Buckle Up
by Lawrence Lindell (Author)
Figuring out family is no easy street, especially in a divorce. Perfect for fans of New Kid and Smile, this contemporary graphic novel introduces a young boy navigating life with his dad, one car ride at a time.
Lonnie is going through big changes in his life—with his parents newly divorced, he's trying to figure out his new normal. He likes living with his mom and sister, but misses spending time with his father—and the short drives to and from school just aren't enough.
His dad is determined to make every moment count, relying on the car rides to talk about all of the big things that are hard to talk about elsewhere—divorce, sexuality, racism and more. As Lonnie gets used to this new dynamic and hard conversations, will he be better able to connect to his dad? Or will this new family structure force them even further apart?
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Kirkus
A successful blending of text and image that results in engaging storytelling
Publishers Weekly
Lindell (Blackward) packs big issues into the small space of a sedan in this heartwarming graphic novel that examines the aftermath of divorce. Lonnie's mother always says that he and his older sister Nicole are "young, gifted, and Black." Though the siblings turn the phrase into a tongue-in-cheek inside joke, Lonnie has been feeling small, angry, and alone ever since his parents divorced and his father moved out. To curtail taunting from his classmates about his parents' split, Lonnie insists that his father pick him up from a corner far from school. Throughout this humorous novel, Lonnie and his father struggle to connect, which the creator depicts in a series of car-ride conversations. Annoyed by a homophobic comment from his father, Lonnie comes out as bisexual, an event that signals a turning point for father and son as they navigate their shifting relationship post-divorce. Their triumphs and missteps are equal parts awkward and tender, a dynamic that's amplified by Lindell's simple yet expressive digital drawings, which render Lonnie's inner thoughts via monochrome line art that change color according to his mood. Ages 8-12. (Aug.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
JUV011010 - Juvenile Fiction | People & Places | United States - African-American
JUV039020 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Adolescence
Fathers and sons
Graphic novels
Divorce
Children of divorced parents
Cartoons and comics
Automobile travel
Interpersonal communication
