Carousel Summer

When her best friend heads to summer camp, 12-year-old Lucy is left to her own devices in a small town called Milford. As the season progresses, she navigates a budding romance with confident bisexual visitor Anaïs and comes to understand more about who she is and who she wants to be. Lucy’s acts of self-assertion become points of tension in her relationship with her single father, who is facing his own alienation by the community. Digital illustrations feature clean linework and a warm palette that evokes a nostalgic summer atmosphere; colors shift to more muted tones during Lucy’s private moments of self-reflection. Expressive character designs and clever visual metaphors—such as Milford’s carousel restoration symbolizing renewal—enhance the story’s emotional resonance, and quiet, intimate moments, as when Lucy bikes with Anaïs or reads on the beach, balance the narrative’s weightier themes with heartfelt authenticity. By blending queer joy with thoughtful ruminations on change and tradition, and interweaving classic coming-of-age angst with broader social themes, Gros (I Hated You in High School, for adults) celebrates self-discovery and resilience, making for a richly textured graphic novel. Ages 8–12. (Apr.)