I enjoyed this story overall. It was different from other YA graphic novels I have read and readers will be able to see themselves in the characters and situations even though it is set in the past. Rhiannon and Kit felt very real. I liked how the author used the song lyrics throughout the story as well. The art style matched the narrative perfectly. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

I received an ARC from First Second Books via NetGalley. This YA graphic novel follows Rhiannon during one entire summer in 1989 where she lives in a retirement trailer park community with her grandmother. Kit who spends every summer with his grandma, just got home and is someone Rhiannon is excited to see. Elizabeth, who is staying with her grandma for the summer, is a rebellious edition to their community.

This story has depth of characters. Rhiannon’s grandma is a recluse. Hank is a wise sage the teens like to talk to who lives in the park. Each character has their own backstory and their own problems, which make this story just a slice of life for good or bad.

I was very excited for Rhiannon with the nostalgia of my own teenage years. I was disappointed in this graphic novel. I am a library assistant for grades 6-8 and am always looking for new graphic novels that appeal to our older students. This one left a lot to be desired. Some of the content was very boring, and then it swings to the extreme with teenage pregnancy/miscarriage and her grandmother's true love. It felt unfinished.

Tweens are going to enjoy the graphic novel Rhiannon. They will relate to some of the characters' problems and hopefully learn some empathy for other problems that they don't have!

4 stars

I always get excited when First Second has new YA graphic novels on the horizon because they tend to focus on themes and motifs that actually matter to the target audience and the representation is usually spot on. Such is the case with this book.

Rhiannon lives in a retirement community with her aunt and has since she was quite young. Much of the novel focuses on Rhiannon grappling with the loss of her mother. This happens in the form of handwritten letters (this takes place when that was still a thing), and readers have the privilege of perusing snippets and full text entries from these notes. Rhiannon also struggles a bit with her aunt who is loving but remarkably private and also prefers to stay home at all times. The illustrations provide so much insight into just how isolating Rhiannon's life and landscape are, and how badly she needs connection and experience in the world. Fortunately, she has two peers who help her begin to learn related lessons and show her that there is opportunity in the future; there is no need to dwell on the past.

One added feature I enjoyed is Brinkman's use of music and specific lyrics to punctuate moments of Rhiannon's experience. This offers a sense of time and place, but it also provides deeper insight into Rhiannon's moods and emotional landscape, which matters for a character who is trying so hard to grow.

This is a bit of a grittier graphic novel, which is right on brand with the target audience. I enjoyed the characters, subject matter, and presentation, and I'll be looking for more from this author.

Rhiannon is a simultaneously quiet and profound coming of age tale. I saw so many kids I’ve known reflected in the main characters, especially Rhia and Elizabeth. Sure to be a modern classic.

Rhiannon is a coming-of-age graphic novel that focuses on our main character of the same name, who is awaiting the arrival of her friend for the summer. Rhiannon lives with her "aunt grandma" in a mobile home retirement community in the middle of the desert, where individuals from all walks of life have formed a found family of sorts. During this summer Rhiannon experiences the awkwardness of adolescence, feels the hardships of changing friendships, and learns about the messiness of adulthood as seen through a new friend Elizabeth and her own aunt.

I think that this graphic novel opens up an important conversation regarding coming out to loved ones, miscarriage, as well as how someone handles and emotionally works through those life-changing moments. I do think that this novel could have developed the relationship and personal interactions between Rhiannon and her aunt a bit more, and I would have liked to have learned more of Rhiannon's thoughts about this life-changing summer. Overall, though, I liked this graphic novel, and it is one that I will be book-talking and sharing with my students, since I know that I have many who will connect with the overall themes and topics of the text.

Thank you to NetGalley and First Second Books for the early advanced digital copy of this book, and the chance to read and review it! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was entertaining and intriguing.. Rhiannon is a teenager with lots of insecurities and fears, who lives in a trailer home with her grandma, The illustrations has a nostalgic style, it reminds me of Sunday’s comic strips.. The story is realistic and easy to follow. I enjoyed the relationship she has with her grandma, her friends and neighbors. I liked how Rhiannon is always kind and respectful with each character, even with a wild animal who visited her often.

Lovely little graphic novel about friendship, family, and growing up. Wonderfully nostalgic with tons of music references and perfect for anyone who comes from a small town.

Rhiannon is billed as in the same vein as This One, Summer, and a lot of the story beats do run the same but it lacks the same charm and heart.
The best thing going for it is the interspersed songs which would make a fun tie-in playlist for playlists.
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I really wanted to like Rhiannon. I liked the art style and the concept, but I had a really difficult time getting into the story. I was attributing that to my general disinterest in coming of age stories, but other reviewers seem to echo my thoughts that the story just felt disjointed. There are a lot of things going on with Rhiannon, and they're all depressing. It's hard when a novel is bouncing between multiple disheartening threads.
While I will not be purchasing for my school library (too mature), I don't recommend against adding it to a high school collection.

This was a sweet story that I can see working very well as a nostalgic summer movie ala My Girl or Stand By Me. I loved all the musical references and the relationships between the characters. It felt a little rushed at times, and I didn't really buy why a 17 year old would want to hang out with two twelve year olds all summer, but overall it was an enjoyable read.

Honestly, I had trouble getting into this one. While its art style is nice and the premise is interesting, it felt a bit unfocused. That being said, I think the author did a good job overall, and I think my patrons will enjoy this book.

A fleeting but heartfelt slice of time--teen readers should relate to feeling at home yet out of place. The intercuts of 80s songs add a bonus multimedia layer to the reading experience, and the slow unraveling of everyday mysteries and family secrets are paced well. Rhiannon captures the liminal feeling of a 12-year-old's summer, that in-between that drifts by but means everything.

Well, damn! Triple homicide. This book was one dark event after another.

Rhiannon is the story of hypochondriac Rhiannon and honestly, a bunch of struggle happening all around her. Her bestie feels on unclear terms with her regarding their relationship… her aunt grandma hasn’t left their home in nine years… and they’re surrounded with others who have experienced seemingly nothing but tragic circumstances and heartbreak. Their neighbors were led to this community via losing loved ones, either to marriage or Alzheimer’s. There is both quite a lot and also nothing happening here. Possibly a -true to someone- slice of life story. An interesting read, but I wouldn’t necessarily recommend it and I definitely wouldn’t read again. That being said, this might be great for someone! It does touch on a LOT, however it doesn’t dive too DEEPLY into any one.

My favorite lines were a tie between “Hank said that sleeping is like dancing. You have to let go and trust your body, because the more you try, the harder it becomes.” and “ I think you might just be screwed up enough to be a good writer.” “Thanks”

Rhiannon by Kiara Brinkman is a YA coming of age graphic novel. The main character lives with her aunt in a retirement mobile home community. She does not have many friends at school and waits for summer for a neighbor's grandson Kit to visit. The two have feelings for each other, but their summer is disrupted by a new girl named Elizabeth who challenges them both and their families in different ways. There are mature concepts in here with teen pregnancy, but overall the story follows these three teens over the summer. The art is easy to follow; there are a lot of references to 70s/80s music that let readers engage more. 

Overall the story may be enjoyable for a high school audience. The Elizabeth character is a bit too literal, which is probably OK for a younger target audience, but it was a little over-the-top for an adult. And, honestly, the "Native American name" and "spirit animal" bits seem a bit unnecessary. Despite these parts, the story works out in the end.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGally for the ARC.

I loved the illustrations, but I found myself bored a lot and struggling to make my way through the book. I wish there had been more resolution or background to the pregnancy storyline. That's just my thoughts.

Such a beautifully done story. I feel like I haven't read something like this in a good long while. Nostalgic, heartfelt, and vulnerable. High school me would have loved this, and adult me does too. Rhiannon's complicated feelings around Kit and Elizabeth are portrayed so well, it really brought me back to my own messy feelings around that age. The little community of characters has depth without distracting from the main characters. You know everyone has their history and entanglements and can see how it carries through into daily life. I particularly loved Rhiannon's connection to her Aunt Gran, the need to know her story, and the gradual building of a friendship with Elizabeth. Highly recommend.

A poignant coming-of-age YA graphic novel. The narrative is lyrical and haunting, weaving together past and present as Rhiannon unravels the truth about herself and the mysterious forces that shape her world. Themes of love, loss, and resilience shine through every page, making it an emotional journey that lingers long after the final panel.

Interesting and moody graphic novel about three teens who spend (at least) the summer living with their elderly relatives in the Golden Canyon Retirement Community trailer park. Two are summer visitors to their respective grandmothers, while the eponymous Rhiannon is a year round resident. Rhiannon is subject to ongoing bullying from the local teens that never quite makes sense, but a mild TW is probably worth offering. TW for teen pregnancy and lost pregnancies as well