3 stars
For me, this one was just okay. There’s no doubt the artwork is amazing. There is so much detail and emotion packed into the settings and characters. Each page pulls the reader in and really sets the mood.
The story itself is very character-driven, rather than heavy on plot. There are a lot of subtle elements at play, emerging at a slow pace. Much of the story centers around coming-of-age, growing up, and the ways the world (and one’s understanding of it) changes during the process.
There are plenty of relatable tidbits such as beginning to grow out of friendships, family drama, new crushes, and navigating the changing world as you age. The story is also told in a way in which situations emerge around the characters rather than them actively participating. They often observe from the sidelines as they slowly begin to enter into some of the understandings of the adult world.
For me, there just wasn’t enough growth evident. There are plenty of things for Rose to learn during the summer. By the the end, there just isn’t a nice resolution. There’s no clear change or understanding. She goes on with life and the reader can only hoped she learned something. This seems to be a deliberate choice, which is fine, but did not interest me personally. Honestly, I was more interested in Windy than Rose in the first place.
There’s a certain beauty in the subtlety of this story. A careful art to it. But for me, it wasn’t enough to keep my interest.
Lovely artwork. Okay story. Balances out to 3-stars for me.