BUCKLE UP

A middle schooler struggles to handle changes in his life.

As much as Lonnie loves living with his mom and sister, he misses his dad. Since his parents’ divorce, Lonnie primarily spends time with Dad when he picks Lonnie up from school. Although he’s embarrassed about the split, he’s unable to share his feelings—even when his parents ask him how he’s doing—until he can’t hold everything in anymore. After getting in trouble at school, Lonnie finally reveals how much he wants life to go back to the way it was, but he still ends up in detention for getting back at a kid who mocked him for having divorced parents. Gradually Lonnie uses his time with Dad to be more open about his feelings and sexuality; he also expresses enthusiasm for comics and finds common ground with his father. When his parents mutually decide on family therapy, Lonnie is initially anxious but ultimately grows into healthier relationships and self-expression. The graphic novel format, with its clean backgrounds and bright colors, effectively conveys the variety of emotions the family members experience, and the many wordless panels propel the story forward. Time spent with various configurations of the family riding in cars together nicely captures their dynamics (particularly the father-and-son tensions); with the characters facing forward in their seats, Lindell can highlight their expressions. Lonnie and his family are Black.

A successful blending of text and image that results in engaging storytelling.