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WEEK 12: COMICS BY WOMEN

Image result for This one summer"


I have seen this comic at B&N multiple times and considered picking it up, but I was never able to sit down and read through it. Considering how much I loved reading “Blankets,” I had a feeling that I was going to like this week’s reading a lot. I think that “This One Summer” by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki is like a sweet love letter to our prepubescent years. I enjoyed the topics that were highlighted in the story, like the pregnancy and random girl talks between Rose and Windy. It’s nice to see someone out there starting the conversation about these “taboo topics,” and to use comics as a form of communication is engaging for all ages. The story had a good pacing throughout, and I liked how it didn’t feel like a fictional piece of work. It felt more like a summertime memoir, and the art complemented that feeling wonderfully. Jillian’s art style was simply beautiful; the lines were very organic and clean, making the whole page cohesive. Though the comic was all done in line work, there is a softness present that enhances the idyllic nature of Awago. The graphic shading also made the drawings pop more.
Though I enjoyed the story, I can’t say that it felt relatable to me personally. I think that is just because I’ve never gone to summer camp, or my camping trips weren’t as dramatic/ adventurous as Rose and Windy. However, the attention to detail and specificity to each moment brought in a familiar feeling. It made me wish that I had a childhood best friend that I would go to the store with, or watch horror films that were way too scary for our age group. All the subtle nuances in the characters, whether it was their dialogue or the poses, felt more realistic to me rather than a cliché 2D character. I feel like I knew someone like Windy, or even “The Dud.”
Overall, I would highly recommend this book. I read that several schools banned it in 2016 for having mature themes. Though I agree that some parts can be deemed as “inappropriate” for elementary school kids, but it really shouldn’t have been questioned for middle/ high schoolers. It is important to learn and be exposed to sensitive topics at an earlier age, and the way that the book addressed them were in a tasteful manner. Regardless, I still believe that preteens, especially girls, should take some time to experience “This One Summer.”

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