44 pages • 1 hour read
Mariko TamakiThis One Summer
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | YA | Published in 2014A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
This One Summer follows preteens Rose and Windy during a summer at Awago Beach as they navigate the complexities of growing up, encountering adolescent curiosity, family tensions, and local teenage dramas. The story captures their experiences with friendship, discovery, and the realization that adulthood is more complicated than it seems. The book discusses sexuality, suicide, a miscarriage, and includes profanity.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki captures the nuances of adolescence with its beautiful illustrations and poignant storytelling. Critics praise its handling of complex themes and the realistic portrayal of teenage emotions. However, some readers feel the pacing drags and that the ending lacks resolution. Overall, it’s a compelling, visually stunning graphic novel.
Who Should Read This One Summer?
Fans of Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi or Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden will enjoy This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki. Ideal for young adults who appreciate nuanced coming-of-age stories, it explores themes of friendship, family, and adolescence with evocative illustrations and a summer setting.
RecommendedReading Age
12-18yearsLexile Level
GN300LBook Details
Coming of Age / Bildungsroman
Realistic Fiction
Modern Classic Fiction
Relationships: Friendship
Emotions/Behavior: Memory
Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia