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Long Distance
A middle grade graphic novel about friendships both near and far, far away.
Vega’s summer vacation is not going well.
When her parents decide it’s time to pack up and leave her hometown of Portland, Oregon, behind for boring Seattle, Washington, Vega is more than upset—she’s downright miserable. Forced to leave her one and only best friend, Halley, behind, Vega is convinced she’ll never make another friend again.
To help her settle into her new life in Seattle, her parents send Vega off to summer camp to make new friends. Except Vega is determined to get her old life back. But when her cellphone unexpectedly calls it quits and things at camp start getting stranger and stranger, Vega has no choice but to team up with her bunkmates to figure out what’s going on!
Vega’s summer vacation is not going well.
When her parents decide it’s time to pack up and leave her hometown of Portland, Oregon, behind for boring Seattle, Washington, Vega is more than upset—she’s downright miserable. Forced to leave her one and only best friend, Halley, behind, Vega is convinced she’ll never make another friend again.
To help her settle into her new life in Seattle, her parents send Vega off to summer camp to make new friends. Except Vega is determined to get her old life back. But when her cellphone unexpectedly calls it quits and things at camp start getting stranger and stranger, Vega has no choice but to team up with her bunkmates to figure out what’s going on!
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 29, 2021
42 people are currently reading
1,800 people want to read
About the author
Whitney Gardner
9 books279 followersWhitney Gardner is an author, illustrator, and coffee addict. Originally from New York, she studied design and worked as an art teacher and school librarian before moving to Victoria, BC, where she lives by the Salish Sea with her husband and two pugs. In the rare moment Whitney isn’t writing or drawing, she’s likely to be reading comics, knitting, or roasting her own coffee beans.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 314 reviews
June 29, 2021
A fantastic book for kids! How to make friends is definitely something everyone need including myself. I have moved away from my friends a few times and it’s hard making friends every time. I liked the steps to making friends and how each chapter showed the characters applying it. At chapter 3, “take the first step,” I thought Vega has an opportunity to make friends if she accepted Isaac’s offer to look at something but Vega refused because she still thought she’s fine with her long distance friend from back home. However, the characters do live up to this chapter’s advice because activities and situations gave them the opportunities to reach out and talked to each other. I liked the mystery and problem solving. It’s a plus that the problem only got solved when others joined the siblings. It reminded readers that more minds are better than a couple. The mystery got the characters involved and they determined to solve a problem that they forgot about being awkward trying to make a friend.
This book followed Vega as she said goodbye to her best friend Halley from Portland, OR because she’s moving to Seattle, WA. One of her dads has gotten a new job. They planned to stay in touch and keep their friendship long distance. Vega’s dad wanted Vega to attend a summer camp to make new friends. Vega was reluctant to but only agreed to go if her dad also made efforts to make friends too. Vega tried to contact Halley repeatedly but received no response. Vega’s fellow campers told a ghost story that got everyone on edge. At night, each person heard something and ran out. They bumped into each other and began solving a mystery together. It led them to something they totally unexpected to see. This book has steps on how to make friends by organizing each step at each chapter.
Long Distance was well written, illustrated, and organized. A modern take to tween books where two dads was introduced in this story. I liked that Vega was into stargazing. It’s always great when kids has an interest other than internet/social media. I’m not hesitant to have my 9 year-old son read this book because I think Vega, Qwerty, Gemma, and Isaac can be good role models to young readers. Gemma loved to collect rocks. Loved the explanations to thunder eggs, sextant, how signals flow, etc. The story summed up nicely. Great ending! I liked the diversity in this book. A must read book for kids and I highly recommend everyone to read it.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
This book followed Vega as she said goodbye to her best friend Halley from Portland, OR because she’s moving to Seattle, WA. One of her dads has gotten a new job. They planned to stay in touch and keep their friendship long distance. Vega’s dad wanted Vega to attend a summer camp to make new friends. Vega was reluctant to but only agreed to go if her dad also made efforts to make friends too. Vega tried to contact Halley repeatedly but received no response. Vega’s fellow campers told a ghost story that got everyone on edge. At night, each person heard something and ran out. They bumped into each other and began solving a mystery together. It led them to something they totally unexpected to see. This book has steps on how to make friends by organizing each step at each chapter.
Long Distance was well written, illustrated, and organized. A modern take to tween books where two dads was introduced in this story. I liked that Vega was into stargazing. It’s always great when kids has an interest other than internet/social media. I’m not hesitant to have my 9 year-old son read this book because I think Vega, Qwerty, Gemma, and Isaac can be good role models to young readers. Gemma loved to collect rocks. Loved the explanations to thunder eggs, sextant, how signals flow, etc. The story summed up nicely. Great ending! I liked the diversity in this book. A must read book for kids and I highly recommend everyone to read it.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
October 5, 2021
This was absolutely adorable and such a fun read. I feel like this would be a fantastic recommendation for any kid who's experiencing their first "long distance" friendships right now, whether it's due to relocating, the pandemic, or any other reasoning. There's a sweet message in here about how we have room to bring in new friends without forgetting the old, woven into a cute, humorous, sometimes very silly plot with a fun little twist. Plus, I have to rave a little about the diverse cast of characters and the main character's two dads, who are precious and definitely needed more on-page time!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this review copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 13, 2021
A copy of this graphic novel was sent to me by Simon Teen
This was so charming. I've not read through the entirety of these series, but Long Distance gave me some of the vibes of Lumberjanes or Paper Girls, though aged down to Middle Grade. It's got a really clear, concise message in a bold, bright, clean-lined art style and package. It was a treat to look at. I also really appreciated how diverse the cast of characters were. I read this in one sitting on a Saturday afternoon, and it warmed my heart and let me get lost in a bit of a friendship-themed romp.
July 13, 2021
Vega's family has moved from Portland to Seattle and she's not happy about it as she had to leave her best friend, Halley. Her dads send her to a camp to make new friends and she doesn't like the idea as she wants to keep her friendship with Halley even though it is long distance.
At the camp, she meets up with other kids but she still wants to talk to Halley but there's no signal and then some spooky things happen. She along with Qwerty, Isaac and Gemma start to work on the mystery and along the way she makes new friends.
A very cute story about dealing with moving to a new place and loneliness and making new friends but still keeping in touch with your old friends even though it is a long distance friendship. I liked the art with rich colors. I liked the mystery at the start but the end felt a little underwhelming. But I liked the message at the end.
3.75 stars
At the camp, she meets up with other kids but she still wants to talk to Halley but there's no signal and then some spooky things happen. She along with Qwerty, Isaac and Gemma start to work on the mystery and along the way she makes new friends.
A very cute story about dealing with moving to a new place and loneliness and making new friends but still keeping in touch with your old friends even though it is a long distance friendship. I liked the art with rich colors. I liked the mystery at the start but the end felt a little underwhelming. But I liked the message at the end.
3.75 stars
May 18, 2021
The Short Version: A very cute middle school level graphic novel about loneliness and making friends with some Truman Show/Get Out vibes. It won’t break any new ground, but if it were a meal it would be a really good Grilled Cheese...and sometimes you need a good grilled cheese
The Long Version: A very solid middle grade graphic novel!
Vega has just moved to Seattle from Portland and is distraught over missing her best friend. Her parents want her to make new friends to get adjusted to Seattle so they send her to a camp to get her out there.
While at the camp things immediately start feeling off and the kid from the camp brochure, George Washington, is a bit odd. Things aren’t exactly what they seem and Vega and the new kids she’s met have to figure out what’s really going on.
The graphic novel is good because it breezes along, and for the most part it feels like real middle school age children behaving in a weird situation. I especially liked that the novel explained a decent amount about astronomy and some other scientific hobbies. It definitely feels like this was written by a science nerd (I mean that with love) who was worried about making friends growing up and it’s geared toward those same type of kids.
One of the best things about this is it addresses the real world issue of kids feeling uncomfortable in their own skin and worrying no one is like them or will like them. It also does this without pandering or talking down to kids which is refreshing.
The novel is well paced, the artwork is simple but effective, and the novel is well laid out where it’s very clear what’s happening at all times.
The biggest drawbacks are two fold. First, the antagonist is a bit erratic and could have been developed a little better. Second, there are times where it feels like it’s just short of being amazing, so it can be a bit of a let down, but it never falls below the threshold of good.
Overall a solid 4 out of 5. It’s very readable, it’s very relatable even with its sci fi vibe. It has moments where it feels a little like fluff but it’s cute and cozy fluff. It touches on some real topics and doesn’t talk to children like they’re idiots. I recommend to adults and children alike
Component Ratings
Concept/Idea: 4.5 out of 5
Protagonist: 4.5 out of 5
Antagonist: 3 out of 5
Supporting Characters: 4.5 out of 5
Artwork: 3.5 out of 5
Layout: 4.5 out of 5
Dialogue: 4 out of 5
Character Development: 4 out of 5
Humor: 4 out of 5
Plot: 4 out of 5
Ending: 4 out of 5
Theme: 4.5 out of 5
The Long Version: A very solid middle grade graphic novel!
Vega has just moved to Seattle from Portland and is distraught over missing her best friend. Her parents want her to make new friends to get adjusted to Seattle so they send her to a camp to get her out there.
While at the camp things immediately start feeling off and the kid from the camp brochure, George Washington, is a bit odd. Things aren’t exactly what they seem and Vega and the new kids she’s met have to figure out what’s really going on.
The graphic novel is good because it breezes along, and for the most part it feels like real middle school age children behaving in a weird situation. I especially liked that the novel explained a decent amount about astronomy and some other scientific hobbies. It definitely feels like this was written by a science nerd (I mean that with love) who was worried about making friends growing up and it’s geared toward those same type of kids.
One of the best things about this is it addresses the real world issue of kids feeling uncomfortable in their own skin and worrying no one is like them or will like them. It also does this without pandering or talking down to kids which is refreshing.
The novel is well paced, the artwork is simple but effective, and the novel is well laid out where it’s very clear what’s happening at all times.
The biggest drawbacks are two fold. First, the antagonist is a bit erratic and could have been developed a little better. Second, there are times where it feels like it’s just short of being amazing, so it can be a bit of a let down, but it never falls below the threshold of good.
Overall a solid 4 out of 5. It’s very readable, it’s very relatable even with its sci fi vibe. It has moments where it feels a little like fluff but it’s cute and cozy fluff. It touches on some real topics and doesn’t talk to children like they’re idiots. I recommend to adults and children alike
Component Ratings
Concept/Idea: 4.5 out of 5
Protagonist: 4.5 out of 5
Antagonist: 3 out of 5
Supporting Characters: 4.5 out of 5
Artwork: 3.5 out of 5
Layout: 4.5 out of 5
Dialogue: 4 out of 5
Character Development: 4 out of 5
Humor: 4 out of 5
Plot: 4 out of 5
Ending: 4 out of 5
Theme: 4.5 out of 5
May 14, 2021
This was cute as hell.
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
Full RTC.
I received this ARC from NetGalley for an honest review
November 18, 2022
this was absolutely adorable🥺
January 4, 2022
Long distance friends are real friends. You just have to make the effort.
This is such a good middle grade graphic novel. I will forever and ever love Fake Blood the most but this one is also pretty cool. Making friends is hard. Being forced to go to a summer camp to make friends is even harder. This was such a good book for anyone that ever had to move and start over. It doesn’t matter the age. The parents are also struggling. Which was so refreshing to see. Vega and her dad promise each other to try and make at least one friend. Honestly, it’s the perfect book for friendship in general. It teaches kids they can make new friends and keep their old friends and that even though they are far and it might take more effort true friendship never dies.
And I still can’t get over the amazing illustrations. I mean baby Vega with her dads in that picture frame is everything.
This is such a good middle grade graphic novel. I will forever and ever love Fake Blood the most but this one is also pretty cool. Making friends is hard. Being forced to go to a summer camp to make friends is even harder. This was such a good book for anyone that ever had to move and start over. It doesn’t matter the age. The parents are also struggling. Which was so refreshing to see. Vega and her dad promise each other to try and make at least one friend. Honestly, it’s the perfect book for friendship in general. It teaches kids they can make new friends and keep their old friends and that even though they are far and it might take more effort true friendship never dies.
And I still can’t get over the amazing illustrations. I mean baby Vega with her dads in that picture frame is everything.
May 3, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an arc of this graphic novel!
When Vega is forced to move from Portland to Seattle for her dad's new job, she is mostly worried about leaving her best friend. Her dads want her to make new friends, so they send her to a 2-week summer camp, Camp Very Best Friend. But things do not go according to plan!
This is such an adorable middle grade about friendship and putting yourself out there. It also has a really sweet message about the expansiveness of friendship and how gaining a new friend doesn't mean replacing an old one!
I also liked that this wasn't really a contemporary, as it seemed to be at the beginning. Instead, it was a bit of scifi and very out-of-this-world! Also, I loved the focus on science and digestible information about science vocabulary!
Pub Date: June 29, 2021
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
When Vega is forced to move from Portland to Seattle for her dad's new job, she is mostly worried about leaving her best friend. Her dads want her to make new friends, so they send her to a 2-week summer camp, Camp Very Best Friend. But things do not go according to plan!
This is such an adorable middle grade about friendship and putting yourself out there. It also has a really sweet message about the expansiveness of friendship and how gaining a new friend doesn't mean replacing an old one!
I also liked that this wasn't really a contemporary, as it seemed to be at the beginning. Instead, it was a bit of scifi and very out-of-this-world! Also, I loved the focus on science and digestible information about science vocabulary!
Pub Date: June 29, 2021
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
January 6, 2022
To start off the new year I decided to give a graphic novel a try. The illustrations were wonderful. I didn’t realize how quickly I could read a graphic novel but it was a good way to start a new year of reading. I like a story that doesn’t tell you what’s going wrong and gives you time to figure it out, which this one did. The twist it took was definitely not what I was expecting, but I still liked it for a bit of a younger read.
November 19, 2022
Whitney Gardner's Long Distance is an out-of-this-world romp about how to make new friends and how to keep old ones, no matter the distance between you.
December 31, 2021
This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction
When Vega moves, she finds that holding onto long-distance friendships can be tricky and making new friends even more so. So, her parents send her off to a camp that’s specifically designed to help kids make friends. Once Vega gets there, though, she finds that the camp is just a little … off. She can’t figure out exactly what’s wrong, but things just aren’t adding up there. Since Vega is an astronomy buff, the graphic novel has some interesting facts woven throughout. The art style is vibrant and colorful, and the element of mystery keeps you guessing. I love the surprise outcome to the mystery and the way it ties in to earlier elements of the book. I’m planning to pass this graphic novel along to my son, because I know he’ll love it!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
When Vega moves, she finds that holding onto long-distance friendships can be tricky and making new friends even more so. So, her parents send her off to a camp that’s specifically designed to help kids make friends. Once Vega gets there, though, she finds that the camp is just a little … off. She can’t figure out exactly what’s wrong, but things just aren’t adding up there. Since Vega is an astronomy buff, the graphic novel has some interesting facts woven throughout. The art style is vibrant and colorful, and the element of mystery keeps you guessing. I love the surprise outcome to the mystery and the way it ties in to earlier elements of the book. I’m planning to pass this graphic novel along to my son, because I know he’ll love it!
***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
April 22, 2021
This was an unexpectedly and delightfully weird middle grade graphic novel.
Vega's parents make her leave her one and only friend in Portland to move to Seattle, and then immediately ship her off to summer camp to make new friends. Strange and mysterious things keep happening at camp, so Vega and a few of her fellow campers investigate. This is a cute story about friendship and how it's ok to have more than one friend -- but with a strange twist.
This will be appealing to fans of Kristin Gudsnuk (Making Friends), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Svetlana Chmakova (Awkward), and (of course) Raina Telgemeier,
Highly recommended for grades 3+.
* thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing for the review ARC. Available June 29, 2021
Vega's parents make her leave her one and only friend in Portland to move to Seattle, and then immediately ship her off to summer camp to make new friends. Strange and mysterious things keep happening at camp, so Vega and a few of her fellow campers investigate. This is a cute story about friendship and how it's ok to have more than one friend -- but with a strange twist.
This will be appealing to fans of Kristin Gudsnuk (Making Friends), Shannon Hale (Real Friends), Svetlana Chmakova (Awkward), and (of course) Raina Telgemeier,
Highly recommended for grades 3+.
* thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster’s Children’s Publishing for the review ARC. Available June 29, 2021
September 12, 2021
What a fun new graphic novel to add to my library! This book is going to have no trouble finding readers because it has a great mix of realistic (moving, friendship), information (all the science), and sci fi (you’ll see!). Because of these three factors, it is going to have a wide range of readers. The diversity of characters will help with the reach also: Vega is a girl of color, she has two fathers who are both people of color, and the twins at camp are characters of color also. Additionally to the diverse representation of identities, the characters area all quite different personality-wise, so every reader is going to find someone that they are rooting for or connect with.
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...
Full review with teaching tools: http://www.unleashingreaders.com/?p=2...
July 19, 2021
Missing her best friend after a reluctant move to Seattle, Vega is sent by her dads to a two-week camp, in the hope that she’ll make a few new friends.
Things are increasingly weird at the camp as Vega meets and ever so slowly befriends three other kids. They begin investigating, relying on each others’ skills and interests to discover what is really going on at the camp—it’s pretty out there.
I liked this story of four BIPoC kids working together and figuring out both the mystery and the solutions. I would love to spend more time with Vega, Qwerty (Quan), Gemma and Isaac.
Things are increasingly weird at the camp as Vega meets and ever so slowly befriends three other kids. They begin investigating, relying on each others’ skills and interests to discover what is really going on at the camp—it’s pretty out there.
I liked this story of four BIPoC kids working together and figuring out both the mystery and the solutions. I would love to spend more time with Vega, Qwerty (Quan), Gemma and Isaac.
August 13, 2021
When Vega has to leave her best friend behind in Portland, she wonders if she'll be able to make friends. She's in for more than she bargained for when her Dads send her off to a Camp for doing just that!
Whitney Gardner has done it again! I still need to read Fake Blood but my students are so obsessed with it (they legitimately fight over it), that I'm going to go ahead and guess it's another 5 star read. The perfect mix of humor and heart with a little bit of weird thrown in and great illustrations. Can't wait to get this title for my library!
Whitney Gardner has done it again! I still need to read Fake Blood but my students are so obsessed with it (they legitimately fight over it), that I'm going to go ahead and guess it's another 5 star read. The perfect mix of humor and heart with a little bit of weird thrown in and great illustrations. Can't wait to get this title for my library!
July 11, 2021
Omg how CUTE was this book! It has so much going for it- I loved the girls interested in STEM and seeing the main character with two dads. I predict this will go flying off the shelves in the fall, particularly for 6th graders, who will be working on making new friends.
I highly recommend for middle & high school classrooms and collections!
I highly recommend for middle & high school classrooms and collections!
September 7, 2021
Vega has just moved far away from her best friend and shows no interest in making others. Her dads send her to a summer camp to convince her otherwise. But it isn't the outdoor adventure they had in mind.
January 19, 2023
I absolutely loved this cute , quirky read. I loved Fake Blood so when I saw this I had to get it. Fun story, great illustrations, and over all fun messages of friendship and what it takes to be a friend.
December 27, 2021
Great illustrations and I enjoyed the first half of the book. The last half took a weird turn that I wasn't expecting.
August 23, 2022
I like reading about realistic middle school friend issues like your long-distance friend not responding to your messages. It's stressful and I love how it was approached.
September 1, 2021
Katy rated it 3 stars.
July 31, 2021
Cute middle grade graphic novel with characters kids can relate to. Thought the twist that happens at camp was way too weird, and this would have been much better as a realistic fiction story about a girl who moves and misses her best friend. But I will definitely put it in my classroom library and am curious what my 9-10 year old students will have to say!
July 31, 2021
Vega's life is not going well. Her dads have moved her to a new town, and to help her adjust, they've enrolled her in summer camp.
But the summer camp is strange...strange couselors...no Internet reception...odd...what's going on?
This is a fun graphic novel that explores moving and making friends and trying to adjust to change, all the while tying in a storyline about aliens.
But the summer camp is strange...strange couselors...no Internet reception...odd...what's going on?
This is a fun graphic novel that explores moving and making friends and trying to adjust to change, all the while tying in a storyline about aliens.
August 28, 2021
Author and illustrator Whitney Gardner’s latest is a charming middle grade graphic novel with something for almost every reader to love. What begins as a fish-out-of-water story blossoms into a science fiction-infused mystery, all while delivering some heartfelt lessons about how to make (and be) a real friend, no matter the distance.
April 7, 2021
I loved FAKE BLOOD and BECOMING RBG, so I knew I'd love this.
Fun story of the trials and tribulations of long distance friendships...with a great sci-fi twist. (Also a main character who (incidentally) has two dads.)
Fun story of the trials and tribulations of long distance friendships...with a great sci-fi twist. (Also a main character who (incidentally) has two dads.)
June 2, 2021
Long Distance is an absolute delight! It’s funny, sweet, relatable, and out of this world 🛸
July 18, 2021
Super cute, that was very enjoyable!
August 8, 2021
I enjoyed the Pacific Northwest references!
June 28, 2021
The author of Fake Blood returns with another fantastical graphic novel. Vega’s parents have moved her from Portland to Seattle, leaving behind her best friend. Vega loves astronomy, something she shared with her best friend. She still has her telescope, but no one to watch the stars with. To help her transition to her new home, Vega’s parents send her off to a summer camp designed to help her make new friends. Vega isn’t interested in making new friends, so she is stand offish to the other kids. As things around camp get stranger, including a camper who changes his appearance regularly to try to make friends, rocks that are speakers, no cellphone service, and really strange food, Vega must join forces with the other campers to figure out what is actually going on.
Gardner’s middle-grade graphic novel is a genuine look at moving away from friends and the struggle to regain your footing and make new ones. Gardner though takes it much farther explaining the weirdness of all summer camp experiences in a fresh way. When all is revealed at the end of the book, readers will have the satisfaction of having figured it out along with Vega and the other characters. The pacing of the different elements is nicely done as is the consistent look at loneliness and friendship throughout.
Gardner’s art style is bold and clear. She offers readers a diverse cast of characters, including Vega herself who is a character of color and also has two fathers for parents. The format feels larger than most with some of the images taking up the entire page with great impact. The entire book feels effortlessly modern.
A perfect summer read, particularly for those who have done summer camps. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
Gardner’s middle-grade graphic novel is a genuine look at moving away from friends and the struggle to regain your footing and make new ones. Gardner though takes it much farther explaining the weirdness of all summer camp experiences in a fresh way. When all is revealed at the end of the book, readers will have the satisfaction of having figured it out along with Vega and the other characters. The pacing of the different elements is nicely done as is the consistent look at loneliness and friendship throughout.
Gardner’s art style is bold and clear. She offers readers a diverse cast of characters, including Vega herself who is a character of color and also has two fathers for parents. The format feels larger than most with some of the images taking up the entire page with great impact. The entire book feels effortlessly modern.
A perfect summer read, particularly for those who have done summer camps. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
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