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Review: Next Stop

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Next Stop
By Debbie Fong
New York: Random House Graphic, 2024. Comics. 249 pages.

Pia Xing, a shy and lonely middle schooler, has been looking forward to her summer plans all year. She is going on a good, old-fashioned road trip across the country to see Lake Cessarine -- a remarkable, underground bioluminescent wonder that is said to have magical powers. When her dad has to bail on their plans, Pia is determined to go herself, joining a tour group full of strangers. Along the way, they see wild roadside attractions and Pia starts to form a friendship with Sam, whose mom is tour-guide for the group. As the bus gets closer to Lake Cessarine, it is more and more obvious what is driving Pia to keep going -- the tragic passing of Pia's younger brother has left her family broken and wracked with grief. Can the mystical Lake Cessarine grant Pia a miracle and bring her brother back?

I don't know if the cover of this book -- which captures the fun, road trip California Crazy vibe -- really conveys the emotional depth of this book. At it's heart, this is a story about a young girl trying to navigate unspeakable pain after the death of her brother. This book will leave you in tears, but it will also fill you with hope -- as the story leaves the possibility of magic open. This book will blow you away. 
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