They could not be more different with Ari light and rather dreamy and Hector a more anchoring and settled figure even in their depictions on the page. The two characters are drawn with an eye for reality but also romance. Panetta again allows the story to have a lovely natural pace even in this disaster, giving the reader pause about whether this is going to be a love story or not. Then comes the devastating choice that Ari makes to blame Hector for an accident that they were both involved in. The story line here is beautifully laid out, creating a real connection between the two main characters that builds and grows.

We need so many more books for teens that focus on life after high school, particularly ones where the characters don’t have any real plans of what to do and aren’t headed for college. The two of them slowly becomes friends with romance hanging in the air, and that’s when Ari ruins it all. That’s when Hector enters his life, a big calm guy who loves to bake just as much as Ari hates it. Then Ari comes up with a plan, to hire someone else to help in the bakery so that he is free to leave. Unfortunately, he has to stay and help with his family’s bakery which is struggling financially. All Ari wants to do is leave their small town and move to the big city with his band. Bloom by Kevin Panetta, illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau ( 9781626726413)Ī sweet combination of romance and baking rises to perfection in this graphic novel for teens.

Bloom by kevin panetta