This was absolutely adorable and such a fun read. I feel like this would be a fantastic recommendation for any kid who's experiencing their first "long distance" friendships right now, whether it's due to relocating, the pandemic, or any other reasoning. There's a sweet message in here about how we have room to bring in new friends without forgetting the old, woven into a cute, humorous, sometimes very silly plot with a fun little twist. Plus, I have to rave a little about the diverse cast of characters and the main character's two dads, who are precious and definitely needed more on-page time!

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!

Whitney Gardner's graphic novels have become some of my favorites! I loved Fake Blood, which made me so excited for Long Distance. This book is fun, summery, campy, and funny. The text and art style are fantastic. I think kids (and adults) are going to love this spacey, quirky, adventure about friendship.

I really enjoyed this book overall. Vega, the main character, is facing what many new kids to school are facing, that loneliness and leaving a good friend behind. That conflict quickly changes to something entirely different, but I have to say that creating the characters as experts in certain science fields was amazing. I can think of a lot of students that would not only read this book, but love the twisty mystery to it, while also relating to those timeless themes of friendship and believing in yourself.

Long Distance was a great surprise! I loved the story line, the characters and the fun. The book was a joy to read with lots of surprises and mystery along the way. When Vega's Dad's decide it's time for her to make new friends in a new city, she is less than thrilled with the idea and then things get really weird! Who needs friends anyway, right?
Fun story!

This was a cute, middle-grade graphic novel. Nova and her dads are moving to Seattle. She is devastated to leave behind her best friend. In an attempt to help Nova make new friends, her dads sign her up for Camp Very Best Friend. Once Nova arrives, everything seems just a little bit off.

Nova, Quan, Isaac, and Gemma start to unravel the mysteries of the camp and realize that nothing is as it seems and they are much further away from home than they originally thought. Despite all of their differences, Nova learns that "friendship is a renewable resource." I love this idea! Just because you make a new friend, doesn't diminish older friendships. Overall, this is a solid 5 star read!

This was really cute. It reminds me a lot of the Bailey School Kids books I read while growing up but things are never caused by "normal" things in Gardner's books. Gardner takes a normal situation-dealing with moving and making new friends-and adds in a supernatural mystery.

Vega is a middle school-aged girl that has to move from Portland to Seattle because one of her dads has gotten a new job there. She has to leave her best friend Halley and they promise to keep in touch, however, things go off the rails when Halley suddenly stops texting her and Vega's dads send her to a camp to make new friends.

Camp is in the middle of the woods with no cell reception, the food is bad, and all the kids are weird, plus something is really weird about the camp.

This was a strange read. It was awkward, for very specific reasons that would involve spoilers if I give too much today.

Vega's family moves from Portland to Seattle, leaving the life she knew behind, but most important, her best friend.
Which is the main subject of the book, friend.
Vega has one friend, but she's her best friend Halley.

Her parents, in their infinite wisdom, decide they are going to send her off to a "Friendship" camp to meet kids in the area and make friends. But camp is weird and not your "this isn't like home" kind of different. Like something might be going on weird weird. Although, it could be the children's overactive imagination in not liking camp or trying to find something to do.

Through a series of run-ins with other campers Vega finds herself a few friends. Even if she wasn't hoping to.
Between her bunk mate Gemma, her brother Isaac, and Qwerty, who she keeps running into. They find themselves in a group that all finds the camp strange. Resulting in kid detectives.

The dialogue and many of the interactions felt forced, which they were, but again avoiding spoilers..

Small details I did enjoy were supply images that highlighted all the items gathered for a task. (Packing for camp, going on searches) But especially, all the information out stargazing and rocks. Very information and new topics for me.

I did not enjoy reading this and while I do enjoy middle grade novels, I'm not exactly the target audience. Young readers in my home would probably enjoy it, but I don't think it'll be a family favourite.

**Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing and NetGallery for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. **

This graphic novel blends together peer relationships, family relationships, science facts, and a little bit of the unknown very well. I attended and worked at a Camp for a number of years and I see former staff and campers in this book. It has heart and humor galore!

So so good!! I really liked Fake Blood, but this is even better. Great pacing, full plot, many characters, all things that you don't get in all graphic novels, but they're all present here. I knew something was up with the camp, but I didn't fully guess the delightful plot twist. This is a book with a great lesson and a great story.

It took a minute to get into the story, (but then I’m not one for exposition) but I really loved it. The characters felt so well rounded and the fun of the story and overall message hit home nicely. The message was beautiful and the character growth phenomenal. Can’t wait for more from this author!

I received an ARC of this title in exchange for a review:

This is a cute middle grade graphic novel that would also appeal to slightly younger kiddos (3rd/4th) grade. Fun colors, a great friendship, LGBTQIA+ representation, and more!

When her dad’s new job uproots Vega from home and Halley, her best friend and fellow space-nerd, Vega isn’t confident about making new friends and doesn’t want to try. Her parents’ prescription: Camp Very Best Friend. Shorty after arriving, Vega and a few fellow campers notice weird stuff is happening at the camp, and they bond while solving the mystery.

The story’s cute, the illustrations charming, the science-related graphics a bonus for science-minded readers, and the messages-- “friendship is a renewable resource”; new friends don’t cancel old ones—positive. A surprising plot twist adds to the fun. Though I think it might’ve offered more to the young reader struggling to make friends, Long Distance does a good job of showing that participating in a project you care about can naturally build relationships.

The Short Version: A very cute middle school level graphic novel about loneliness and making friends with some Truman Show/Get Out vibes. It won’t break any new ground, but if it were a meal it would be a really good Grilled Cheese...and sometimes you need a good grilled cheese

The Long Version: A very solid middle grade graphic novel!

Vega has just moved to Seattle from Portland and is distraught over missing her best friend. Her parents want her to make new friends to get adjusted to Seattle so they send her to a camp to get her out there.

While at the camp things immediately start feeling off and the kid from the camp brochure, George Washington, is a bit odd. Things aren’t exactly what they seem and Vega and the new kids she’s met have to figure out what’s really going on.

The graphic novel is good because it breezes along, and for the most part it feels like real middle school age children behaving in a weird situation. I especially liked that the novel explained a decent amount about astronomy and some other scientific hobbies. It definitely feels like this was written by a science nerd (I mean that with love) who was worried about making friends growing up and it’s geared toward those same type of kids.

One of the best things about this is it addresses the real world issue of kids feeling uncomfortable in their own skin and worrying no one is like them or will like them. It also does this without pandering or talking down to kids which is refreshing.

The novel is well paced, the artwork is simple but effective, and the novel is well laid out where it’s very clear what’s happening at all times.

The biggest drawbacks are two fold. First, the antagonist is a bit erratic and could have been developed a little better. Second, there are times where it feels like it’s just short of being amazing, so it can be a bit of a let down, but it never falls below the threshold of good.

Overall a solid 4 out of 5. It’s very readable, it’s very relatable even with its sci fi vibe. It has moments where it feels a little like fluff but it’s cute and cozy fluff. It touches on some real topics and doesn’t talk to children like they’re idiots. I recommend to adults and children alike

Component Ratings
Concept/Idea: 4.5 out of 5
Protagonist: 4.5 out of 5
Antagonist: 3 out of 5
Supporting Characters: 4.5 out of 5
Artwork: 3.5 out of 5
Layout: 4.5 out of 5
Dialogue: 4 out of 5
Character Development: 4 out of 5
Humor: 4 out of 5
Plot: 4 out of 5
Ending: 4 out of 5
Theme: 4.5 out of 5

Colorful, fun, and funny - the characters were well-written and I liked that even the more minor secondary characters got personalities and a time to shine. The subversion of the standard middle school 'sometimes you lose friends as you grow and change' plot was nicely-done.

I am a big fan of Whitney Gardner's middle grade graphic novels so I was really excited to read this! The art is great, Very colorful and detailed but not too detailed. Vega has to move from Portland to Seattle and she's worried about leaving her best friend. Her two dads sign her up for a summer camp, Very Best Friend, which is guaranteed to have her making new friends in no time. However, when Vega gets there she notices that the counselors are a bit odd, the sky is always cloudy, and no one seems happy to be there. The twist in the book was unexpected but fun (I won't ruin it here). I think children will enjoy this book for the friendships, mystery, and fun!

When space-nerd Vega moves from Portland to Seattle, leaving her best and only friend behind, her parents send her off to a summer camp especially designed to make new ones. But strange happenings at the camp have Vega and the other campers suspicious and they soon set out to get to the bottom of it. This soft middle grade sci-fi-adventure reminds us that, “friendship is a renewable resource. You can’t run out, you can always make more.”

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an arc of this graphic novel!

When Vega is forced to move from Portland to Seattle for her dad's new job, she is mostly worried about leaving her best friend. Her dads want her to make new friends, so they send her to a 2-week summer camp, Camp Very Best Friend. But things do not go according to plan!

This is such an adorable middle grade about friendship and putting yourself out there. It also has a really sweet message about the expansiveness of friendship and how gaining a new friend doesn't mean replacing an old one!

I also liked that this wasn't really a contemporary, as it seemed to be at the beginning. Instead, it was a bit of scifi and very out-of-this-world! Also, I loved the focus on science and digestible information about science vocabulary!

Pub Date: June 29, 2021

Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Vega is very unhappy when her dads move her from Portland to Seattle, especially since she has to leave her best friend Halley, who shares her love of space. To add insult to injury, they send her to a summer camp for kids who have trouble making friends. The counselors are a bit odd, and there are strange goings on in the woods as well. One camper, George, seems to have an especially close connection to the camp (he claims his parents run it, but they are never seen), and changes personalities constantly-- and they are all annoying. Vega does befriend Qwerty, who is also from Portland, as well as bunkmate Gemma and her brother Isaac. There are other campers, but it is these four who come across strange technology that seems to control the counselors, and seems to be somehow connected to George. Vega is very worried about her friendship with Halley, since her phone isn't working and she is getting no messages back from her best friend, after seeing Halley post pictures of herself with some new friends. When the suspicious technology leads the campers to find out the true nature of the camp, they must convince George that friendships are possible even when people are far apart from each other, a lesson which Vega is also able to apply to her situation with Halley.
Strengths: Vega doesn't think she needs to go to a camp to make friendss, but at least tries to join in to activities and not mope about Halley the entire time she is away. She's also not overly anxious about making friends, although she is angry about moving, which seems very realistic. The camp is just quirky enough to make it interesting, and the story line does take a very decided twist that I don't want to spoil. It has a good message about friendship, and shows kids connecting remotely in a way that I hope will be more historically important than a depiction of every day life.
Weaknesses: The one father was only ever shown wearing a bathrobe, which seemed very odd. Isaac and Gemma were a tiny bit hard to tell apart, but on the plus side, I was not distracted by the noses! (My number one complaint about graphic novels!)
What I really think: This was a bit odd, but in a fun way. It's a great mix of summer camp and science fiction. There aren't a lot of science fiction graphic novels, so include this along with Brooks' Sanity and Tallulah, Winnick's HiLo, Hatke's Zita the Spacegirl, Graley's Glitch, and Hansen's fantastic My Video Game Ate My Homework.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. Long Distance is an excellent graphic novel for middle school-aged students. When Vega's dad gets a new job in Seattle she has to move from her hometown and best friend in Portland. Vega's parents decide to send her to camp and she has a summer of adventures that she wasn't expecting.

This was so cute!

Clever how many ways the title played in.

Good messages about friendship.

I didn’t guess what the twist was either.

It was a lot of fun and I can see kids loving this.

Good race and sexuality rep too.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher!