Graphic Novel Thursday!

There are three great graphic novels (two already published and one due out in September) that you want to make sure are on your TBR pile, if you haven't read them or put them there already.  All by folks we already know and love and all about navigating your way through friendship, family, middle school and the bruises of growing up.  I laughed. I cried. I held my breath. I held my heart.  Emotions I strive for feeling when I pick up a book.

Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham

Deemed as a memoir with the names changed (Junior Library Guild cataloged it as 921 for me), this is the story of young Shannon's life in both early and upper elementary school.  This one grabbed at my heart strings multiple times.  We all can remember trying to be in "the group."  Shannon's was actually called, "The Group." Best friend, Adrienne, Jen, Jenny, sister "the bear" Wendy, Zara and Veronica, Kayla, Mom...all of the characters play a role in making Shannon strong and standing up for what she really wants but not without pain. "Relatable" as my teenager daughter would say.  Sadly, I bet it's relatable to many of us.  What a great conversation starter with students and families, though.  I have a book group planned for next week with the book.  One rising third grader already read it.  This is what her mom texted me:

I agree.  It is sad, but it's also important.  I'm glad this student told her mom to read it, too.  I think that's what makes this such a great book.  It's accessible to anyone and would be really great to get kids talking with parents, older siblings, teachers, counselors and all other adults. Side note fun for the adults: You'll enjoy the 70s music in the background (Chicago, the Clash, etc).  Also, make sure to have tissues nearby.

Babymouse: Tales from the Locker: Lights, Camera, Middle School! by Jenni Holm and Matt Holm

Babymouse has grown up and yesterday was her book birthday into the world as a middle schooler! Woohoo! A hybrid between a chapter book and graphic novel, Jenni and Matt Holm have crafted another epic non-disaster book that is "le awesome" and if Babymouse has anything to do with it, "le success." Babymouse is just a little older than Shannon in Real Friends and she tells it like it is right at the beginning. "The hardest subject in middle school was friendship." No kidding!

This is the story of Babymouse's attempt to navigate her way through middle school while figuring out what extra curricular club to join.  She decides to direct a film.  Budding film and theatre fans will love this even more!  What better way for Babymouse to become "le famous"?  Of course, lots of lessons are learned on the way about friendship, filmmaking and what it's like to direct your time in middle school to success. ✭💜✭

All's Faire in Middle School by Victoria Jamieson (September 2017)

Huzzah! Squires and Knights in Training take note--This one was gut-wrenching good!  Madam Jamieson has done it again (and honestly, I think this one is better than Roller Girl, if that is even possible!).  Imogene's family works at the Florida Renaissance Faire and since kindergarten she has been homeschooled.  Now she is in sixth grade and is going to school for the first time.  Middle school is tough for anyone--imagine it being your first experience in a school setting.

You know when you were in middle school and you did things just to fit in and afterward you regretted it and just didn't know why you did it? Well, Victoria Jamieson must have spent hours again in a middle school or has some incredible photographic memory because every feeling and action in the book is just perfection. And like Babymouse's return to middle school, this book will appeal to all of the now-in-middle-school original Roller Girl fans (or at least mine since they will all be in 7th grade in September).

Epilogue

The books I related to when I was a tween and teen were written by Judy Blume and Norma Klein. Those women nailed it for me in the 80s when it came to friendship, living with divorce and just growing up.  Now we have a new set up of authors and illustrators that are hitting the nail on the head when it comes to these coming of age issues for a whole new generation of readers. Madam Hale, Madam Pham, Madam Holm, Sir Holm and Madam Jamieson--You are LE group and you ROCK the CASBAH! I love you all and cannot wait for more!

Welcome to Wonderland: Home Sweet Motel

Break out the Dr. Brown cel-ray soda, a soft serve twist and put aside a good few hours because you are not going to want to stop reading or listening to Chris Grabenstein's latest book.  It's a fun, laugh out loud adventure that hits shelves this Tuesday, October 4.  

A veer of a train stop away from Chris's  Lemoncello books, this tale, set in present times will immediately bring back your memories of that 70s Florida beach resort.  Me?  I got a wicked sunburn one year and ouch!  I can still feel it!  Could have been because I was using baby oil and nothing else. Agh.  Personally, I feel the need to crack open this reel-to-reel (ok, now you know how old I am!) and see if we actually stayed at the Wilkie's resort.  I'd be surprised if we didn't.

But never mind about me, here we have another great story from Chris.  Our hearts beat faster as the story got intense and suspenseful.  We laughed at Grandpa, the brothers, Mr. Ortega, the college students.  We bit our fingernails hoping the story would end up the way we hoped it would. We felt the chlorine on our skin and smelled the salt in the air. What a wonderful time of year to read this hot tale as we begin wearing long sleeves and sweatshirts here in upstate New York.

Like Chris, P.T. Wilkie is a talented storyteller and this is one story you don't want to miss.  Good thing those stories come easily to him because they could just be the answer to saving their hotel. P.T. lives with his mom and grandfather in the Wonderland Motel in St. Petersburg, Florida.  But things aren't as grand as they seem. They just found out they have to find $150,000 in a month to keep it the motel theirs.  With the help of P.T.'s new friend Gloria, they get to work.  Frog Croakie (not sure I'm spelling this right since we listened to the story and the book isn't even out yet!)--Karaoke with a frog slide is an instant hit as well as a scavenger hunt on the beach and green ice cream.  However, when a couple of brothers show up things start to get really interesting.  Is Grandpa's sweetheart from 1973 about to save him?  Could a miracle be hidden in one of the circa 1970s statues? Or someplace else? Will the motel be saved?

Even though "Life doesn't have the same rules as a board game" I don't have to tell you to roll the dice or spin the wheel to find the answer on whether you should get this book on October 4 or not. Just do it.  Mainly because you will be able to escape your worries and check out "the wonders and marvels [you] just can't find in everyday life" here at the Wonderland Motel.

Side Note:  Pair this with last year's graphic novel, Sunny Side Up by Jenni and Matt Holm and you have a double order of 70's Florida fun!

VERY brief book reviews...

CRENSHAW by Katherine Applegate

I read Katherine Applegate's (The One and Only Ivan) newest book, Crenshaw, on the plane to ALA.  I'm surprised no one looked at me as a fool as I cried and had to search for my crumpled tissues at the bottom of my bag.  I got the book from NetGalley on my birthday but didn't have the chance to read it until then.  It's a beautiful story about a boy named Jackson and his oversized imaginary cat friend, Crenshaw.  Jackson's parents are not as financially stable as they used to be and together they are learning to deal with these hard times.  There are great connections to the Caldecott winner, Beekle by Dan Santat and award winning team of Eve Bunting and Lauren Castillo with this year's Yard Sale. I can't wait to share it with students!  It comes out in print on September 22.  I'm sorry we all have to wait that long!

SUNNY SIDE UP by Jenni and Matt Holm 

This book took me right back to the mid-late 70s when I was going to Florida every April vacation with my father.  We got the early bird specials with my grandparents, ate the ambrosia at the buffet, took Eastern Airlines, and drank Tab.  But this book is not all about 70s Florida.  It's about family, friends, comics and superheroes and dealing with family secrets.  Once you start you won't want to put it down.  Matt's detailed illustrations with Jenni's text, make it a perfect combination on any kind of day in any season. Comes out August 25, 2015.

George by Alex Gino

 

4th grader, George, feels he's a girl on the inside.  Read George's story of her struggle of wanting to play the role of Charlotte in the school play, her friendship with her best friend, Kelly and her relationship with her Mom and older brother.  This book goes places that no other books have gone before in the MG category. We all know kids who might be like George.  Just the other night there was a Frontline episode about transgender kids like George.  (Growing Up Trans ) This book will speak to them.  As librarians we will have to be bold to put it on our shelves.  I hope I am.