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Next Stop
Stand-alone debut Next Stop is a heartfelt graphic-novel from award-winning illustrator Debbie Fong that tackles tough topics with warmth and humor.
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 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.
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 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.
272 pages, Paperback
First published March 19, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
September 20, 2023
While the target audience of this graphic novel is definitely middle grades readers, it will speak to people of all ages. It is a moving story told through beautiful art and prose. The way the colors are dull and muted in the flashbacks really emphasizes how Pia is feeling despite the vibrant beauty all around her. You can feel the emotions jumping off the page as she learns to live with her grief and move forward with life looking different than before. The background characters tell their own stories of diversity, physical and mental health, age, family, friendship, and more. I cannot recommend this one enough. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
December 11, 2023
Welcome Back!
I am so excited to be back and talking about reads to wrap up the year! I had intended for this post to go live last week however, we had a slight pet emergency (everyone is doing great now, but it did take up most of my time last week). But we are back on track now and I am excited to talk about Next Stop! So without further ado, let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Pia’s entire life has been turned upside down when her younger sibling suddenly passes away at the beach. Now Pia and her whole family are different. They moved to a new town, a place where Pia has no friends, Pia’s mom is depressed and kind of blaming Pia for what happened, and Dad is trying to hold everything together. But one thing that is helping to get Pia through, is that she is going on a bus trip very soon. Pia is supposed to go on the trip with her dad however, he now has a broken leg and is on crutches so a bus road trip with multiple stops is not really ideal. But Pia’s dad decides that she can go alone (being looked after by the tour leader who is bringing their kid as well, so maybe Pia can hang out and make a friend along the way). Pia is still excited about the trip but also nervous about going alone. But maybe that is just what Pia needs.
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. Meeting Pia and following her on her solo trip was interesting and amazing. We got to learn about Pia’s life story throughout the trip as well as how she is feeling presently about her world. I felt sorry for Pia’s family and Pia as we walked through the loss of her sibling. But we also got to see Pia making a new friend and kind of regrowing her family in a new way after this trip. I really loved this graphic novel and I can not wait to pick up a copy when it hits shelves on March 19th! (Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions).
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
*****Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
I am so excited to be back and talking about reads to wrap up the year! I had intended for this post to go live last week however, we had a slight pet emergency (everyone is doing great now, but it did take up most of my time last week). But we are back on track now and I am excited to talk about Next Stop! So without further ado, let’s jump in!
SPOILERS AHEAD
Pia’s entire life has been turned upside down when her younger sibling suddenly passes away at the beach. Now Pia and her whole family are different. They moved to a new town, a place where Pia has no friends, Pia’s mom is depressed and kind of blaming Pia for what happened, and Dad is trying to hold everything together. But one thing that is helping to get Pia through, is that she is going on a bus trip very soon. Pia is supposed to go on the trip with her dad however, he now has a broken leg and is on crutches so a bus road trip with multiple stops is not really ideal. But Pia’s dad decides that she can go alone (being looked after by the tour leader who is bringing their kid as well, so maybe Pia can hang out and make a friend along the way). Pia is still excited about the trip but also nervous about going alone. But maybe that is just what Pia needs.
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. Meeting Pia and following her on her solo trip was interesting and amazing. We got to learn about Pia’s life story throughout the trip as well as how she is feeling presently about her world. I felt sorry for Pia’s family and Pia as we walked through the loss of her sibling. But we also got to see Pia making a new friend and kind of regrowing her family in a new way after this trip. I really loved this graphic novel and I can not wait to pick up a copy when it hits shelves on March 19th! (Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions).
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
*****Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 6, 2023
Thank you NetGalley, Random House Children's, and Random House Graphic for letting me read an advanced reader copy of this book!
Pia's life is turned upside down when her family, driven by grief in the loss of her younger brother, uproot their life and move to a new town. In an effort to find peace and take her mind off of things, Pia travels with a family friend and a bus load of strangers on a road trip full of wacky roadside attractions. Their final destination is a lake renowned for it's magical properties.
This book is fantastic. It demonstrates wonderfully how grief manifests differently for people, and how healing is not a linear progress. The artwork is phenomenal, and does a great job depicting the different feelings and emotions each character feels. The writing is absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed the friendship depicted in this graphic novel, and the impact that loss can have on family dynamics. I can't wait to see more readers enjoying this title; it's a must read! I'm looking forward to ordering it for our middle grade collection.
Pia's life is turned upside down when her family, driven by grief in the loss of her younger brother, uproot their life and move to a new town. In an effort to find peace and take her mind off of things, Pia travels with a family friend and a bus load of strangers on a road trip full of wacky roadside attractions. Their final destination is a lake renowned for it's magical properties.
This book is fantastic. It demonstrates wonderfully how grief manifests differently for people, and how healing is not a linear progress. The artwork is phenomenal, and does a great job depicting the different feelings and emotions each character feels. The writing is absolutely fantastic. I really enjoyed the friendship depicted in this graphic novel, and the impact that loss can have on family dynamics. I can't wait to see more readers enjoying this title; it's a must read! I'm looking forward to ordering it for our middle grade collection.
December 27, 2023
Wow, this was such a moving piece of work. Pia goes on a solo bus tour, and the reader knows something terrible has happened in her family and she thinks it's her fault. Her mom won't speak to her and her dad is trying to keep the family together. But, throughout this bus tour, she begins to make friends and sees some really cool and weird sites. And, when she reaches her destination, a magical lake, the reader is holding their breath as to what will happen next. This depiction of grief and recovery was just so well done. And not going to lie, I wouldn't mind seeing some of these places myself.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
March 11, 2024
This is a book/graphic novel who's target audience is middle-grade readers, but once you start reading, you will soon realize how important this book is to every age and will speak to ALL those who choose to read it.
This is the story of Pia [and her family] and how she tries to navigate life through the new lens of grief [and to some degree, shame]. The author brilliantly illustrates this when she shows Pia's life in flashbacks - she illustrates these frames in both black and white and very muted colors and you can really feel her emotions and the emotions of those around her this way and it is very effective.
Pia is convinced that a trip to a "magical" lake will be the answer to her grief, so she embarks on a journey to get there and what she finds along the way may just be what she needs to heal.
There is a note from the author at the end, that is fun to read, along with with some interesting notes on just how she made the illustrations [blocked them out and such] and how the story and characters evolved from the beginning to end. That was very cool to read as well.
Very well done - I highly recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Fong, and Random House Children's/Random House Graphic for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Pia [and her family] and how she tries to navigate life through the new lens of grief [and to some degree, shame]. The author brilliantly illustrates this when she shows Pia's life in flashbacks - she illustrates these frames in both black and white and very muted colors and you can really feel her emotions and the emotions of those around her this way and it is very effective.
Pia is convinced that a trip to a "magical" lake will be the answer to her grief, so she embarks on a journey to get there and what she finds along the way may just be what she needs to heal.
There is a note from the author at the end, that is fun to read, along with with some interesting notes on just how she made the illustrations [blocked them out and such] and how the story and characters evolved from the beginning to end. That was very cool to read as well.
Very well done - I highly recommend this.
Thank you to NetGalley, Debbie Fong, and Random House Children's/Random House Graphic for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 15, 2024
This is a gorgeous graphic novel that will stay with the reader long after they've finished reading it.
Pia is adventuring on a bus tour to not only see strange and amazing roadside attractions, but also to visit an underground lake rumored to harbor magical properties. Pia's little brother drowned a year ago, and her family is crippled with grief. Pia's mother, especially, is suffering with her mental health and eventually needs to seek treatment. Pia meets some incredible people on her solo bus ride, and through this journey, Pia comes to terms with her grief and heals in a beautiful way.
I think this book so beautifully captures what grief really looks look. The world moves on, while you feel anchored to a moment when everything went wrong and your life will never be the same. The vibrancy of the adventurous current day is reflected in bright colors, while Pia's memories of the last year are a very dull gray/green pastel color. Debbie Fong did an incredible job representing how it feels to be stuck in a moment in time, and what all of the moments that follow feel like. I so appreciated this graphic novel and I know that there are young and older people alike who will be able to heal in their own ways from having read it. I know I have.
Pia is adventuring on a bus tour to not only see strange and amazing roadside attractions, but also to visit an underground lake rumored to harbor magical properties. Pia's little brother drowned a year ago, and her family is crippled with grief. Pia's mother, especially, is suffering with her mental health and eventually needs to seek treatment. Pia meets some incredible people on her solo bus ride, and through this journey, Pia comes to terms with her grief and heals in a beautiful way.
I think this book so beautifully captures what grief really looks look. The world moves on, while you feel anchored to a moment when everything went wrong and your life will never be the same. The vibrancy of the adventurous current day is reflected in bright colors, while Pia's memories of the last year are a very dull gray/green pastel color. Debbie Fong did an incredible job representing how it feels to be stuck in a moment in time, and what all of the moments that follow feel like. I so appreciated this graphic novel and I know that there are young and older people alike who will be able to heal in their own ways from having read it. I know I have.
March 21, 2024
Next Stop is a delightfully thoughtful, heart wrenching, and funny graphic novel. Beautiful art and lovable characters. Debbie Fong is such a talent and I hope so many more people are exposed to her work through this amazing debut!!
January 2, 2024
Next Stop follows a middle school girl, Pia, as she embarks on a touristy bus trip. Her dad was supposed to go with her, but he breaks his leg and allows her to go along with a family friend. I absolutely loved the illustrations and all the characters that are on the bus tour. The roadside attractions were hilarious, and Pia makes friends with so many people along the way. This graphic novel was truly touching. I would highly recommend this to everyone from middle grade to adult. There’s really something for everyone to enjoy.
February 12, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my e-ARC of Next Stop!
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
💭 have an overactive imagination
😭 blame yourself for things that aren’t your fault
🚌 ever went on a road trip sans parents
🍉 want to see the world’s biggest melon
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a really cute graphic novel full of magical elements and a lot of real life drama as well. Pia was really relatable for me. She’s quiet, shy, and not the best at making friends. She also take things very personally and doesn’t like to open up easily. I also understood her pain with losing a younger brother because of the loss of my own brother. I loved the magical parts of the story, especially with the lake that she dreams of seeing for so long. This graphic novel is perfect for all ages, and especially those dealing with grief.
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
💭 have an overactive imagination
😭 blame yourself for things that aren’t your fault
🚌 ever went on a road trip sans parents
🍉 want to see the world’s biggest melon
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
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.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was a really cute graphic novel full of magical elements and a lot of real life drama as well. Pia was really relatable for me. She’s quiet, shy, and not the best at making friends. She also take things very personally and doesn’t like to open up easily. I also understood her pain with losing a younger brother because of the loss of my own brother. I loved the magical parts of the story, especially with the lake that she dreams of seeing for so long. This graphic novel is perfect for all ages, and especially those dealing with grief.
March 26, 2024
I received this book from TBR and Beyond Tours/the publisher in exchange of an honest review.
In this wonderful graphic novel we follow a girl named Pia on a trip with Sunset Tours. This book has been on my TBR for a bit so I am excited that I can review it on my blog (and Instagram) today!
🥰 I really liked Pia, though I wanted to give her a hug so many times. She has been through a lot of things, she lost her younger brother and as the story continues we see how that has affected her life but also see what happened. I loved that she had the courage to go on this tour, that she still wanted to go through with it despite having to do it alone. I loved the big plans she had for when she would reach that special place at the end of the tour. It made me cry. I loved that despite Pia seeking solitude quite often, especially in the beginning, you see her open up more and more. Become friends with people, find a found family (a trope I absolutely love). Pia was a wonderful character!
🥰 The tour! OMG, I just wanted to step in the book myself, armed with a ton of pills though because this girl cannot handle car-rides, haha. But after that? Sign me up! I just loved the sights we saw, the little silly places they visited, the fun hotels (especially the one in the shape of a chicken), everything was just so fun and I am happy I could at least be part of it as a reader!
🥰 Sam was such a fun character and I liked how she and Pia bonded. There were a few moments that Sam could use a bit more tact, but in overall I really enjoyed seeing Pia and her connect and have a great time.
🥰 I also loved the other people in the tour. From the little girl, Lily, who got up to some mischief and always made me laugh, to the older lady Ming/Auntie who always had a fanny pack of snacks/candies for everyone. I really love that we got to meet all these people, got to know them, see their reasons for being part of this tour.
🥰 The art was just A-plus, and I enjoyed it so much!
🥰 That we follow the tour BUT also get to see what happened to Pia’s family. And we don’t just start at the accident/what happened, oh no, we slowly go back in time and see the effects and then what happened that one day. My heart just broke. And yes, I may wanted to slap Pia’s mom for how she was. I can understand where she is coming from, but your daughter didn’t do anything wrong.
🥰 I was so excited by the time we got to Cessarine Lake. There was so much folklore/mystery around it and I was just curious to see what was real or not about this one and see if it really did things people said it was doing.
🥰 The ending was just wonderful, I really loved each and every moment of it.
🥰 Seeing Pia try to get through the loss, the mourning, see her navigate her parents and how hard it is to talk to them after all that happened, it was all very well written. Once again, I was crying quite a bit while reading this one.
All in all, a very emotional, pretty, gorgeous, wonderful read that I would highly recommend.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
In this wonderful graphic novel we follow a girl named Pia on a trip with Sunset Tours. This book has been on my TBR for a bit so I am excited that I can review it on my blog (and Instagram) today!
🥰 I really liked Pia, though I wanted to give her a hug so many times. She has been through a lot of things, she lost her younger brother and as the story continues we see how that has affected her life but also see what happened. I loved that she had the courage to go on this tour, that she still wanted to go through with it despite having to do it alone. I loved the big plans she had for when she would reach that special place at the end of the tour. It made me cry. I loved that despite Pia seeking solitude quite often, especially in the beginning, you see her open up more and more. Become friends with people, find a found family (a trope I absolutely love). Pia was a wonderful character!
🥰 The tour! OMG, I just wanted to step in the book myself, armed with a ton of pills though because this girl cannot handle car-rides, haha. But after that? Sign me up! I just loved the sights we saw, the little silly places they visited, the fun hotels (especially the one in the shape of a chicken), everything was just so fun and I am happy I could at least be part of it as a reader!
🥰 Sam was such a fun character and I liked how she and Pia bonded. There were a few moments that Sam could use a bit more tact, but in overall I really enjoyed seeing Pia and her connect and have a great time.
🥰 I also loved the other people in the tour. From the little girl, Lily, who got up to some mischief and always made me laugh, to the older lady Ming/Auntie who always had a fanny pack of snacks/candies for everyone. I really love that we got to meet all these people, got to know them, see their reasons for being part of this tour.
🥰 The art was just A-plus, and I enjoyed it so much!
🥰 That we follow the tour BUT also get to see what happened to Pia’s family. And we don’t just start at the accident/what happened, oh no, we slowly go back in time and see the effects and then what happened that one day. My heart just broke. And yes, I may wanted to slap Pia’s mom for how she was. I can understand where she is coming from, but your daughter didn’t do anything wrong.
🥰 I was so excited by the time we got to Cessarine Lake. There was so much folklore/mystery around it and I was just curious to see what was real or not about this one and see if it really did things people said it was doing.
🥰 The ending was just wonderful, I really loved each and every moment of it.
🥰 Seeing Pia try to get through the loss, the mourning, see her navigate her parents and how hard it is to talk to them after all that happened, it was all very well written. Once again, I was crying quite a bit while reading this one.
All in all, a very emotional, pretty, gorgeous, wonderful read that I would highly recommend.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
February 1, 2024
Wow. I didn’t realize how many not-great graphic novels I’ve been reading until this one reminded me of what they can do. *Next Stop* feels directed, every panel evocative and noticeable as a conscious decision made by Fong—as opposed to the Babysitters-Club-style graphic novels in which the formal choices *don’t* and aren’t meant to stand out. I want to call those illustrated stories now, and this a graphic novel. Unfortunately, a LOT of realistic middle grade graphic novels do not feel this deliberate in their construction. The closest I can think of is the excellent *Sheets* and sequels by Brenna Thummler.
You can feel the dust, the heat, the kind of cool and kind of sad atmosphere in the stops Pia’s bus tour group makes on its way to a fabled underground lake “known” to have healing powers. A hotel shaped like a chicken, the world’s smallest corn maze. Everything’s understated; nothing’s too exciting.* Slowly, we learn why Pia’s on this trip.
Will kids like *Next Stop*, or find it weird or boring? Did Fong intend it for adults, and the publisher decided instead to market it as middlegrade? I don’t know. I valued it.
Thanks to #netgalley for early access to this title.
*It’s been over a decade since I read Daniel Clowes or Adrian Tomine but I’m thinking their styles might be comparable
You can feel the dust, the heat, the kind of cool and kind of sad atmosphere in the stops Pia’s bus tour group makes on its way to a fabled underground lake “known” to have healing powers. A hotel shaped like a chicken, the world’s smallest corn maze. Everything’s understated; nothing’s too exciting.* Slowly, we learn why Pia’s on this trip.
Will kids like *Next Stop*, or find it weird or boring? Did Fong intend it for adults, and the publisher decided instead to market it as middlegrade? I don’t know. I valued it.
Thanks to #netgalley for early access to this title.
*It’s been over a decade since I read Daniel Clowes or Adrian Tomine but I’m thinking their styles might be comparable
March 23, 2024
Surprisingly, this graphic novel packs an emotional punch. Debbie Fong expertly handles weighty subjects such as grief and mental health while balancing them with humorous roadside attractions like the Cactus Petting Zoo and the Copycat Geyser. The story follows Pia and her diverse companions on their journey to Cessarine Lake. I found the supporting characters' side stories engaging and helpful in Pia's journey.
I love the illustrations by Debbie Fong. She uses different colors and shading techniques to represent the timeline. The present timeline is depicted with vibrant and colorful illustrations, while the past timeline uses muted and subdued tones. All the illustrations effectively convey not only the emotions but also the action at all the roadside stops.
Don't miss the author's note at the end, where she explains her idea for the story and her process of developing a graphic novel. Overall, the novel is a funny, poignant, and well-written graphic novel suitable for kids of all ages even if you're a kid at heart.
I love the illustrations by Debbie Fong. She uses different colors and shading techniques to represent the timeline. The present timeline is depicted with vibrant and colorful illustrations, while the past timeline uses muted and subdued tones. All the illustrations effectively convey not only the emotions but also the action at all the roadside stops.
Don't miss the author's note at the end, where she explains her idea for the story and her process of developing a graphic novel. Overall, the novel is a funny, poignant, and well-written graphic novel suitable for kids of all ages even if you're a kid at heart.
March 29, 2024
Every detail of this book feels special and nostalgic. Next Stop weaves humor and heartache so beautifully to tell a story that feels remarkably human and magical. I loved all of the subtle comic elements, whether in the script or drawings (like Sam’s tshirts). I tore through this in an hour and can’t wait to pick it back up when I’m in the mood for a feel-good journey with the tender and lovable Pia!
March 17, 2024
This book dealt with some hard topics, but was very enjoyable to read. Pia is having some problems at home and she and her father have signed up to take a road trip. Unfortunately her father and breaks his leg so she goes by herself. The woman that runs the bus trip is a friend of the family. Pia meets many people on the bus, and everyone likes her. When Pia returns home, her home life has improved and the book leave the reader with a good feeling about her family.
March 3, 2024
This is a hard hitting graphic novel that I enjoyed. Pia and her family are not doing well but her dad has planned a bus vacation that they are looking forward to. When her dad hurts his foot, he insists that she go alone. We get flashbacks to understand what trauma is affecting the family throughout intermixed with the oddity of the trip. The illustrations are my favorite kind and I really connect3ed with Pia. There are harder topics that are dealt with but they were well done.
February 27, 2024
Next Stop is such an atmospheric, unique, beautiful, deep read. A quick read, but so poignant. A drama, but full of hope. The farther Pía went on the trip, the further back her memories went to events that changed her forever. Above all, a story of healing full of found friendship, family struggles and love, and a tiny bit of cool fantasy. Loved the landscapes, too, and the author’s inspiration.
March 24, 2024
So stoked to be hosting a spot with @tbrbeyondtours @rhkidsgraphic on this Next Stop by Debbie Fong booktour, and our tour stops here. My 👦🏻 is very fond of this graphic novel.
👦🏻 reviews: When my mom left this on her shelf, I figured I will simply knock this off her list. Well, I am truly amazed with this realistic fiction graphic novel. I wasn’t expecting this to be full of emotions and life lessons. This graphic novel has Pia dealing with death, friendships, transformation, new experiences and adjustments in life. There are sadness, changes and challenges that she had to face in order to overcome everything before moving forward. I was so inspired with the story that I read it several times. I really enjoyed this!
👦🏻 reviews: When my mom left this on her shelf, I figured I will simply knock this off her list. Well, I am truly amazed with this realistic fiction graphic novel. I wasn’t expecting this to be full of emotions and life lessons. This graphic novel has Pia dealing with death, friendships, transformation, new experiences and adjustments in life. There are sadness, changes and challenges that she had to face in order to overcome everything before moving forward. I was so inspired with the story that I read it several times. I really enjoyed this!
February 12, 2024
This one made me tear up for being so emotional. I love that although it's colorful, it is very serene, and some pages are just quiet. We can almost hear the silent desert and feel the heat. We understand that there's something sad in Pia's life. She will join a summer tour of unbelievable attractions like a giant watermelon, chicken hotel, and even a potato in the shape of an eggplant with other families, but she goes on her own. Her dad broke his leg so he can't go, and her mom is suffering from depression. At first, Pia isolates herself and she doesn't want to be herself. We feel her sadness and guilt, and as she starts to open up a bit to the other people and finds new friendships we finally understand why she wants to visit the magic lake so much. It's a sad story but well-balanced with funny bits, great illustration, and a perfect ending with redemption, acceptance, growing up, and hope for the coming days. Losing a member of the family can leave deep wounds if not talked about or helped, and I am glad Pia found a way to move forward healthily. I loved Lily, such an energetic fun character.
I wish I could go on a tour with silly unique attractions like this and see a magical lake that would stay in my memory forever. Making memories with unique things related to nature is the best.
I always love to see the making off and read a bit more about the process at the end of the graphic novel with character design and other things explained.
Thank you, publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc.
I wish I could go on a tour with silly unique attractions like this and see a magical lake that would stay in my memory forever. Making memories with unique things related to nature is the best.
I always love to see the making off and read a bit more about the process at the end of the graphic novel with character design and other things explained.
Thank you, publisher and Netgalley for this e-arc.
December 31, 2023
After tragedy strikes her family, Pia goes alone on a bus tour which leads to helping her face her grief and anxiety around the tragedy and her parents’ reaction to it. This graphic novel is unlike any other I’ve read–the author does a fabulous job of balancing touching on the tough subjects of loss, grief, and blame as well as mental illness while also taking Pia and the reader on a bus tour that is beautiful and enjoyable. It truly shows the balance of life after tragedy strikes.
December 14, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's/Random House Graphic for this nice ARC. All opinions are my own.
Next Stop tells the brief story of Pia Xing and her summer on a Sunset Tours bus, each stop being wackier and more whimsical than the next, with their last stop being the Cessarine Lake—which is said to hold magical healing properties. Everyone on the bus has their reasons for going to the underground lake. Pia gets to know all of the passengers, all while dealing with her own personal griefs and dreams that she hopes to quench at the lake.
This was a very quick and easy read. It’s a children’s book and I hope when they read it, they take away the lessons of forgiveness (especially forgiving one's self) and finding friendships in odd places. The art style was perfect, and I read the author’s note at the end where she said she made her own font using her handwriting. If only everyone had handwriting that was as font-worthy as Debbie Fong's.
I liked the story a lot, especially the flashbacks to months past, so we can learn a bit more about Pia’s character and how she used to be. This is a nice portrait on how differently grief and loss impacts a family. In addition, her relationship with her mother and father was especially intriguing. There are tender moments in this book between her and her father that I just loved so much, and to contrast that with the mom scenes. I also love love love her friendships with the passengers, especially Lily and Sam.
Again, it is a children’s book, so the ending was a little let's-tie-it-up-in-a-nice-bow, but honestly it was kind of healing in a way.
Next Stop tells the brief story of Pia Xing and her summer on a Sunset Tours bus, each stop being wackier and more whimsical than the next, with their last stop being the Cessarine Lake—which is said to hold magical healing properties. Everyone on the bus has their reasons for going to the underground lake. Pia gets to know all of the passengers, all while dealing with her own personal griefs and dreams that she hopes to quench at the lake.
This was a very quick and easy read. It’s a children’s book and I hope when they read it, they take away the lessons of forgiveness (especially forgiving one's self) and finding friendships in odd places. The art style was perfect, and I read the author’s note at the end where she said she made her own font using her handwriting. If only everyone had handwriting that was as font-worthy as Debbie Fong's.
I liked the story a lot, especially the flashbacks to months past, so we can learn a bit more about Pia’s character and how she used to be. This is a nice portrait on how differently grief and loss impacts a family. In addition, her relationship with her mother and father was especially intriguing. There are tender moments in this book between her and her father that I just loved so much, and to contrast that with the mom scenes. I also love love love her friendships with the passengers, especially Lily and Sam.
Again, it is a children’s book, so the ending was a little let's-tie-it-up-in-a-nice-bow, but honestly it was kind of healing in a way.
March 18, 2024
✨ Review ✨ Next Stop by Debbie Fong
Thanks to Random House Graphic, TBR and Beyond Tours, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
This fabulous middle grades graphic novel blends together a mix of laughter and sadness throughout its pages. The book follows Pia on a bus tour through a series of wacky stops to an underground lake that's purported to make wishes come true and magic happen.
A diverse cast of characters of all ages sets out on the bus, and Pia's off on her own for the first time after her dad can't join because he broke his leg. Pia's grappling with a range of feelings after her little brother died last year and her family moved to get a fresh start. The grief often feels subtly woven into the story, more through her family dynamics and parent's mental health and a just general sadness through Pia's moods.
From the world's smallest corn maze to a cactus park and a chicken hotel, the bus stops at increasingly stranger stops. Pia finds laughs as she becomes part of this bigger family on the tour together. There are definite highs and lows in the story, especially as Pia's backstory is revealed. The book definitely finds some catharsis in the end, and the end left me feeling satisfied.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: "out west" in the desert
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Playlist (lolol - play at your own risk)
1. Don't Hug a Cactus - Badanamu
2. Rubber Bands, Rubber Balls - Phineas and Ferb
3. Chicken Song - J.Geco
4. It's Corn - Songify This ft. Tariq and Recess Therapy
5. Underground Lake by Lorne Balfe
Thanks to Random House Graphic, TBR and Beyond Tours, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!
This fabulous middle grades graphic novel blends together a mix of laughter and sadness throughout its pages. The book follows Pia on a bus tour through a series of wacky stops to an underground lake that's purported to make wishes come true and magic happen.
A diverse cast of characters of all ages sets out on the bus, and Pia's off on her own for the first time after her dad can't join because he broke his leg. Pia's grappling with a range of feelings after her little brother died last year and her family moved to get a fresh start. The grief often feels subtly woven into the story, more through her family dynamics and parent's mental health and a just general sadness through Pia's moods.
From the world's smallest corn maze to a cactus park and a chicken hotel, the bus stops at increasingly stranger stops. Pia finds laughs as she becomes part of this bigger family on the tour together. There are definite highs and lows in the story, especially as Pia's backstory is revealed. The book definitely finds some catharsis in the end, and the end left me feeling satisfied.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: "out west" in the desert
Pub Date: March 19, 2024
Playlist (lolol - play at your own risk)
1. Don't Hug a Cactus - Badanamu
2. Rubber Bands, Rubber Balls - Phineas and Ferb
3. Chicken Song - J.Geco
4. It's Corn - Songify This ft. Tariq and Recess Therapy
5. Underground Lake by Lorne Balfe
March 28, 2024
Pia, a shy, awkward kid, is excited to go on a desert bus tour alone. She would not have minded if her father came, but he broke his leg. Anyway, she has unfinished business to attend to, which readers learn about slowly throughout the book. There are hints that her family is fractured, and Pia thinks her mom hates her, but as the trip goes on, we think the reality may be complicated. The tour itself includes a busload of eccentric characters and more eccentric, cheesy desert attractions. There’s the world’s biggest ball of yarn and the world’s biggest watermelon, not to mention a hotel shaped like a chicken and a stairway to nowhere. But the biggest destination of all is the mysterious Cessarine Lake, in a cavern deep underground. It is supposed to have mystical powers of divination, and Pia is hoping against hope that it will give her answers.
The story is very much about coming to terms with a terrible loss. Pia is devastated by the loss of her baby brother, and feels that she is to blame. Her mother is mentally in a bad place, and has blamed Pia, while her father is trying to take care of them both. Despite the tough topic, there are moments of unadulterated fun, as Pia becomes friends with another girl on the bus, and they marvel at the weird roadside attractions and denizens among them. Clarity about Pia’s home life comes in flashbacks, in more muted tones than the rest of the narrative. Fong’s artwork has a pared down feel, which works well with the vastness of the desert setting, and the palette of brown and orange is perfect.
The story is very much about coming to terms with a terrible loss. Pia is devastated by the loss of her baby brother, and feels that she is to blame. Her mother is mentally in a bad place, and has blamed Pia, while her father is trying to take care of them both. Despite the tough topic, there are moments of unadulterated fun, as Pia becomes friends with another girl on the bus, and they marvel at the weird roadside attractions and denizens among them. Clarity about Pia’s home life comes in flashbacks, in more muted tones than the rest of the narrative. Fong’s artwork has a pared down feel, which works well with the vastness of the desert setting, and the palette of brown and orange is perfect.
January 24, 2024
Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Powerful story of a middle school girl, Pia, who takes a summer bus trip alone. Her dad was supposed to go too but he broke his leg. Her mom is locked in some sort of struggle of her own. Throughout the story, readers see hints of what happened to this family through Pia's thoughts and flashback scenes to the months prior to the trip. We also see her treasure a small toy she brought along. By the end, we learn what happened to her little brother and what is wrong with her mom. The family is moving toward healing and readers see the long road they face with their grief.
On the trip, Pia makes a friend and opens up to her and the readers about what happened on a tragic day at the beach. My heart ached for these characters as they revealed very realistic responses to an accident.
The artwork is beautiful to study and juxtaposes humorous locations with the deep grief and guilt Pia is working through. Fong shares her reason for writing this story at the end along with her methods for creating a book.
Though written for middle grade level, readers of all ages will appreciate and connect with this story.
I received an electronic ARC from Random House Children's Publishing through NetGalley.
Powerful story of a middle school girl, Pia, who takes a summer bus trip alone. Her dad was supposed to go too but he broke his leg. Her mom is locked in some sort of struggle of her own. Throughout the story, readers see hints of what happened to this family through Pia's thoughts and flashback scenes to the months prior to the trip. We also see her treasure a small toy she brought along. By the end, we learn what happened to her little brother and what is wrong with her mom. The family is moving toward healing and readers see the long road they face with their grief.
On the trip, Pia makes a friend and opens up to her and the readers about what happened on a tragic day at the beach. My heart ached for these characters as they revealed very realistic responses to an accident.
The artwork is beautiful to study and juxtaposes humorous locations with the deep grief and guilt Pia is working through. Fong shares her reason for writing this story at the end along with her methods for creating a book.
Though written for middle grade level, readers of all ages will appreciate and connect with this story.
December 17, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Pia Xing's family has struggled since the drowning death of her younger brother while Pia was supposed to be watching him. Pia's mother is not dealing well, the family has moved, and on top of everything else, the father has broken his leg. He's arranged for a summer bus trip for him and Pia, but with his injury, he arranges for her to go on her own. There are many other people on the trip, including Sam, the operator's daughter, and the sites the group visits are fun. (A chicken shaped hotel, world's smallest corn maze, etc.) Pia hopes that when they get to Cessarine Lake, she will be able to make a wish to bring her brother back, especially after her mother is hospitalized for trying to hurt herself. Will the lake grant her wish, or will the family have to find some other way to recover from their grief?
I liked the illustration style, but parents who are struggling with grief so much that they don't properly parent children who are still alive is my least favorite type of middle grade story. It always feels unrealistic and insulting. Everyone else will probably like this one a lot.
Pia Xing's family has struggled since the drowning death of her younger brother while Pia was supposed to be watching him. Pia's mother is not dealing well, the family has moved, and on top of everything else, the father has broken his leg. He's arranged for a summer bus trip for him and Pia, but with his injury, he arranges for her to go on her own. There are many other people on the trip, including Sam, the operator's daughter, and the sites the group visits are fun. (A chicken shaped hotel, world's smallest corn maze, etc.) Pia hopes that when they get to Cessarine Lake, she will be able to make a wish to bring her brother back, especially after her mother is hospitalized for trying to hurt herself. Will the lake grant her wish, or will the family have to find some other way to recover from their grief?
I liked the illustration style, but parents who are struggling with grief so much that they don't properly parent children who are still alive is my least favorite type of middle grade story. It always feels unrealistic and insulting. Everyone else will probably like this one a lot.
March 19, 2024
I always jump at the chance to read a graphic novel and had the opportunity to give this one a whirl. It follows Pia, a quiet middle grade girl, on a summer bus tour trip with a group of strangers after a series of life changing events. They stop at all kinds of weird roadside attractions making this book fun and interesting.
As a mother of teen girls, reading it made me a little nervous. I don’t know that I would send my preteen off with an old college friend I haven’t seen and my daughter hasn’t met, let alone sleep alone in a hotel room at night. But on the flip side, it taught her independence, to have an open mind, and she made some incredible lasting friendships with the people exploring with her. I also want to go on this road trip to see all the strange and unusual roadside attractions.
The pictures were perfect and fitting with the storyline and I really enjoy the thought process and little bit about how she came up with the story, book, and pictures as my daughter is an artist and her goal is to create graphic novels.
Trigger warnings, loss of a child/sibling and attempted suicide
Overall a good read. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
As a mother of teen girls, reading it made me a little nervous. I don’t know that I would send my preteen off with an old college friend I haven’t seen and my daughter hasn’t met, let alone sleep alone in a hotel room at night. But on the flip side, it taught her independence, to have an open mind, and she made some incredible lasting friendships with the people exploring with her. I also want to go on this road trip to see all the strange and unusual roadside attractions.
The pictures were perfect and fitting with the storyline and I really enjoy the thought process and little bit about how she came up with the story, book, and pictures as my daughter is an artist and her goal is to create graphic novels.
Trigger warnings, loss of a child/sibling and attempted suicide
Overall a good read. Give it a whirl and let me know what you think.
March 22, 2024
Next Stop by Debbie Fong is a middle-grade heartfelt read about a girl Pia who suffers from a loss in her family. This is her journey about grief, pain, and finding a way to be whole again.
5 reasons to read Next Stop
1. Illustrations. The book is filled with adorable artwork, and the minor detailing is beautiful. The change of colors of the pages, according to the characters' situations, makes the story more alive.
2. Writing. The author's writing style was good, keeping me engaged throughout the book.
3. Characters. I love how the characters felt so connected, and I started feeling sorry for the main character, Pia, almost after a few pages for how much pain she is going through because of a loss in her life.
4. Found Family. This trope has always been my favorite. When I saw Pia finding love and care from strangers on the summer trip, I knew she would feel better, and she did in the end.
5. Heartwarming. Pia's love for her brother made my heart warm. Even though he wasn't in most of the pages, his presence can be felt through Pia.
5 reasons to read Next Stop
1. Illustrations. The book is filled with adorable artwork, and the minor detailing is beautiful. The change of colors of the pages, according to the characters' situations, makes the story more alive.
2. Writing. The author's writing style was good, keeping me engaged throughout the book.
3. Characters. I love how the characters felt so connected, and I started feeling sorry for the main character, Pia, almost after a few pages for how much pain she is going through because of a loss in her life.
4. Found Family. This trope has always been my favorite. When I saw Pia finding love and care from strangers on the summer trip, I knew she would feel better, and she did in the end.
5. Heartwarming. Pia's love for her brother made my heart warm. Even though he wasn't in most of the pages, his presence can be felt through Pia.
March 14, 2024
Next Stop by Debbie Fong initially seems like a lighthearted graphic novel, but readers will quickly realize that there is something more going on. Pia embarks on a solo bus tour road trip, which she had hoped she had hoped would be a father/daughter trip. Along the way, she sees lots of fun attractions, reflects on the past, and makes some unexpected connections. However, there is always something more lingering beneath the surface. When the big reveal finally happens, everything finally makes sense and it is devastating. Although this book was a bit of a heavier read than I expected based on the cover, I would still absolutely recommend it to middle grade readers! This book covers important topics that are more regularly covered in full-length novels, but I love the way the author was able to address the same topics in a graphic novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review an eARC of this title.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the opportunity to review an eARC of this title.
November 27, 2023
Next Stop by Debbie Fong touched upon several challenging topics, including loss of a sibling, guilt, and mental health in a very appropriate manner for middle grade readers.
Pia, our main character, is on a bus tour across the country, visiting odd and unique tourist attractions with the end of the trip focused on a mysterious lake. Pia is on her own after an injury sidelines her father - she travels under the watch of the tour guide, a family friend and creates new relationships with her fellow travelers all while trying to come to terms with the death of her younger brother.
The story reads quickly with flashbacks filling in the background of the story. The artwork really makes this story. It was fun, colorful and brought the characters and olot to life.
Overall, I found this to be a touching story that young readers will relate too.
Pia, our main character, is on a bus tour across the country, visiting odd and unique tourist attractions with the end of the trip focused on a mysterious lake. Pia is on her own after an injury sidelines her father - she travels under the watch of the tour guide, a family friend and creates new relationships with her fellow travelers all while trying to come to terms with the death of her younger brother.
The story reads quickly with flashbacks filling in the background of the story. The artwork really makes this story. It was fun, colorful and brought the characters and olot to life.
Overall, I found this to be a touching story that young readers will relate too.
January 28, 2024
I enjoyed this book, but as I was reading it I couldn't help but wonder how the target audience would react to it. It's quirky, but quite serious in that it addresses grief and loss and the impact of the death of a child. The idea of a middle school student on a bus tour alone and in her own motel room each night is a little far-fetched. I kept wondering why Pia and Sam weren't sharing a room that had a door to Sam's mom's room.
That said, this would be a great choice for a parent-child book group to discuss. Perhaps a good read for a therapy group focusing on grief. But for me, the road trip aspect struck me as more powerful than the grief aspect and the lake itself didn't come magically alive for me. I do look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this graphic fiction book. I hope it does well!
That said, this would be a great choice for a parent-child book group to discuss. Perhaps a good read for a therapy group focusing on grief. But for me, the road trip aspect struck me as more powerful than the grief aspect and the lake itself didn't come magically alive for me. I do look forward to more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this graphic fiction book. I hope it does well!
March 13, 2024
I really enjoyed going on this journey with Pia. I laughed, I cried, and I really felt for her. I loved the bus tour and all of the different people Pia met. They were all also unique and really added to the story. I loved the quirkiness of all the different tour destinations.
The illustrations are really beautifully done. I like how the author used muted colors for the flashbacks and bright vibrant colors for the present time. Each page has so much to look at.
As the graphic novel progresses, the grief of Pia’s brother’s death becomes very real. I feel like it would be a lot for a middle schooler to read, but maybe middle schoolers are more mature these days. I think the story does have a good message for young readers though.
If you enjoy roadtrips, finding yourself, and graphic novels then I recommend checking this book out!
The illustrations are really beautifully done. I like how the author used muted colors for the flashbacks and bright vibrant colors for the present time. Each page has so much to look at.
As the graphic novel progresses, the grief of Pia’s brother’s death becomes very real. I feel like it would be a lot for a middle schooler to read, but maybe middle schoolers are more mature these days. I think the story does have a good message for young readers though.
If you enjoy roadtrips, finding yourself, and graphic novels then I recommend checking this book out!
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