I’ve read two MG graphic novels this month about 12yo girls navigating big changes, puberty, and school and honestly, it’s been charming af.

This one I read for a book challenge and I struggled all month to find something that would fit, and randomly picked this at the last minute from the library because I was running out of time, but I’m happy I did! I’ve been avoiding MG and YA recently but still sometimes make exceptions and while I’m obviously not the target audience for this book, there’s something nice about reading about those years again (but from far away! Thank god!). I particularly liked the art in this. The doodle journaling format was great and I loved seeing little details like spelling mistakes and scratched up words, margin doodles etc. The story itself was typical of contemporary MG—the trial and tribulations of friendship when things start to change, the see-sawing between childhood and adolescence, the anxiety of wanting to fit in, figuring out what’s cool or not, navigating new expectations and ideas about growing up etc. Perhaps it was a little TOO typical? Beside the fact that the MC discovers that she likes girls (and no one minds which was nice), I didn’t feel like it was saying anything new, but then again, it’s not a story for me! Very charming and colourful though. God, I don’t miss being that age. But I do miss the friendships though. What’s that quote from Stand By Me? “I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve. Jesus, does anyone?” Yeah.