Next Stop
by Debbie Fong (Author)
Get ready for a graphic novel road trip with more than just a few bumps in the road!
Middle schooler Pia is dealing with grief as she finds herself on the biggest adventure of her life--a bus tour stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. Inspired by a real life road trip and touching on tough topics, but filled with warmth and humor-- Next Stop is a "remarkable debut." (The Horn Book) about family, friendship, and moving on.
Pia is a soft-spoken middle schooler whose life is turned upside down after the loss of her younger brother, followed by her parents' decision to move to a new town. In an effort to get her mind off of the troubles at home, Pia goes on a bus tour with a family friend, stopping at weird and wacky roadside attractions. The final destination: a mysterious underground lake. The locals say it has magical powers; Pia won't admit she believes in it, but she's holding on to hope that the waters may hold the answer to mending her broken family.
The trip is much more than the final stop. The friendships that Pia makes along the way are just as valuable as the destination itself. Next Stop explores grief, resilience, and learning how to laugh again. Debbie Fong weaves together an incredibly strong debut filled with humor and heart, with a splash of mystery and magic.
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Publishers Weekly
To take her mind off changing family dynamics, middle schooler Pia Xing goes on a bus tour to visit quirky roadside attractions in this solo graphic novel debut by Fong (How to Be a Person). Pia has been obsessing over mystical Lake Cessarine ever since she heard about it following a tragic accident. She's excited when her grieving father gifts her tickets for a tour of curious attractions, including the World's Smallest Corn Maze and the World's Largest Melon, which will end at Lake Cessarine. Though a broken leg prohibits him from going, Pia embarks with a promise of safety from a family friend. As the bus tour commences, Pia likens the trip to "being part of a big family" and befriends fellow attendees, depicted with varying skin tones, including the tour guide's daughter, Sam Martins. Throughout the tour, Fong inserts flashbacks in reverse chronological order that detail Pia's accumulating traumas and her hopes for Lake Cessarine. Cartoony illustrations depict increasingly surreal scenery along the route, highlighting Pia's disconnect with her surroundings. Still, Pia remains hopeful, and her trip serves as a meditation on grief, a catalyst for healing, and a reminder of the importance of friendship, family, and connection. Ages 8-12. (Mar.)
Copyright 2023 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.Review quotes
JUV008040 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Action & Adventure
JUV008080 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Fantasy
Voyages and travels
Graphic novels
Middle schools
Grief
Cartoons and comics
Grief in children
