Midsummer Sisters (a Graphic Novel) by Smith, Niki

Midsummer Sisters is a contemporary graphic novel about two sisters who find themselves watching over a wild foal during a summer of change. A stunning story about the power of sisterhood.

Kenzie and Quinn aren't just stepsisters -- they're best friends. They're spending the summer with their grandmother, kayaking in the marshy coastal islands she calls home. The Outer Banks are also home to a herd of wild ponies, and the girls fall in love with a fragile newborn foal that they name Starling.

But even blue skies and sandy beaches can't distract from what's going on back home. Things between their parents aren't the way they used to be, and the constant fights have left Kenzie and Quinn anxious and confused. They can't remember a time when they weren't a family. If their parents divorce and Quinn and her mom move away, will they even still be sisters . . . or will they be nothing?

As their world shifts around them, the girls swear to do the one thing they can: keep Starling safe.

Award-winning cartoonist Niki Smith delivers a stunning story set during a summer of change. Filled with gorgeous and expressive illustrations, Midsummer Sisters is a celebration of the beauty of wild horses, as powerful as the unbreakable bond between sisters.

Author: Niki Smith
Publisher: Graphix
Published: 06/02/2026
Pages: 272
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.97lbs
Size: 7.96h x 5.52w x 0.88d
ISBN: 9781546128946
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Shelf Awareness 01/01/0001
Kirkus Reviews 04/01/2026
Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 06/01/2026
Booklist 05/01/2026

About the Author

Niki Smith is the author and artist of the Lambda Literary Award-nominated graphic novel The Deep & Dark Blue. Her book The Golden Hour was a Kirkus, SLJ, and NYPL Best Book of 2021. When she's not drawing comics, she's collecting embroidery hoops and zines and learning to draw boats. Niki now lives in Munich, Germany with her wife and two bilingual cats.