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Long Distance, by Whitney Gardner

Long distance friendships are always a challenge. When Vega moves away from her best friend in Portland, Oregon to face new challenges in Seattle, Washington her fathers try to ease the transition with a bit of time at a summer camp with the purpose of helping people find new friends. Camp life is awkward at times and mysterious at others. Not all appears to be what it claims to be at this unusual camp.  I found this to be a fun, surprising graphic novel. I like the author’s use of clues to some of the mysteries embedded in the illustrations. The reader really needs to pay attention to the images, not just the text in order to uncover what is REALLY going on at this odd summer camp. Eyes play an important role in hinting at secrets the characters are hiding. The artwork is crisp & bright. Students who like Raina Telgemeier’s style will enjoy this. The plot twists from a fairly standard realistic fiction story to one with sci-fi elements by the end. Even though parts of the book are fantastic & unrealistic, the larger message of the challenges of finding new friends will resonate with middle and high school readers.