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pucksandpaperbacks 's review for:
All Summer Long
by Hope Larson
3.5/5
I was sent this novel for review from Macmillan-First Second in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
All Summer Long is a short and sweet read following, thirteen-year old Bina who is devestated when she finds out her best friend, Austin is going to soccer camp for a month during the summer. At times, I couldn't stand Bina. She was very whiny and childish, but given her age that was understandable. However, I just wasn't a fan of her character. She felt like an annoying younger sibling. For instance, she got angry when Austin didn't text her back right away, so she assumed they weren't friends anymore... Bina just seemed to act younger than she was. Bina is also a diverse character yet there was no mention of her ethnicity, she is definitely Chinese, Asian or Korean but we're not told.
I liked seeing her bond with Charlie, Austin's older sister yet she was also a character I disliked. She stopped everything just for her crush on Jae and abandoned Bina at their babysitting job. I felt like she could've been a good person for Bina to have in her life to look up to as a role model yet that didn't happen.
I did like the message the story told, 1. BOYS AND GIRLS CAN BE FRIENDS. 2. Coming of age - since they are approaching eighth grade - Austin makes a good point when he returns from camp, simply telling Bina how things are changing. Yet, Bina seems to hate the idea of growing up.
I also wish we saw more of character development with Bina and more background on her hobby, music - playing the guitar and songwriting. There is only a mention of her talking to Charlie about her favorite band and the music she likes. There is also a turntable, yet no mention of the year the story is set in.
Major points to this middle-grade graphic novel for adding a same sex couple!! I was so excited when I saw this. Bina's brother and his husband get approved to adopt a child and the baby is delivered at the hospital.
Overall, this was a cute graphic novel yet it needs some work like more details and background added to the character arcs. The novel felt very rushed in my opinion.
I was sent this novel for review from Macmillan-First Second in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
All Summer Long is a short and sweet read following, thirteen-year old Bina who is devestated when she finds out her best friend, Austin is going to soccer camp for a month during the summer. At times, I couldn't stand Bina. She was very whiny and childish, but given her age that was understandable. However, I just wasn't a fan of her character. She felt like an annoying younger sibling. For instance, she got angry when Austin didn't text her back right away, so she assumed they weren't friends anymore... Bina just seemed to act younger than she was. Bina is also a diverse character yet there was no mention of her ethnicity, she is definitely Chinese, Asian or Korean but we're not told.
I liked seeing her bond with Charlie, Austin's older sister yet she was also a character I disliked. She stopped everything just for her crush on Jae and abandoned Bina at their babysitting job. I felt like she could've been a good person for Bina to have in her life to look up to as a role model yet that didn't happen.
I did like the message the story told, 1. BOYS AND GIRLS CAN BE FRIENDS. 2. Coming of age - since they are approaching eighth grade - Austin makes a good point when he returns from camp, simply telling Bina how things are changing. Yet, Bina seems to hate the idea of growing up.
I also wish we saw more of character development with Bina and more background on her hobby, music - playing the guitar and songwriting. There is only a mention of her talking to Charlie about her favorite band and the music she likes. There is also a turntable, yet no mention of the year the story is set in.
Major points to this middle-grade graphic novel for adding a same sex couple!! I was so excited when I saw this. Bina's brother and his husband get approved to adopt a child and the baby is delivered at the hospital.
Overall, this was a cute graphic novel yet it needs some work like more details and background added to the character arcs. The novel felt very rushed in my opinion.