Friendship is at its best and worse in Paper Planes by Jennie Wood and illustrated by Dozerdraws. We follow two characters at a camp that seems like any summer camp, until you realize the girls there have some interesting events in their past that have made them come to this point. And each girl has to show they can be “normal” and “safe” before they go back into the real world. And our two main characters have several issues, not only did they do something horrific, the two characters have something in common: They might just like each other a bit more than “socially allowed.” And at least one of them is “that kind of person.”
Yet, as serious as that sounds, Wood really has a lighter take on things. And focuses on the source without going “too deep” but not shirking the responsibilities of the “deeper” issues. The pressures of being “normal” (even when you have an ally to be yourself), are explored. Nonbinary and asexuality comes into play. And friendships are front and center.
And much more is included. We have characters that are not unique, but are interesting and mostly realistic. There are a few mature situations (a character is said to have a drinking problem, but it is a side note and only to show the differences between her and another character and the events that lead the characters to the camp) that might not be for the sensitive reader, but for most people strong ages 10 to 14 works well. It could even go to age 15 or young 16, but as the characters are middle school, the younger ages work better.
The illustrations that support the text are neat and fun. They are not overly colorful or detailed, but do not lack anything that is needed. I wasn’t overly WOWed but things, but I enjoyed it. I would read more by Wood, but if there were sequels (which honestly I hope not as I like how things ended) I probably would not go on with them.