The Next Stop by Debbie Fong is a beautifully written and illustrated graphic novel for anyone who likes adventure, mystery, or is dealing with grief. Highly colorized illustrated panels compliment and sometimes contrast the seriousness of the story. Pia and her father were supposed to go on a bus tour together, but when her father breaks his leg, Pia is sent alone to be looked after the guide, who is also a friend of her family. On the tour Pia meets Sam who becomes her friend and creates bonds with other members on the tour. "Why are you going to the magical lake?" is often a question Pia gets, but is hesitant to answer. Mystery, fantasy, and interesting roadside attractions follow the Next Stop to the end. A must buy for any library.

This was GREAT. I think it was a really great look at how grief looks different for everyone and the lengths people will go to in order to make sense of or “fix” a sudden loss. I love the idea that this was a literal journey since it was a road trip. I think readers will love the kitschy little roadside attractions we’ve all seen on road trips.

This is about friendship, loss, identity, grief, and finding help in unexpected places. Really great.

This is one of the best graphic novels I’ve read since New Kid. Fong took a young girl’s pain and her healing journey into a lighter place that will resonate with younger readers, even with deeper issues such as depression and suicidal ideations, Highly Recommended!!!

I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I don’t believe I’ve ever cried while reading one, but this one made me tear up. Pia and her family are struggling with the tragic loss of her younger brother. Through a quirky bus road-trip, Pia works through this tragedy and comes to learn more about herself, her family, and what friendship is all about. Can’t recommend this book enough. A must read!

Debbie Fong delivers a touching, beautiful book tackling grief and growth in a simple, resounding way. The story follows Pia, a pre-teen who is on a cross-country sightseeing bus trip. Throughout the story you follow Pia’s current journey with flashbacks sprinkled in to learn more about her backstory. The art style was whimsical and bright, which I found very delightful. Although the target audience is younger, the story resonated for me as an adult. Themes of grief, isolation, and mental illness are relatable for any age group and were handled very well in this book.

Oh, I loved this book! I can’t wait to see it on our shelves and in students’ hands. This is a quirky, beautiful book about a family’s trauma, grief, and healing, alongside a weird little road-trip adventure. This story will resonate with so many readers. Debbie Fong’s beautiful artwork and style absolutely pulled it all together wonderfully, and I enjoyed seeing the back matter explaining how the art was made and how her personal experience influenced her story. I can’t wait to see more from this author!

What I really liked about this novel is that it addressed a very difficult topic by slowly approaching it. Too many times I am afraid to recommend a book about loss to a student who has suffered loss as the topic is very "in your face". There is nothing easy about the loss of a sibling and this story definitely addresses not only the main character's grief but the change in the family dynamics. Well-written, I am definitely ordering this book for our middle school library.

This graphic novel is very well done and deals with issues of grief in a family and working through them.
I thought the graphics were very well done and did a great job of portraying what our characters were feeling.

A lovely graphic novel of deal with grief and continuing to have hope.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC

This is a very deep, heartfelt, trauma-informed graphic novel that ultimately has an uplifting message. The art is so charming, as all of Debbie Fong's art pieces are. Content warnings for death of a family member, suicide attempts of a family member, grief and intense guilt.

Pia is going solo on a group tour bus trip to an underground lake that purportedly has magical, wish granting qualities. Struggling with her own problems, she is a mostly silent participant in the activities going on around her. Its a grow as you go experience with flashbacks on what got her to this point.

There is a lot going on in this graphic novel. I feel like, as an adult, I can connect all the dots and find the deeper meaning in this book, but I do wonder if kids would get it or if it would be glossed over in favor of the surface story. I do like how kind everyone was to Pia on the trip and how it helped her find herself through watching others. I also like how she ended up hating the trip in the beginning, but began to find the smaller wonders in the world around her.