Mariko’s characterization of every character is stunningly dense without ever coming across as heavy-handed. Fortunately for the reader, the two creators of this book are nothing short of masters. A story this emotionally dense and delicate would be an absolute disaster at the hands of anyone less capable than the Tamakis. Through experiencing them, they begin to grow up and realize who they are as they venture into the strange new world that is teenage years. Nonetheless, they are forced to bear witness to these events. Rose and Windy are caught in two trying situations, neither of which they are old enough to fully comprehend or do anything to change. Rose and Windy always cross paths on an annual vacation their families take to Awago Beach. This One Summer is the story of two young girls, protagonist Rose and her close friend Windy. It is a poignant, quiet, and immensely emotional tour-de-force of a comic, a perfect snapshot of the strange purgatory that lies between childhood and adulthood. Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki’s This One Summer falls squarely in the third category.
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