A summer of secrets, family drama and coming of age. These are some of many themes that come to mind when discussing Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s This One Summer. The main character is portrayed as a young teenaged girl named Rose, who returns to “ the place where beer grows on trees and everyone can sleep in until eleven,” Awago Beach, for the annual family summer getaway. This is the place she would go every year with her family throughout the entirety of her childhood, precisely since she was five years old. However this time things are clearly changing and this year’s vacation is looking less ideal.
Rose does not know exactly what is wrong, other than her mother’s desire for a child appears to be causing many conflicts with her seemingly optimistic and outgoing father. Not only this, Rose’s own transition out of childhood is impacting the events that take place throughout the story. Initially, she shows interest in the older teens of the town, eventually crushing on young store clerk stud Dunc. With this mysterious new feeling flowing through her, she rents a series of classic horror films in order to impress Dunc and give off the appearance of being mature. As she returns to the store time and time again, she begins obsessing over newfound drama between him and girlfriend Jenny. Furthermore, Rose is growing impatient with her younger best friend Wendy, who she had spent the previous summer with blissfully doing regular childhood activities with.
As the story progresses, Rose changes as she becomes mercurial. This is especially shown when she and Wendy attend the “Historic Heritage Huron Village,” as she shifted from enjoying playful activities with her friend to resenting the appearance that it would have to the older crowd. Additionally, time provokes Rose’s empathy towards her grieving mother as she is constantly unable to figure out the cause of the grief; a miscarriage. With the constant pessimistic attitud...