Midsummer Sisters

A blended family grapples with shifting relationships throughout an expertly crafted and emotionally perceptive graphic novel by Smith (Sea Legs). Kenzie, an avid rock collector with a prominent facial birthmark, and Quinn, a quick-tempered redhead whose favorite pastime is texting her crush, have been stepsisters for years, ever since Kenzie’s mother died and their single parents found each other. When that relationship begins to splinter, though, the girls are sent to their grandmother’s home on North Carolina’s Outer Banks for a summer marred by uncertainty. Against a backdrop of sand dunes and roaming wild horses, Kenzie and Quinn process the looming possibility of separation in sharply contrasting ways: Kenzie turns inward with preemptive grief, while Quinn’s emotions manifest in angry outbursts. With care and nuance, graceful linework captures both the grandeur of the windswept coastline and the intimacy of strained glances and interrupted conversations; the dialogue feels natural and subtle, allowing readers to read between the lines and come to their own conclusions as the narrative unfolds. The arrival of a literal storm underscores the pale-skinned siblings’ emotional turbulence, while steady, warm Gramma provides a refuge where the sisters’ bond can hold fast. This insightful exploration of change will resonate with nature lovers and readers weathering upheaval of their own. Ages 9–12. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management. (June)