Next Stop

To take her mind off changing family dynamics, middle schooler Pia Xing goes on a bus tour to visit quirky roadside attractions in this solo graphic novel debut by Fong (How to Be a Person). Pia has been obsessing over mystical Lake Cessarine ever since she heard about it following a tragic accident. She’s excited when her grieving father gifts her tickets for a tour of curious attractions, including the World’s Smallest Corn Maze and the World’s Largest Melon, which will end at Lake Cessarine. Though a broken leg prohibits him from going, Pia embarks with a promise of safety from a family friend. As the bus tour commences, Pia likens the trip to “being part of a big family” and befriends fellow attendees, depicted with varying skin tones, including the tour guide’s daughter, Sam Martins. Throughout the tour, Fong inserts flashbacks in reverse chronological order that detail Pia’s accumulating traumas and her hopes for Lake Cessarine. Cartoony illustrations depict increasingly surreal scenery along the route, highlighting Pia’s disconnect with her surroundings. Still, Pia remains hopeful, and her trip serves as a meditation on grief, a catalyst for healing, and a reminder of the importance of friendship, family, and connection. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)