White Crane: Samurai Kids by Sandy Fussell. Candlewick Press, 2011.

Romeo & Juliet by Gareth Hinds. Candlewick Press, 2013.130 pages.

The Never Girls: In a Blink by Kiki Thorpe. RH/Disney, 2013, 128 pages.

Drama by Raina Telgemeier. Graphix/Scholastic, 2012, 231.

Not exactly so, but feels like a sequel to Smile, this graphic memoir-ish fiction has all the charm of Telegmeier's first. The story plays out over the course of one middle school play-- Drama -- as in the play and drama-- as in the lives of 7th and 8th graders-- who's gay, who thinks they are gay, bi or whatever, who falls in love with every nice guy she meets, who are the prima donnas-- on and off the stage, etc. Telegmeier's drawings are warm and familiar and the dialogue is spot on. Telegmeier remembers what it is like to be a middle school Drama-Geek. Loved it.

Bink & Gollie: Two For One by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee. Candlewick Press, 2012. 75 pages.

 

REVIEW

Best friends Bink and Gollie are complete opposites in terms of appearance; they are kindred spirits, though, and readers will delight in sharing in their adventures at the state fair... Short, compact sentences make this book an ideal selection for beginning readers... Fucile employs an economical use of sketchy lines and splashes of color to capture facial expressions and emotions with spot-on accuracy. His artwork goes a long way in making this title the funny, touching book that it is. It would be no surprise if Bink and Gollie were to join the likes of Elephant and Piggie and Frog and Toad in the ranks of favorite friend duos.

—School Library Journal (starred review)

B&G again hit that sweet spot where picture books, graphic novels, and early readers converge... The book follows a satisfying trajectory from the first story’s slapstick through the second’s pathos to conclude with the affirmation of friendship in the third, and the blend of humor and sympathetic warmth buoys the story throughout. This endearing partnership remains a treat to follow, and readers will be as delighted as Bink and Gollie about the fortune-teller-certified long-term soundness of their friendship.

—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass by Meg Medina. Candlewick Press, 2013., 260 pages.

Piddi Sanchez is in a new school when one day, in a hall crowded and noisy between classes, a girl she thinks is named Vanesa jumps in front of her and says "Yaqui Delgado wants to kick your ass". Then Vanesa disappears into the crowd before Piddi can even ask "Who is Yaqui Delgado?".
Piddi needs to learn how to navigate this-- as well as other life situations-- the best friend she left behind seems to be moving on; her mother works all the time and Piddi cannot talk to her anymore; Hair salon chisme leads to a terrible revelation about the father she never met-- and more. A quick read sprinkled with spanish slang terms that do not always work in english (caramel) I loved this coming of age story that stays real about bullying and the behavior of adults, the predicaments kids find themselves in and the limits and possibilities of school anti bullying and discipline policies. Loved it.

Bird & Squirrel On The Run! by James Burks. Graphix, 2012, 126 Pages.

Two friends--
Squirrel-- Jumpy and afraid of his own shadow. A pessimist
Bird--Carefree and Careless-- An abundance of over confidence and hairbrained ideas.
And, unnamed but ever present-- Cat, who wants to eat bird and squirrel both. But it wont be easy.

Graphic novel for kids-- very funny-- for kids and adults-- a little reminiscent of Elephant and Piggie. Not as sweet though-- for a (slightly) older crowd.
Recommended by a young patron AND his mother. Good one.