Next Stop
by Debbie Fong; illus. by the author
Intermediate, Middle School    RH Graphic/Random    272 pp.
3/24    9780593425206    $21.99
Library ed.  9780593425213    $24.99
Paper ed.  9780593425183    $13.99
e-book ed.  9780593425190    $8.99

Fong’s deeply moving graphic novel opens with an intriguing premise: Pia Xing, a reserved and lonely middle schooler, says goodbye to her father and embarks on a multi-day bus tour through the desert with a bunch of strangers. Their destination is the subterranean bioluminescent Cessarine Lake, billed as having mystical, wish-granting powers. During stops at diners and kitschy roadside attractions, Pia gets to know her fellow passengers, all of whom have their own reasons for making the journey. Pia isn’t ready to share hers—not even with new friend Sam, who’s grudgingly accompanying her tour-guide mom. Daily phone calls home to her father and flashbacks from the previous year gradually reveal what led to this solo trip, including the tragedy that left Pia and both her parents mired in grief. In varied panel and full-page illustrations, Fong’s spare cartoon style is well suited to the setting and the main character’s bleak emotional landscape. The trip offers moments of peace and lightheartedness: “I’m actually having a lot of fun! It kind of feels like being part of a big family.” The story begins to take on elements of magical realism the closer the group gets to the lake, making the impossible begin to seem possible. Pia’s miracle looks different from what she set out looking for, but the magic is transformative all the same. With a sympathetic protagonist navigating unimaginable pain, fully realized and engaging secondary characters, and a skillfully crafted narrative, this is a remarkable debut.

From the January/February 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.