Bloom (Bloom, 1)

For fans of Heartstopper and Check, Please! comes a heartfelt graphic novel about first love, family expectations, and finding the courage to follow your own path. High school is finally over, and Ari can't wait to leave his small town behind. His dream? Move to the city with his band. The only thing standing in his way is convincing his dad to let him quit working at the family's struggling bakery. Ari used to love baking, but now all he sees are long hours, hot ovens, and a future he doesn't want. Then, while searching for his replacement, he meets Hector-a kind, easygoing baker whose pas sion for bread is impossible to ignore. As flour flies and fresh loaves come out of the oven, Ari begins to question everything he thought he wanted. But choosing between chasing a dream and embracing an unexpected future may cost him more than he ever imagined. Written by Kevin Panetta and beautifully illustrated by Savanna Ganucheau, Bloom is a warm, funny, and deeply romantic coming-of-age graphic novel about first love, family, and discovering that sometimes the life you're searching for is the one you never expected.