Gr 4–7—New friendships and photography help Manuel cope with post-traumatic stress disorder and panic attacks
after witnessing gun violence at school. Evocative artwork uses stark color changes and panel bleeds to convey
emotion. Depicting resilience, vulnerability, and a blossoming queer romance, this is a stunning portrayal of selfdiscovery in a rural setting.

Perfectly paced and wholesome! Manuel’s dealing with the aftermath of a traumatic event, triggering PTSD. He finds his anchor in photography, his friends, farming, and what seems to be the beginnings of a crush.

Overall, I enjoyed the story and loved the artwork. The way the author shows Manuel’s struggles were well-done. The tidbits about photography and composition were nice as well. ( )

5/5

6/10, it was ok. ( )

The Golden Hour is a gorgeous graphic novel for teens that tells the difficult story of Manuel's experience with PTSD and the event that caused it. Manuel's story is handled gently with beautiful artwork and a lot of kindness, silliness, and support from new friends. ( )