About this book

Abby lives in the United States and loves comics, zines, and punk music. Yuuko lives in Japan and loves manga, American movies, and creating art. When Yuuko visits New York City and sees a comic that Abby made, she writes a letter to Abby and they become pen pals. Later, Abby takes the opportunity to enroll in a summer university program in Japan, and the two girls get the chance to meet in person. What follows are charming and funny adventures in Tokyo as Abby and Yuuko explore the city together. Things get even more exciting when they decide to combine their talents and make a comic to sell at Comiket, one of the largest comics conventions in the world. This will be an extraordinary summer of life-changing friendship!

Reviews

Praise for My Tokyo Summer:

Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

"An ode to artistic passion and self-published comics, manga, and zines. It encapsulates an international connection and a relationship that grew despite distance, language barriers, and cultural differences. A sweet story celebrating creativity, culture, and true friendship." -- Kirkus Reviews

"A fun exploration... Utomaru’s art style beautifully captures 1990s youth culture with eye-catching color and a cheerful vibe. A great addition to graphic memoir collections." -- School Library Journal

"My Tokyo Summer is a vibrant, heartfelt, and inspiring journey that celebrates creativity, friendship, and the beautiful chaos of stepping outside your comfort zone. It’s a must-read for young readers, creators, dreamers and honestly, anyone who’s ever wanted to feel something real from a comic." -- Comic Crusaders