How It All Ends: A Funny Graphic Novel Journey Through Friendship, Identity, and Coming-of-Age in High School--An Exciting Summer Reading Book for Children

by Emma Hunsinger

A funny, vulnerable, and disarming debut graphic novel from Emma Hunsinger, the creator of the popular “How to Draw a Horse.” How It All Ends is a book about being overwhelmed by who you are and who you might be—and all the possibilities in between. For fans of Snapdragon; The Magic Fish; Heartstopper; and New Kid.

Thirteen-year-old Tara lives inside the nonstop adventure of her imagination. It’s far more entertaining than dull, everyday life. But when she’s bumped from seventh grade directly to high school, she gets a dramatic jolt to reality.

Now, Tara is part of a future she doesn’t feel at all ready for. She's not ready to watch the racy shows the high school kids like, or to listen to the angsty music, or to stop playing make-believe with her younger brother. She’s not ready to change for PE in front of everyone, or for the chaos of the hallways, or for the anarchy of an English class that’s overrun with fourteen-year-old boys.

But then there’s Libby.

Tara doesn’t know whether she’s ready for Libby. She can’t even explain who Libby is to her because she doesn’t know yet. She just knows that everything’s more fun when she and her new classmate are together. But what will happen next? How will it all end?

This debut graphic novel is a clever and candid portrait of a young girl grappling with the pressures of fitting in, finding your people, and sorting through confusing feelings. Emma Hunsinger has a pitch-perfect ear for the awkward yet endearing moments that accompany growing up, and her illustrations are downright hilarious. She brilliantly captures the humor and the horror of self-discovery and the first blushes of having a crush. How It All Ends deftly explores how unbearable—but exciting!—it is to grow up. 

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, LGBT, Comics, Young Adult, Fiction, Queer

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 6, 2024

Reviews

[Alice Oseman · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a longtime fan of Hunsinger's 'How to Draw a Horse', I was so excited to get to read an early copy of this! A whirlwind dive into the chaotic imagination of a tween experiencing her first crush. The protagonist, Tara, doesn't quite understand her romantic feelings for another girl, but the force and warmth of them explodes from the page. Hunsinger is a master of capturing feelings and desires that the protagonist doesn't themselves recognise or understand. How It All Ends is hilarious, inventive, smart and silly, and perfectly captures the overwhelming confusion, anxiety, and joy of a young gay crush.

Many thanks to Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins for the early copy.

[CaseyTheCanadianLesbrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

This was a really wonderful upper middle grade or lower YA graphic novel about a 12-year-old who skips grade 8 and starts high school a year early. Academically she's all good, but socially she is petrified of the teenagers and new environment. She's pretty lost until she meets Libby in English class, whom she sloooowly realizes she has a crush on. The great humour and the tenderly realized sister/sister relationship were my favourite parts. This book perfectly captures the agonizing ordeal of having a first crush in tweendom.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bright girl gets bumped up grade and finds herself entering high school instead of eighth grade. Her journey through the anxiety of fitting in and finding friends is fairly gentle but also sweet and encouraging.

Well done!

(Best of 2024 Project: I'm reading all the graphic novels that made it onto one or more of these lists:
• Washington Post 10 Best Graphic Novels of 2024
• Publishers Weekly 2024 Graphic Novel Critics Poll
• NPR's Books We Love 2024: Favorite Comics and Graphic Novels

This book made the NPR list.)

[Mel Gillman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like the marketing on this book isn’t very helpful for figuring out what sort of story it actually is, so here’s my best stab at it: this is a comedic, charming early-high-school first-lesbian-crush comic, and I found it delightful. It’s funny and sweet, with great dialogue and character acting throughout. I’d recommend this if you want a lighthearted queer crush story with real comedic bonafides!

[Madison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was super cute and funny. I loved the color work and the illustration style overall.

[Maia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara was "accelerated" from seventh grade straight into high school at the advice of some of her teachers, but in the first few weeks of school she feels deeply unready. The school is so big, the schedule confusing, the hallways packed, and her end-of-day English class is full of some of the rowdiest, rudest boys she's ever met. Tara would much rather stay at home playing pretend with her baby brother or go back to middle school and take the eighth grade trip to Six Flags that she had to miss. Even with her older sister, already in tenth grade, willing to lend a hand by drawing her school maps, showing her the dating reality TV show everyone is talking about, and taking her to hangouts in the park, Tara is struggling. But there's this girl. A smart, funny, interesting girl, who partners up with Tara for English assignments and laughs at her jokes. Meeting this girl might just be the one thing that makes high school worth it. I had such a fun time with this comic- it's full of whimsical daydream sequences that really show Tara's internal world. I highly recommend this, especially to anyone who felt (or feels) unready to leave childhood and enter teenagerdom.

[Melissa Joulwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet reminder that no matter our age, we’re all kind of fumbling our way through this beautiful life.

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

God! Emma! This was so good and fun and charming. Your comedy was so fun and I loved the character designs and expressions so much! Love love love it

[Bethany W · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so funny and actually felt like conversations that teens would be having

[vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read, so many things rang true of this age group (13/14) through the great character work and the use of illustrations. Tara is relatable, hilarious (I snorted and laughed out loud reading this, mostly because of the funny facial expressions and the writing). I love how it focuses on that time period when you start to grow out of “baby” things like playing on the swings and start “hanging out” at the park instead. This reminded me how much stock I put into new friendships, how as a child you overthink and hyperfocus on how to be funny, cool, smart but not a teacher’s pet. What a balance we all take on in this age… it brought me back. There is also a light girl-crush situation mentioned towards the end.

[Morgan Upchurch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet and imaginative tween journey with Tara. She gets to skip 8th grade and attend high school because she's a smarty pants. Luckily, she has her sister, Isla, to show her the way, but Tara finds her mind running away with all her potential missteps as she's not quite ready to grow up. She loves playing with her baby brother and listening to pop music. Tara meets Libby in Mr. Tims ELA class, and they form a fast friendship and maybe something more.

How It All Ends is a charming and captivating story about staying true to yourself. The reader alternates between Tara's thoughts and actions as she navigates high school and matures. This is a great middle-grades read with a message that it's ok to speak your truth and be yourself!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

High four stars!

Full of snort-worthy humor and realistic reactions. I liked the combination of themes and think it would be a fun recommendation for school visits, if I can think of a succinct enough blurb...

[Eliott · Rating 3 out of 5]

How It All Ends
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 5.71/10 overall

Characters - 6

Atmosphere - 6

Writing - 5

Plot - 6

Intrigue - 6

Logic - 6

Enjoyment - 5

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hilarious and adorable.

[melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

oooh no! this is the kind of book that makes me wish I’d been more serious all along about these ratings because I basically give everything 5 stars
(I’ve a complicated curve system that mainly always equals 5 somehow? and I don’t want to feel mean?)
BUT the problem is that
THIS IS ACTUALLY AN ELEVEN STAR BOOK

and all I can do is give it 5 stars
so it looks like I liked it the same amount as all the other chumps
the error of my ways!

well anyway
five-eleven star hilarious adorable-ness right here
read it!

[Lisa Pineo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grade graphic novel was pretty perfect. The artwork was a fun sketch style with lots of colour and emotion. The story was a funny, poignant, realistic look at a teen girl's start at high school where she's trying to fit in and figure out her feelings for a new friend. I loved the main character Tara as well as side characters: friend Jessup, the boys in Tara's English class, and Tara's sister's friends. The terror at being alone in school and not knowing what was going on, the feeling of being too old to play but not old enough to have romantic feelings for anyone, like everyone else is growing up and you're being left behind, and not knowing how much to show your real self and feelings to others because you might be judged or laughed at are all things I remember going through at that age. I think this will appeal to anyone 10 and up who wants to feel less alone or is nostalgic for a story about their childhood feelings. I hope to see additional books from this author.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a coming of age story that we know: Girl has trouble fitting in during high school. She is not ready for the trials of being a teen. The thing is, she isn't really a teen. She should be an 8th grader. She should be having homerooms, going to Six Flags, starting a first crush; not having to deal with boys who think interrupting their English teacher is funny. Doing group projects with a boy (thankfully she doesn't, but that leads to other issues). And one of her best friends in high school shouldn't be crying in the hallways (or later getting buffed out!) Between old, new and family, our young narrator figures it all out.... hopefully she's ready.

Overall, things are cozy and familiar if you've read much in the way of coming-of-age stories. But it is a fun and new voice as well. While it is a LGBTQ story arc starting, it is also possible for it to be just a "friend crush" so it is relatable to all readers.

[Wayne McCoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘How It All Ends’ with story and art by Emma Hunsinger is this author’s graphic novel debut, and it’s a pretty good one.

At the end of 7th grade, Tara and some of her classmates learn that they will leapfrog over 8th grade and jump straight into high school. This leaves Tara with all kinds of doubts, fears and insecurities which play out in her overactive imagination and sometimes in real life in the chaotic world of high school. Step by step she finds her own way and learns that she can be her own person and relationships just need communication.

I loved this character and her vulnerability. The art is a lot of fun and has visual gags to keep the plot from becoming maudlin and overwrought. By the end, I was cheering for Tara

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Perfect read for middle-grade schoolers, and those that are nearing the high school phase in their lives, 'How It All Ends' touches in different topics, all of them relevant for that group age, and does so in a light hearted sensible way, that will keep the reader both, entertained and informed.

Changes are scary, no matter how old you are, but they also have the potential for new great things, and you can discover some interesting facts about life and yourself in the process. That's exactly what Tara does in this story, another colorful triumph for Hunsinger.

I guess me not giving a higher rating has mostly to do with the fact that, as someone much older than the intended audience, I did find the approach to certain issues a bit superficial for my tasting; but still, great work.

[Joey DeFabio · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fantastically poignant little book. So full of imagination and heart and unique slices of life. I really enjoyed this story. I especially loved the little background side story of Mr. Tim’s winning over a group of rowdy teenage boys who hate English. It felt very silly and somehow completely authentic to the high school experience.

This book is well worth your time.

[Danielle Grise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tara skips eighth grade and goes right to high school. Academically she is ready, but socially? Not quite. The high school world is full of crowded hallways, movies with kissing, angry music, and an English class filled with freshman boys. She's also not ready to leave her imaginative world, and playing make-believe with her younger brother. Then she meets Libby, and wishes she were a year older so she'd be ready. This is a fun depiction of self discovery and where you fit in. The illustrations are great, and I think anyone who has been or is a teen can relate to all of the feelings.

[Iris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny coming of age graphic novel about Tara, a girl who gets the opportunity to skip eighth grade so she starts her freshman year of high school as one of the youngest kids. Tara still plays pretend with her little brother, doesn't know what drugs look like, and doesn't like the edgy TV show her older sister likes to watch. She feels like she's socially behind and dreads going to school every day until she meets Libby and her mixed up feelings make life even more confusing.

I loved how Tara's imagination keeps running wild and we see several different scenerios play out whenever she starts to worry. Red-hued illustrations show her internal monologues while the calm blues inform the reader that they are seeing her reality. Middle schoolers and young teens on the cusp of puberty will find this very relatable. Lovable characters and a gentle exploration of first crushes and growing up.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Collins for the digital review copy.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

A masterful depiction of uncertainty and growth. Pitch perfect for middle school and remarkable use of color and graphic text.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

yay 13 year olds in high school representation 🙏

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The agony of skipping a grade and not feeling ready is quite evident in Hunsinger's graphic novel. Tara falsely believes that all of the other ninth graders have their act together, but over time, and with the help of her new friend Libby who is one of the only other girls in her English class, finds that everyone is just trying to do the best they can. The emotions and thoughts Tara experiences are authentic and funny, especially her doom thinking, and the artwork lends itself to the alternating chaos and calm of Tara's life

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot believe I forgot to add this to my books from last year. It was one of the funniest, most heartfelt middle grade graphic novels I read last year - definitely among my favorites for 2024.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good graphic novel about a young girl who skips 8th grade and goes into high school. I liked the use of color to distinguish 'real events' from Tara's imagination / worries.

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

A true "middle grade" coming of age story, this book seems right for middle school audiences. It reads a little old for my 0-12 library, but I think it would feel too babyish for high school. I hope this book finds its audience, though, because it is laugh out loud hilarious. The way that Tara thinks, worries, and speaks is so relatable and so humorous -- without trying hard. I loved this.

[amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

after her beautiful comic of “how to draw a horse” i KNEW this was gonna be good

[Patti Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is probably the best thing I read this year. So incredibly funny and touching.