying to understand the serious things that happen around you.

‘This One Summer’ is not, by far, a plot-heavy graphic novel. The story unfolds quietly and gracefully, accompanied by stunning illustrations, all in shades of light indigo (love the choice of color!), making it a perfect summer read. I would definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of realistic graphic novels and I’m also looking forward to reading other graphic novels illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, such as Skim or Supermutant Magic Academy.