Middle-Grade Review: Midsummer Sisters (Niki Smith)

In this graphic novel, Kenzie’s father, Adrian, married Quinn’s mother, Bethany, after the death of Kenzie’s mother when both girls were fairly young. Quinn’s father sometimes visits with her, but the two are definitely sisters in every way that counts. Lately, their parents have been fighting nonstop, which is very stressful. When Gramma (Adrian’s mother) offers to take the girls to her home in the Outer Banks for the summer, it’s mainly a relief, although Quinn is a little upset to be missing her friend Willow. She’s supposed to have a visit with her father, but Gramma offers to host him at her home. The girls have a lot of freedom to kayak and roam the beach while Gramma does her work for the Wild Horse Foundation, and it’s peaceful to not have to listen to fighting all the time. The girls find a shark’s tooth, help clean up the beach, and even get to name a new foal who is born. When Bethany decides to take a job in another town, Quinn is devastated. She feels that Kenzie doesn’t quite understand her grief, and the two fight a bit. They eventually talk through their feelings, and Kenzie realizes that Quinn and Willow want to date each other, adding to Quinn’s grief. While the parents are not very helpful during this transition, Gramma is a steady support, and the girls plan to spend their summers with her even after the divorce.