 | Golden hour Author: Smith, Niki | |
| Price: $10.65 | ||
Summary:
After witnessing a violent attack at school, Manuel struggles with anxiety but his cell phone camera helps him find anchors when he dissociates, and an unexpected friendship opens up new possibilities. In graphic novel format.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 2.80 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 516103 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (09/15/21)
Booklist (01/01/22)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/11/21)
The Hornbook (00/11/21)
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 01/01/2022 Manuel was in his art classroom when his teacher was the victim of a violent attack and, understandably, he subsequently has some PTSD. Luckily, making new friends in Caysha and Sebastian and finding a grounding coping mechanism in photography—plus regularly attending therapy—helps him along a path of healing and recovery. Smith keeps the story focused tightly on Manuel and his anxiety, but her warm, fine-lined artwork expands the scope, quietly emphasizing the healing powers of art, friendship, and animals. Time passes in snapshot-like scenes of Manuel and his friends in gold-washed prairie landscapes working on Sebastian’s farm, and Manuel’s moments of intense anxiety resemble photo negatives—cloudy white figures and jagged shapes appear on black backgrounds, sharply distinct from the bucolic warmth elsewhere. A gentle, burgeoning romance between Manuel and Sebastian is a sweet touch, and the matter-of-fact diversity of the cast is refreshing to see, especially in a story set in a rural community. An artful, conscientious, and deftly executed depiction of anxiety, perfect for fans of Jarret J. Krosoczka’s Hey Kiddo (2018). - Copyright 2022 Booklist.
