Great Graphic Wednesdays is a weekly blog posting. Check here every Wednesday for reviews of recommended graphic novels, by members of the Tinlids Graphic Novel Book Club.
Amelia Rules True Things (Adults Don’t Want Kids to Know)
Written and Illustrated by Jimmy Gownley
Details: Colour comic reads left to right. Paperback ISBN 9781416986096 Hardcover ISBN 9781416986119
Grade 4-6
Description (from publisher): Meet Amelia Louise McBride. She was forced to move out of Manhattan after her parents decided to get divorced, and is now living in a small town. She's survived being the new kid, multiple trips to the principal's office, and even her first kiss. But it remains to be seen if she'll survive turning eleven! The sixth volume starts with a bang: a huge birthday party featuring surprise guests and a special song from Aunt Tanner! It all seems too good to be true, until it turns out . . . it is. Suddenly, Amelia's friends are fighting all the time. She gets the worst report card of her life. And when she finally musters the guts to tell a certain boy how she feels about him, she brutally learns why it's called a "crush." Aunt Tanner would know just what to do—if she were around. But with her new album and maybe a new boyfriend, she doesn't seem to have time for Amelia anymore.
Review : Oh the memory of ‘tween drama! It’s so funny when you look back on it, but when you’re 11 and just starting to experience all of those confusing and unexpected feelings about your family, it sometimes gets blown out of proportion. I love all of the Amelia books but this one is my favourite so far. I really enjoyed getting to know Amelia’s parents and her aunt Tanner a bit better. Amelia is starting to understand them better too. She’s starting to understand that adults actually had a life and their own drama when they were younger. And they still do!
Jim Gownley’s illustrations are brilliant; the facial expressions deliver that extra bit of information that tells you so much more about the character. Funny gestures and lots of action shots that make you feel like you’re right there in Amelia’s house. I also love Aunt Tanner’s quotes which pop up now and then… like “I’m still waiting to use algebra.”
Maria Martella is the owner of Tinlids Inc.
Other Amelia Books:
Amelia Rules: The Whole World's Crazy
Amelia Rules: What Makes you Happy
Amelia Rules: Superheroes
Amelia Rules: When the Past is Present
Amelia Rules: Tweenage Guide to Not Being Unpopular