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3.43 AVERAGE
3.43 AVERAGE
Things I loved: diverse family, home schooled kid dealing with a lot -- isolation, new home, illness. Good day to day depiction of tween challenges. Old enough to have interests and to stay home alone, not old enough to get out in the world much on their own. Felt authentic in that way.
Didn't love: Very, very spare storytelling. Not much happens (well, does, but super internal). There's a whole cool thing about invisible disabilities and polio and MS in the author's note at the back, and almost none of that comes through in the actual story. In fact, if you want to know what the giant silver things she finds in the attic is, you pretty much have to read about it in the author's note -- so I think that there was more story, and it was not effectively communicated. The images are excellent, but the narrative needs more.
Didn't love: Very, very spare storytelling. Not much happens (well, does, but super internal). There's a whole cool thing about invisible disabilities and polio and MS in the author's note at the back, and almost none of that comes through in the actual story. In fact, if you want to know what the giant silver things she finds in the attic is, you pretty much have to read about it in the author's note -- so I think that there was more story, and it was not effectively communicated. The images are excellent, but the narrative needs more.
A really well executed book. It reminded me of this episode of WEBSTER that scarred me as a child (since I am 40 I am sure almost no one will get this reference). I found the book relaxing, empathetic and unnerving all at once. It isn't really a mystery, not an adventure, but rather a real perfect chapter of a life presented at an interesting time within it. There is a moment, when Harriet gets a letter, that gut punched me so hard I had to take a break from reading for a few hours. That's a very talented writer that can create a moment like that.
I thought this was subtle, sweet, and lifelike in its quiet exploration of youth, isolation, loneliness and mortality. It didn't handfeed the reader or heavily hammer its points home, but instead quietly rendered its morals through softer pastel tones.
I read it yesterday but it's crossed my mind a few times since then, which isn't something that often happens when I read juvenile graphic novels. I tend to devour them quickly in a few hearty chews and then move on with my day. But because of the subtlety of Sincerely, Harriet, it's lingered with me. I've thought over certain things, and pried away the veneer to see what's beneath, not unlike Harriet and the wallpaper in her room.
I read it yesterday but it's crossed my mind a few times since then, which isn't something that often happens when I read juvenile graphic novels. I tend to devour them quickly in a few hearty chews and then move on with my day. But because of the subtlety of Sincerely, Harriet, it's lingered with me. I've thought over certain things, and pried away the veneer to see what's beneath, not unlike Harriet and the wallpaper in her room.
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
yes this was the only book not from 1985 in my public school classroom, how could you tell?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying, Chronic illness
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Chronic illness
medium-paced
ebook provided by Netgalley!
This was a cute, short little graphic novel about a little girl with chronic illness trying to find ways to entertain herself during a long, hot summer in Chicago after she was moved away from her old friends. I thought that I would like this graphic novel a lot more than I did, but I found myself being confused the whole time due to lack of exposition. I still enjoyed it, but I found myself questioning what was going on almost the whole time.
This was a cute, short little graphic novel about a little girl with chronic illness trying to find ways to entertain herself during a long, hot summer in Chicago after she was moved away from her old friends. I thought that I would like this graphic novel a lot more than I did, but I found myself being confused the whole time due to lack of exposition. I still enjoyed it, but I found myself questioning what was going on almost the whole time.
I don't know what to say, it was fine. I'm happy to see disability in kids lit, especially chronic illness and invisible disability. However I found the pacing lackluster and the storytelling clunky. There's a lot to like between the art and the story, I just wish it was a little longer and fleshed out more.
representation: main latina character with multiple sclerosis, side latinx characters, side black character, side black character who formerly had polio
This was a really quiet, sweet middle grade graphic novel. , follows the title character a month before a new year at school starts after her family has just moved to a new city. She has to spend all her time indoors just reading and watching movies due to her having MS. As a way to connect with the outside world, she writes to a friend who's at camp and spends time with a strange elderly woman, Pearl, who lives in the building.
As I said, this is a very quiet graphic novel. Not many events happen, but you watch as she grows and learns to accept certain things. She feels alone because no one, no matter how hard they try, can understand how it is to live her life. She ends up writing unsent letters to Pearl's son who had polio when he was a child as she feels like he would be the only person who would understand.
The art style is very simple but works perfectly for the story that is being told. I really liked the way that there would be several pages where was just going through her daily activities and it would perfectly portray how alone she felt.
I think this is definitely one to look out for next month, and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a simple middle grade contemporary.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a really quiet, sweet middle grade graphic novel. , follows the title character a month before a new year at school starts after her family has just moved to a new city. She has to spend all her time indoors just reading and watching movies due to her having MS. As a way to connect with the outside world, she writes to a friend who's at camp and spends time with a strange elderly woman, Pearl, who lives in the building.
As I said, this is a very quiet graphic novel. Not many events happen, but you watch as she grows and learns to accept certain things. She feels alone because no one, no matter how hard they try, can understand how it is to live her life. She ends up writing unsent letters to Pearl's son who had polio when he was a child as she feels like he would be the only person who would understand.
The art style is very simple but works perfectly for the story that is being told. I really liked the way that there would be several pages where was just going through her daily activities and it would perfectly portray how alone she felt.
I think this is definitely one to look out for next month, and would highly recommend this to anyone looking for a simple middle grade contemporary.
I received this book for free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
