Amy’s Big Brother by BonHyung Jeong and Carousel Summer by Kathleen Gros are two recent graphic novels I read for the middle school aged (10 to 14) reader. Amy’s Big Brother was read via an online reader copy (though it is currently available) and Carousel Summer was read via a finished copy.
Both stories are similar with their interesting stories of siblings, middle school, and life lessons, but also tackle different things, too. One of those is that while they both have a love interest at the middle school level, one focuses on LGBTQ situations and the other is heterosexual in nature. But Amy also deals directly with the sibling relationship, learning boundaries and communication (both with family, friends and your boyfriend/girlfriend) and Carousel deals with gentrification of the community, and a community (even families) divided by that, plus the idea of communication. The similarities and differences don’t end there, but that’s the fun of reading them as you get to learn more about them for yourself.
What I enjoyed most was that the illustrations are fairly simple, but do not lack details. Both are colorful and move things along. The tones are set, keeping the serious things more upbeat, but not watering them down. Carousel Summer does have a slightly more matureness to things, as our main character is dealing with their own sexuality, arguing with their father about several subjects, and seeing her friends and family at odds. Both might have a slightly ideal ending, but they are nice ones. Also, I liked how we have two main characters who are exploring who they are but in radically different ways, but still have forms of overlapping between the two books.
Author Jeong is also the creator of Kyle’s Little Sister, also a fun sibling story. I also plan on keeping an eye out for future publications. And with Kathleen Gros I have read everything I can locate, Jo: An Adaptation of Little Women (Sort Of), Anne: An Adaptation of Anne of Green Gables (Sort Of) and I Hated You in High School, and will be keeping an eye open for their next work!