Monday, July 31, 2017

The Daily Booktalk: Middle Grade Monday: Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova


Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova. 224 p. Yen Press/ Hachette Book Group, July, 2015. 9780316381307.

Penelope, Peppi, Torres is anxious and arty. She's also about to start a new school, so she has a couple of rules - #1 is don't get noticed by the mean kids and #2 is seek out groups with similar interests. When she trips and falls on her first day, the only person to help her is a boy named Jaime. When all the kids start taunting her about her "nerder boyfriend," Peppi pushes Jaime. So much for rule #1. 

She does find her peeps in Art Club though and learns that the members are bitter enemies with the members of the Science Club. Guess who's a member of the Science Club? And guess who isn't doing so great in Science? While we're at it, guess who Peppi's scary Science teacher assigns as a tutor?

The muted palette veers a bit pink but the art is energetic and playful. Bonus points for the backmatter, which includes character studies and a step-by-step introduction to the artistic process. 

Don't miss this appealing graphic novel!


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