Lucy in the Sky

Twelve-year-old Lucy, who is white and has red hair, navigates impermanence over the course of seventh grade. In fall 2012, Lucy’s friend group begins drifting apart—Vanessa Takahashi becomes interested in boys, while Rupa Khanna struggles with her immigrant family’s expectations. Lucy, meanwhile, copes with her own familial situation—her photojournalist mother travels nonstop, her divorced father avoids dating, and her vibrant grandmother, Cookie, who’s Lucy’s best friend, grows weaker during chemo treatments. When Lucy discovers an old Beatles album among her parents’ things, Vanessa spurs the group to form a band with classmate Georgianna, whose presence causes friction during practice. In this work by a married creator pair, Chiki’s bandes dessinées–style illustrations feature thin lines, flat colors, and character close-ups. Though the story rarely pauses for dramatic moments, Brinkman’s (Up High in the Trees, for adults) characters wade through tender interactions, resulting in a soft and endearing look into a preteen world. Ages 10–14. [em]Agent: Alice Tasman, Jean V. Naggar Literary. (July) [/em]