I assumed Next Stop: (A Graphic Novel) by Debbie Fong would be a funny a minute laugh out loud read/book. Now, while it has funny moments, it is actually a serious story about loss, love, friendship, family dynamics and coming of age. Therefore, you really can’t always judge a book by its cover.
The realistic, serious moments are relatable, thoughtful and even a bit educational. The humor is a nice balance to counter that. Then there is a bit of a supernatural element that you take as you need to (is it real or just a metaphor of things and the hope the characters need). The characters are familiar as they are us, our family, friends, neighbors. There are also a variety of types of people (a nuclear family, biracial families, people of color, an older couple of color, a same-gender couple, a sword carrying toddler and her pre-teen brother). I liked how Pia was not a “friendless dork/nerd” but a “normal kid” who had normal kid issues: leaving her friends when she was moving, dealing with the sadness and lack of dealing with the event that happened almost a year ago. The format of the “reverse story” is clever, known, but also fresh. We see Pia “now” and then, slowly, as she is willing to deal with things, we find out why she looks and acts the way she does, and why she has the flashbacks of only her father and her interacting, and a mother we see only through “a voice off the page.”
It is a good story. I had a few bumps with a piece of the actual story arc, but overall it was delightful. The idea of loss is not new, but I felt that it seemed more believable. I am not sure how much I agree with Pia being as responsible as she is, but the journey she physically takes on the bus tour is a great example of what she is going through. The idea of a “wishing lake” underground was a nice touch and gave it a new way to talk about things. As I was reading, I was reminded of the graphic novels Out There by Seaerra Miller and Lo and Behold by Wendy Mass. The nice part is each is unique, but a great way to say “If you like, try this.”