The golden hour

by Niki Smith

ISBN: 9780316540339

Published: 2021

From the author of The Deep & Dark Blue comes a tender graphic novel that explores themes of self-discovery, friendship, and the importance of mental health in a rural setting, perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Jerry Craft, and Kayla Miller. Struggling with anxiety after witnessing a harrowing instance of gun violence, Manuel Soto copes through photography, using his cellphone camera to find anchors that keep him grounded. His days are a lonely, latchkey monotony until he's teamed with his classmates, Sebastian and Cayshia, for a group project. Sebastian lives on a grass-fed cattle farm outside of town, and Manuel finds solace in the open fields and in the antics of the newborn calf Sebastian is hand-raising. As he aides his new friends in their preparations for the local 4-H fair, Manuel learns to open up to his friends and family, confronts his deepest fears, and even finds first love. This title will be simultaneously available in hardcover.