After spending time in treatment with other young women like her-who cut, burn, poke, and otherwise hurt themselves-Charlie is released and takes a bus from the Twin Cities to Tucson to be closer to Mikey, a boy she 'like-likes' but who had pined for Ellis instead. Seventeen-year-old Charlie Davis, a white girl living on the margins, thinks she has little reason to live: her father drowned himself her bereft and abusive mother kicked her out her best friend, Ellis, is nearly brain dead after cutting too deeply and she's gone through unspeakable experiences living on the street. Keenly observed and gorgeously illustrated-a triumph.Īfter surviving a suicide attempt, a fragile teen isn't sure she can endure without cutting herself. Printed in dark blue ink, Jillian Tamaki’s illustrations feature strong, fluid lines, and the detailed backgrounds and stunning two-page spreads throughout the work establish the mood and a compelling sense of place.

Both the text and art highlight small but meaningful incidents as readers gradually learn the truth behind the tension in Rose’s family. The realistic dialogue and sensitive first-person narration convey Rose’s naïveté and confusion, and Windy’s comfort in her own skin contrasts with Rose’s uncertainty. Rose waxes nostalgic for past summers even as she rejects some old pursuits as too childlike and mimics the older teens. Jillian and Mariko Tamaki ( Skim, 2008) skillfully portray the emotional ups and downs of a girl on the cusp of adolescence in this eloquent graphic novel. Though her friendship with Windy, a younger girl, remains strong, Rose is increasingly curious about the town’s older teens, especially Dunc, a clerk at the general store. Rose’s parents argue constantly, and she is painfully aware of her mother’s unhappiness. It’s “a place where beer grows on trees and everyone can sleep in until eleven,” but this year’s getaway is proving less idyllic than those of the past. Rose’s family has always vacationed in Awago Beach. A summer of family drama, secrets and change in a small beach town.

This one summer graphic novel