Road trip! It should be fun for Pia, as she's always wanted to go. Her dad was supposed to take her, but a broken leg has left him at home. Pia goes anyway, hoping to use the trip to find closure with a personal tragedy. And it promises to be a. fun trip with cacti rollercoaster, giant watermelons, and interesting people on the bus.

Asian parenting guilt is no joke. Pia's mother blames her for the tragedy and barely speaks to her, while a move to a new town separated her from her friends. Even during the trip, the tour guide's daughter notices how quiet Pia gets at times. A little girl latches onto her, and Pia decides to protect this girl where she can.

The art is gorgeous, and heartbreaking at times. We find out what broke Pia's family apart, and the visuals that show a great loss. I hope this comic gets at least an Eisner nomination this year, as it deserves.

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.

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.

Pia is in a new town and struggling to adjust after her little brother’s death. Her family is also struggling to adjust to their new life. Pia longs to go on a bus trip to see quirky roadside attractions. But at the last minute she gets sent on the trip of her dreams with a family friend. The final destination is a magical lake that she secretly hopes can make things better. But she soon finds out that it’s always the journey that makes the destination. Can Pia learn to live again? Can her family find peace?
The images of this graphic novel are perfect in their simplicity and the color pallets add to the mood of the scenes. Readers will empathize with Pia while they process her experiences with her. Recommended for both school and public library collections as well as readers of realistic fiction graphic novels. 4 stars, Gr 3-7.

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!

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 book is so good! It was really cute and also really sad and emotional and heartbreaking and dark. I love it. I especially love the epilogue and the extra notes in the back. I love that this book was inspired by a trip to ruby falls. I don’t know if this book is appropriate for little kids, it has some extremely mature and dark parts, but as an adult I love it very much!

Such a sweet, magical story that is also surprisingly heartbreaking. A beautiful journey of grief and friendship and rediscovery told with whimsical illustrations and fantastic characters. Really loved this one!

Next Stop is an absolutely beautiful and magical graphic novel. After the devastating loss of Pia’s little brother, her family is mourning and her mom is having an especially difficult time. Perhaps a bus tour for Pia with friends will help the healing process. How could anyone not smile at the world’s smallest corn maze?!? At the end of these seamlessly silly attractions is a sign of hope in a famed magical lake. Next Stop normalizes the grief process, moving through stops, feeling the pendulum of sorrow and finding joy in silly things in life.

Review is on the tbr and beyond book tour and will be posted with favorite quotes on March 23rd.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

4.5 ⭐️

This debut graphic novel is quite brilliant and captivating. I really felt the intensity of the emotions of the characters and the way the story flashes back in time to reveal what’s happened to Pia and her family is so engaging. I recommend this to anyone, not just middle graders!

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.

A wonderful and heartfelt story of a girl who joins a bus tour headed to a special lake. For reasons that unfold throughout the story she is traveling without her parents. As the bus tour stops and sees many unique attractions on the way to the final lake destination we learn more and more about each of the tour members and the reasoning behind them choosing the tour. Appropriate pacing and discoveries throughout keep the reader intrigued until the story comes together at the end! Recommend reading on a larger screen device as the text style is hard to read on a phone without zooming in.

I absolutely adored this book. The art, specifically the coloring, was genius and made a deeper connection to the content and emotions that the character was expressing.
Pía was a character who was going through a difficult time and was able to overcome her circumstances for the better. There were great side characters who helped with the plot and Pia.

Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the e-ARC. I am so appreciative.

This book really got to me—it's just so emotional. I love how even though it's colorful, there's this serene vibe to it, like some pages are just whispering quietly. You can almost feel the desert heat and hear the silence. You can tell there's something heavy weighing on Pia's heart.

She's off on this summer tour filled with crazy attractions like a giant watermelon and a chicken hotel, but she's all alone. Her dad can't make it because of his broken leg, and her mom's battling depression. At first, Pia isolates herself, struggling with sadness and guilt. But as she starts opening up to others and forming new friendships, you really start to understand why visiting the magic lake means so much to her.

It's a bittersweet tale, but it's balanced out with humor, stunning illustrations, and a perfect ending that's all about redemption, acceptance, and finding hope in the days ahead. Dealing with loss can leave some deep scars, but seeing Pia find a healthy way to move forward is heartening. And Lily? What a blast of energy she is!

Man, reading about these wacky attractions and that magical lake makes me wish I could go on a tour like that, creating memories that'll last a lifetime. There's something truly special about connecting with nature in unique ways.

And hey, I always love getting a peek behind the scenes and learning more about the process at the end of a graphic novel, especially seeing how the characters were designed.

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me dive into this e-arc. It's been a ride!

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.

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.

Next Stop is a very unique graphic novel about a girl named Pia who is grieving the loss of her little brother. The story is moving and paced just right. Highly recommended for graphic novel collections.

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!

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.

It's hard to classify this book as fantasy or realism, and I'll admit that I think it achieves that peculiar liminal space deftly. It is very moving and decidedly unique. The art is simple but somehow works in concert with the emotional complexity of the narrative.