Middle Grade Review: Dance Team Drama

* Start of a new graphic novel series *

Jenny's freaking out because the money she and her dance team raised for new uniforms has gone missing. Her brother paid for the uniforms and she owes him the money. She's looked everywhere. In order to make the payments; she'll need to find a job.

Luckily for her, she has a superpower. She can understand the language of babies. Jenny gets a job babysitting where she stumbles onto a baby detective agency. Rosie is in charge, and she's ready to close her first case.

When Rosie hears about the missing money, she knows she can close the case. Will Jenny and Rosie figure out who took the money?

My Thoughts: 8th grader Jenny's dance team seems to be the hit of the school. Jenny's nemesis is the head cheerleader. While the two teams don't compete, they are both keeping score of each other's achievements. There's lots of drama from losing the money to thinking the worst of people to the football team moment. I really enjoyed the baby-sitting moments. They were funny and clever. I love how they were both sophisticated and also very simple: ice cream and swings. The cast of characters are great. I loved the art. The ending sets up the next book in the series, which I'm very much looking forward to reading. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have graphic novel for your school and public library collections.

Graphic Novel Review: Princess Diaries

Princess Mia is stunned to learn that her father can no longer have children, which results in her becoming the primary heir to the throne in Genovia.

My Thoughts: This follows the book very nicely - you see lots of tidbits from Mia's mom dating Mr. G to Lily's TV show to Grand-mere. I love how it did include homework form the Princess Lessons - I loved those lists from the book. The illustrations are charming and unique. They are not modeled after the movie characters. I loved seeing Tina and Boris - they were missing from the movie. I loved the doodles in the notebook and the list of homework assignments. They added moments form the book that made this graphic novel pop. Also, the computer moments were hilarious to someone who lives through that time.  I enjoyed the moments between Michael and Mia and how oblivious she is at moments. A fantastic adaptation of the book (it's pretty perfect); I hope there are more additions plans. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A must have graphic novel for your teen section

Graphic Novel Review: Shakti

Shakti's used to movie and being the new kid at school - but there's something strange about this school. The mean girls have taken control. Shakti knows she has to do something, but she's not allowed to do magic. 

Shakti creates a friend group out of the kids the mean girls bully. But she wants to do more. She talks to her moms about magic. But there are two sides to magic - love and hate. For Shakti the line between love and hate is thin. Can she stop the mean girls without putting the world in danger? 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this graphic novel. I love how Shakti made new friends out of the other kids who were having trouble with the mean girls. I love how her moms talked about magic. I loved the double magic entities of love and chaos. A great graphic novel for this time of the year! 

Cover Thoughts: Cool

Source: My Library

Library Recommendations: Highly Recommended!

Graphic Novel Review: Catherine's War

Rachel discovered photography at school, and it changed her life. She hasn't heard from parents in months. She isn't sure what's happening, but the war is getting closer. Rachel is Jewish. It's no longer safe in France. 

At first, Rachel has to change her name and learn a new identity. She becomes Catherine. And then she has to leave her friends and her new home. She travels to a new place where she remembers to take pictures. Catherine doesn't let the war stop her from making friends, but she's never out of danger.

She travels to new places, always leaving a part of her behind, but always taking a piece with her in photographic evidence. 

My Thoughts: I really loved this graphic novel. It was an interesting look at WWII through a photographer's eyes. I felt so bad for Rachel and her friends. But I was also impressed by their willingness to move again and again. I'm so impressed by the people who took in these children, who gave them a good home, and who cared for them. It must have been so hard, so scary, and so devastating when you had to move again or when you were split up from those you grew to care about. So much courage in this graphic novel. This story was based on the author's mother's experience. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: my library

Library Recommendation: A must have graphic novel collection for your school and public library. 

Graphic Novel Review: Measuring Up

 

Cici moved from Taiwan to Seattle. She's desperate to fit in at her new school. But not everyone at school is nice. She no longer brings lunch to school with homemade cooking; she brings peanut butter sandwiches. There are moments of racism and Cici quietly corrects them. Cici does make new friends.

But most importantly, she misses her grandmother. Then Cici learns about a cooking competition. The prize money would be enough to bring her Grandmother over for her 70th birthday. Cici isn't sure that she can win, but she's determined to try her best. She learns American cooking from the library's cookbooks - including Julia Child.

My Thoughts: I really loved this book. I thought the relationship between Cici and her grandmother was really sweet. It made me miss my grandmother. I loved how Cici corrected racism when she heard it. I enjoyed watching both Cici and her parents learn and understand American ways. I loved the cooking competition moments. A great graphic novel!

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation:  Highly recommended for your school and public libraries