All Summer Long

by Hope Larson

Overview

*A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018!*

All Summer Long, a coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel about summer and friendships, written and illustrated by the Eisner Award–winning and New York Times–bestselling Hope Larson.

Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780374310714
Publisher:	Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication date:	05/01/2018
Series:	Eagle Rock Series , #1
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	144,035
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.70(d)
Age Range:	10 - 12 Years

About the Author

Hope Larson adapted and illustrated A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel, which spent forty-four weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and for which she won an Eisner Award. She is also the author and illustrator of Salamander Dream, Gray Horses, Chiggers, and Mercury, and the author of Compass South and Knife's Edge, both illustrated by Rebecca Mock. She lives in Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

03/05/2018
About-to-be-eighth-graders Bina and Austin have been friends ever since they can remember, but now Austin is at soccer camp, posting bro pics on social media and ignoring Bina’s texts. Austin’s intimidating, sardonic older sister, Charlie, is stuck at home with a broken arm and seems willing to hang out—unless the boy she likes shows up. When Charlie shows a nasty side and Austin continues to cold-shoulder Bina even after he gets back, Bina struggles, though warm words and sweet gestures from friends and family help her through. Most crucial is the portrait that Larson (Mercury) draws of Bina as a guitarist and songwriter, a musician whose deepest fulfillment comes from within herself. “Lots of people spend forever looking for something they care about. Sometimes they never find it,” Bina’s older brother Davey tells her, “but you already have.” Larson’s graphic novel zeroes in on conversational encounters, with dialogue that’s fresh and funny (“You’re a stone-cold psycho and I kinda admire that,” Charlie tells Bina when they begin to hang out), and her close-up drawings of expressive faces add intimacy to the interchanges she captures. Ages 10–12. (May)

Publishers Weekly

*A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2018!*
*A 2019 YALSA Great Graphic Novel Reading List Selection*
*A 2019 Little Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List Selection*
*An Eisner Award Nominee!*

"Whereas in early childhood friendships take shape by reason of proximity, later they alter as interests diverge and new bonds form, and Larson's story tracks this painful, exhilarating process." —The New York Times Book Review

"Larson's panels are superb at revealing emotional conflict, subtext, and humor within the deceptively simple third-person limited plot, allowing characters to grow and develop emotionally over only a few spreads. A coming-of-age story as tender and sweet as a summer evening breeze." —Kirkus starred review

"Most crucial is the portrait that Larson (Mercury) draws of Bina as a guitarist and songwriter, a musician whose deepest fulfillment comes from within herself. Larson’s graphic novel zeroes in on conversational encounters, with dialogue that’s fresh and funny (“You’re a stone-cold psycho and I kinda admire that,” Charlie tells Bina when they begin to hang out), and her close-up drawings of expressive faces add intimacy to the interchanges she captures." —Publishers Weekly

"With much of this tight-knit family’s backstory delivered visually or through brief exchanges of dialogue, characters’ diversity of race, lifestyle, and sexual orientation emerge organically through the tidily framed black, white, and gold artwork. Use this with Brosgol’s Be Prepared (BCCB 4/18) and Jamieson’s Roller Girl (BCCB 4/15) and All’s Faire in Middle School (BCCB 10/17) for an easygoing graphic novel take on how to spend summer vacation." —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This sensitive, relatable graphic novel explores many familiar touchstones of adolescence as Bina seeks her place in the world... A limited palette keeps the focus on the story and character development, and Larson’s expressive drawings add to the emotional resonance of the teen’s journey to self-discovery...Fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Smile and Shannon Hale’s Real Friends will eagerly embrace this work. A charming addition to any graphic novel collection.—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

05/01/2018
Gr 5–8—It's a summer of changes for 13-year-old Bina. Her best friend Austin is off to soccer camp, her oldest brother and his husband are adopting a baby, and nobody has time for Bina. An aspiring guitarist, she takes solace in music; it grounds her when she feels adrift. Over the course of long weeks filled with babysitting, mini-golf, concerts, and family, Bina experiences a full range of emotions as feelings are easily hurt, moods are topsy-turvy, and friendships are formed, broken, and reshaped in different ways. This sensitive, relatable graphic novel explores many familiar touchstones of adolescence as Bina seeks her place in the world. Constantly looking up to the older, more accomplished people in her life, Bina finds it hugely satisfying when she realizes that she, too, has something to offer. A limited palette keeps the focus on the story and character development, and Larson's expressive drawings add to the emotional resonance of the teen's journey to self-discovery. VERDICT Fans of Raina Telgemeier's Smile and Shannon Hale's Real Friends will eagerly embrace this work. A charming addition to any graphic novel collection.—Allison Tran, Mission Viejo Library, CA

School Library Journal

★ 2018-03-04
Summer adventures begin when Bina accidentally locks herself out of her house in Larson's newest middle-grade graphic novel.The summer before eighth grade is a season of self-discovery for many 13-year-olds, including Bina, when her best friend heads off to soccer camp and leaves her alone to navigate a SoCal summer. Without athletic Austin around to steer the ship, Bina must pursue her own passions, such as discovering new bands and rocking out on her electric guitar. Unexpected friendships bloom, and new members are welcomed into her family. Though her sphere grows over the summer, friendship with Austin is strained when he returns, and Bina must learn to embrace the proverb to make new friends but keep the old. As her mother wisely observes, "you're more you every day," and by the end of summer Bina is more comfortable in her own skin and ready to rock eighth grade. Larson's panels are superb at revealing emotional conflict, subtext, and humor within the deceptively simple third-person limited plot, allowing characters to grow and develop emotionally over only a few spreads. She also does a laudable job of depicting a diverse community for Bina to call home. Though Bina's ethnicity is never overtly identified, her racial ambiguity lends greater universality to her story. (In the two-toned apricot, black, and white panels, Bina and her mother have the same black hair and gold skin, while her dad is white, as is Austin.)A coming-of-age story as tender and sweet as a summer evening breeze. (Graphic fiction. 10-14)

Kirkus Reviews

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