My Last Summer with Cass by Mark Crilley
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers / Little, Brown and Company
Publication Date: March 16, 2021
ISBN: 9780759555457
Childhood friends Megan and Cass, separated for years by a move, have reconnected for a summer adventure in New York City where Cass currently lives. Both are artists, but each have different ways of exploring and learning about art—rebellious Megan challenges Cass’s way of creative thinking and way of life. They collaborate on a personal art project that could bring them both to a new level of artistry, but is it too big of a step for them as artists and as friends?
A coming-of-age tale with an artistic flair, My Last Summer with Cass brushes all the right strokes of the challenge of growing up and sometimes growing apart. Going off to college always creates that complication, and the question of saving versus giving up on a childhood friendship is one that all teens can end up relating to. The soft and subtle coloring beautifully complements and elevates the expressive artwork. This is a heartfelt tale about standing up for yourself, even if sometimes the person you have to stand up to is you.
Recommend this comforting, hopeful, and honest story for teens ready to head off to college to fans of Late to the Party by Kelly Quindlen, Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell, and When You Were Everything by Ashley Woodfolk.
—Becky Proie
Other Nominated Titles
- Artie and the Wolf Moon by Olivia Stephens (September 7, 2021)
- Love Me, Love Me Not, v.9 by Io Sakisaka (July 6, 2021)
- Love Me, Love Me Not, v.10 by Io Sakisaka (September 7, 2021)
- Shang-Chi by Gene Luen Yang, v.1 by Gene Luen Yang, Dike Ruan, and Philip Tan (April 13, 2021)
- Miles Morales, v.4: Ultimatum by Saladin Ahmed, Cory Smith, Marcelo Ferreira, and Carmen Carnero (March 9, 2021)
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams will feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation will be listed as well. At year’s end, the team will use that list of nominated titles to select a final list and Top Ten. The previous years’ lists are also made available on The Hub.
