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A review by linesiunderline
Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This one has a really warm, readable style, with sweet, dynamic artwork to match. I feel like the main character was a very real-seeming kid, and so she will be relatable to many young readers. It’s nice to have a GN that you could put into the hands of a younger reader and not feel like they were too young to appreciate all of the social dynamics that are often at play in some of the very popular graphic novels right now.
I admit I’d been intending to give this a higher star rating based on my initial reading experience, but then I read a review that raised some important concerns around how the book portrays pet ownership. I think these concerns are valid (not researching before getting a pet, especially when you have complex health issues to consider, problems associated with classroom pets, casually giving away a pet because you don’t like it or it doesn’t act how you wished it would, irresponsible pet stores...). I think that the author could have done much better, even while staying in the perspective of a child, to open up conversations around respecting the creatures we bring into our homes / other domestic environments and call “ours.”
So I ended up with some mixed feelings, but I think this book offers something important and engaging to the audience.
I admit I’d been intending to give this a higher star rating based on my initial reading experience, but then I read a review that raised some important concerns around how the book portrays pet ownership. I think these concerns are valid (not researching before getting a pet, especially when you have complex health issues to consider, problems associated with classroom pets, casually giving away a pet because you don’t like it or it doesn’t act how you wished it would, irresponsible pet stores...). I think that the author could have done much better, even while staying in the perspective of a child, to open up conversations around respecting the creatures we bring into our homes / other domestic environments and call “ours.”
So I ended up with some mixed feelings, but I think this book offers something important and engaging to the audience.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death, Chronic illness, Medical content, and Pregnancy