This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki, Mariko Tamaki

This One Summer

by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

Every summer, Rose goes with her mum and dad to a lake house in Awago Beach. It's their getaway, their refuge. Rosie's friend Windy is always there, too, like the little sister she never had. But this summer is different. Rose's mum and dad won't stop fighting, and when Rose and Windy seek a distraction from the drama, they find themselves with a whole new set of problems. It's a summer of secrets and sorrow and growing up, and it's a good thing Rose and Windy have each other.

Reviewed by Angie on

2 of 5 stars

Share
I'm new to Graphic Novels, so I was excited yet nervous to read This One Summer. Sadly, this one wasn't for me. Rose spends every Summer with her parents at their beach cottage. This year is no different, except the atmosphere. Her parents have been fighting or ignoring each other and it's starting to take its toll on Rose. The only thing that is the same is her friend Windy, although things do become a little strained between the girls as Rose is affected by her parents and her inconvenient crush on "the Dud."

This One Summer was kind of boring. I never felt connected to Rose and what she was going through. Yes, we see her parents fighting, and then Rose leaving upset, but that's about it. Fight, leave, rinse, repeat. And there's no resolution to it at the end either. Then there's her crush on Duncan and the drama he's involved in. Windy and Rose just happen to overhear some gossip involving the local teens, but nothing comes of that either. I was hoping for something to happen between Rose and Duncan and then the drama causing problems, but nope. The only real tension I felt throughout the entire read was between Rose and Windy, because you can tell that she's annoyed with Windy at times.

The art of This One Summer was good. I'm by no means an expert on illustrations, but I liked them. At first I didn't because they seemed so plain and dark, but the more I read, the more I realized how well they fit the story. It's not what I prefer, since I love color and crispness, but that's not the tone the author and artist were trying to set.

In the end, This One Summer just wasn't my particular thing. I did read it in one sitting, but that was more because it was an easy, quick read rather than me having to know what came next.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

Last modified on

Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 24 April, 2016: Finished reading
  • 24 April, 2016: Reviewed