Haru: Book 2: Summer by Joe Latham

 

Haru: Book 2: Summer by Joe Latham
Publisher:  Andrews McMeel Publishing
Format:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   227 pages
Publishing:   October 22nd, 2024
Source:  NetGalley

Opening Line: "When the choking dust spread, the humans that could afford to left."

Haru is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel, intended as a coming-of-age story showcasing the four seasons. The series began with the Spring volume and has now been followed by Summer.  Each book should be read in order.    

The first couple of pages of the book are black and white or a blue tinged with a white feature of billowing clouds.  A rocket ship is seen taking off and the message alludes to centuries of life slowly coming back, via sprouts returning with color. Meanwhile something sinister is seen lurking, waiting for its strength to build. The story then jumps ahead to a midnight blue or night scene of a ghost bird in search of Haru.  Haru and Yama are seen leaving the mall from the previous book as they continue their quest toward the Beacon, following the clues of the Oracle.  Frei (a small fly) is trying to get Herb to help locate Goose who is in danger, while in an all-red cave a skeleton-ish creature has captured Haru's brother.       

The colors of each page vary dependent on where each of the characters are. They are often bright and vibrant shades.  Although this is titled Summer, it would work for a Halloween read because of the darker, more menacing tones of this book.  There are eerie pages dripping in red and the Blight's new hunter is well, menacing.  Summer to me was meant to highlight the sibling bird's relationship, familial bonds, their caring, love and sacrifice for one another.  The plot moves along with the introduction of new characters and the shifting in action between Yama running off, Haru at the ancients and Goose being captured.  The curse item Yama is stuck with gives off some Harry Potter (HP) vibes in that it seems to be changing them and not for the better.  Like in HP they have to trade off wearing it.  Herb begins using self-depreciating statements and his words bleed off him withering the plants and killing all that they touch.  And he begins to grow, or as the sadder he gets, the taller he seems to become.  It's like all light is being absorbed and "negativity is being spread."  

The artwork conveys a lot of darker versus lighter shades and there is a lot still to be explored in the story.  The ending felt a little rushed to me (the new addition of the mice and ancients needed a little more explanation) and what was with that cliffhanger?  I'm also a little confused because the third book appears to only be 52 pages, and I can't fathom how that will bring things together more clearly.  Summer will appeal to readers that have already read the graphic novel, Spring, enjoy the artists illustrations, and like me, want to continue with the series.  I will probably need to start from the beginning again before the third book releases, but it's well worth it for the illustrations alone.