Carousel Summer
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
*A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year*
For twelve-year-old Lucy Stulligross, a boring summer without her best friend turns into an unexpected coming-of-age journey of firsts. Perfect for fans of Kayla Miller and Jarad Greene.
With her best friend away at camp, tons of chores to do, and her dad always on her case for being such a tomboy, Lucy is dreading summer. That is, until Milforth's plan to revive an old carousel for the town's 150th anniversary brings artist Ray and her daughter, Anaïs, to town.
Anaïs is smart, funny, and easy to talk to, and Lucy—who's used to being judged for her looks and interests—finally feels at ease in her own skin. And she thinks she may feel something for Anaïs, too.
Leading up to Milforth’s big birthday, tensions begin rising with locals, thanks to a shifty development company trying to overrun the town. Things also come to a breaking point at home, when Lucy butts heads with her dad over how she wants to express herself as a girl.
Can Lucy find the courage to be true to who she is? She’s got the whole summer to find out…
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
When her best friend heads to summer camp, 12-year-old Lucy is left to her own devices in a small town called Milford. As the season progresses, she navigates a budding romance with confident bisexual visitor Anaïs and comes to understand more about who she is and who she wants to be. Lucy's acts of self-assertion become points of tension in her relationship with her single father, who is facing his own alienation by the community. Digital illustrations feature clean linework and a warm palette that evokes a nostalgic summer atmosphere; colors shift to more muted tones during Lucy's private moments of self-reflection. Expressive character designs and clever visual metaphors—such as Milford's carousel restoration symbolizing renewal—enhance the story's emotional resonance, and quiet, intimate moments, as when Lucy bikes with Anaïs or reads on the beach, balance the narrative's weightier themes with heartfelt authenticity. By blending queer joy with thoughtful ruminations on change and tradition, and interweaving classic coming-of-age angst with broader social themes, Gros (I Hated You in High School, for adults) celebrates self-discovery and resilience, making for a richly textured graphic novel. Ages 8–12.
