Name: My Last Summer with Cass
ISBN: 9780316705479

Mark Crilley

This One Summer meets The Edge of Seventeen in this poignant coming-of-age YA graphic novel about two childhood friends at a crossroads in their lives and art from the author of Mastering Manga. Megan and Cass have been joined at the brush for as long as they can remember. For years, while spending summers together at a lakeside cabin, they created art together, from sand to scribbles . . . to anything available. Then Cass moved away to New York. When Megan finally convinces her parents to let her spend a week in the city, too, it seems like Cass has completely changed. She has tattoos, every artist in the city knows her. She even eats chicken feet now! At least one thing has stayed the same: They still make their best art together. But when one girl betrays the other's trust on the eve of what is supposed to be their greatest artistic feat yet, can their friendship survive? Can their art?

My Last Summer with Cass

THIS ONE SUMMER meets THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN in this poignant coming-of-age YA graphic novel about two childhood friends at a crossroads in their lives and in their art from the author of Mastering Manga. Megan and Cass grew up joined at the brush. Every year, their families vacationed together in Michigan, where the girls relaxed by the lake and created art - from scribbles as toddlers to sophisticated portraits in their teenage years. Megan was always cautious, and Cass was always rebellious. But together, each summer, they grew as artists and friends. The summer after her junior year of high school, Megan arranges to stay with Cass and her mother at their apartment in New York City. Suddenly Megan's world explodes into color. The girls begin collaborating on a piece that pushes both of their artistic boundaries, one that will be showcased in a local gallery show. But when a secret comes to light and one of them crosses a line, will their friendship be able to survive?

Wes Michaud

Super quick read exploring friendship, the life of an artist, city life, and the hard ships of being a teen

Candyce Kirk

3.5 stars

Friendship is a big part of our lives and especially so when we’re teenagers. Not many YA stories are about friendship and I loved that this graphic novel followed two friends. The artwork is stunning and the style had me looking at all the details as I was reading. I was loving it so much that I read My Last Summer with Cass in one sitting!

We follow the friends Cass and Megan. It starts off with them seeing each other every year during the summer. Things happen and one summer that stops. When they’re 17 they get together in New York and I think My Last Summer with Cass really shows how friendships evolve. Time away from each other and changes in a family can really influence the friendship. Even though we don’t want to grow apart from each other, sometimes it’s inevitable or decided by choices we make.

The characters are well developed and the author really made me feel for them and what was happening. The only thing I had issues with was the pacing. I know it’s a graphic novel, but it was rather fast. I feel like a little more depth and time with the characters and events that take place would’ve given this story the little bit more I was looking for! Other than that, I have to say I really enjoyed My Last Summer with Cass. I’ll definitely be keeping an eye on this author for more books in the future.

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: My Last Summer with Cass

Author: Mark Crilley

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 4/5

Recommended For...: graphic novel readers, ya readers, contemporary lovers

Publication Date: March 16, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary Graphic Novel

Recommended Age: 12+ (losing a friend)

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Pages: 256

Synopsis: Megan and Cass have been joined at the brush for as long as they can remember. For years, while spending summers together at a lakeside cabin, they created art together, from sand to scribbles . . . to anything available. Then Cass moved away to New York.

When Megan finally convinces her parents to let her spend a week in the city, too, it seems like Cass has completely changed. She has tattoos, every artist in the city knows her—she even eats chicken feet! At least one thing has stayed the same: They still make their best art together.

But when one girl betrays the other's trust on the eve of what is supposed to be their greatest artistic feat yet, can their friendship survive? Can their art?

Review: I really liked that this was a graphic novel book. The artwork is absolutely gorgeous and I loved how the author drew the two girls. I thought the story was pretty good. The characters were pretty well developed as well and this is a super quick read if you’re in a time crunch!

The only things I felt could have been better was the pacing (it was too quick for me to get attached to the story) and the character development, which I think suffered because of the quick pacing. I also felt like the book didn’t have a solid conflict. I understand losing a friend all too well, but maybe I’m at an age and place in my life where that doesn’t affect me anymore or as much. However, I can see where that can be a worldending event for teens and I totally recommend this for teens who have went through this or who fear this thing happening.

Verdict: It’s a solid friendship novel.

izzy

my last summer with cass (out march 16, 2021) that centres around the close knit friendship between aspiring young artists, megan and cass. during one fateful summer, megan convinces her parents to let her stay with cass in new york city for three weeks. as small town girl megan experiences the city with cass and her new friends, she feels like a fish out of water and cass has changed so much in both lifestyle and art. cass challenges megan to break out of her shell, but it quickly becomes too much when their friendship falls apart after a devastating betrayal. 

the book explores themes of friendship and finding your inner voice. i really loved and appreciated how the book incorporated and discussed what it's like to lose a best friend, and it was extremely relatable and well-executed. i had to physically put down the book at one point because it felt so raw and real. the emotions are so vivid, and i think that mark crilley also really used the graphic novel medium to his advantage in the angles and pacing of the book's more emotional moments. also the illustrations and line work are so beautiful, and i enjoyed how the section headers were stylized. 

i also appreciated the role that art played into the book: both of the main characters are artists, and you can actually see them creating art on the page. going to art galleries. seeing their art styles evolve with age and experience as they discover their styles. being an artist isn't treated as throwaway one-liner.it's a clear part of the characters' identities and each character's art reflects their unique personality.

the only thing i didn't really like about the book is the pacing is a bit fast, and i would have liked it more if the characters reflect in their feelings longer. however, i understand that it's quite time consuming to draw comics, and i don't think it particularly detracts from the experience too much. i really enjoyed my last summer with cass and i'm excited to see how the final art will look!! (note: the arc is black-and-white but the finished copies will have full-colour illustrations.) 

thank you so much to @littlebrown for sending me an ARC of this book!!

Hayley 📖🌈💜🌸

3.5 stars.
This was an interesting look at friendship and betrayal and art and coming of age.

My Last Summer with Cass

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