Jillian and Mariko Tamaki’s This One Summer is a Caldecott Honor (and multiple award-winning) graphic novel that follows two young friends over a vacation’s “tween wakening.” The book captures their bittersweet pause on the cusp of adolescence, immersing readers in the girls’ conflicting desires to hold onto childish games—and peek into the drama of the townie teens and bickering, mysteriously grief-stricken, adults surrounding them. —Meg Lemke

Read more of Mutha Magazine Editor-in-Chief and new Illustrated PEN guest editor Meg Lemke’s introduction to “This One Summer” here.


Jillian Tamaki is an illustrator and comics artist. She is the co-creator of Skim and This One Summer, and the author of SuperMutant Magic Academy and Boundless (2017). She has taught comics and illustration in New York City at SVA and The New School. She lives in Toronto. Visit jilliantamaki.com.

Mariko Tamaki‘s work includes Young Adult prose ((you) set me on fire and Saving Montgomery Sole) and graphic novels (Skim and This One Summer, both with Jillian Tamaki). This One Summer received Printz and Caldecott Honors, as well as an Eisner and Ignatz Award. Mariko has written for radio and stage. Her upcoming projects include the graphic novel Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me with Rosemary Valero-O’Connell (First Second Books), Supergirl: Being Super with Joëlle Jones (DC Comics) and Hulk with Nico Leon (Marvel).