{"id":37193,"date":"2020-03-21T19:58:54","date_gmt":"2020-03-21T23:58:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37193"},"modified":"2020-03-21T19:58:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-21T23:58:54","slug":"review-of-laura-dean-keeps-breaking-up-with-me-by-mariko-tamaki-and-rosemary-valero-oconnell","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=37193","title":{"rendered":"Review of Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O’Connell"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me<\/em><\/p>\n

by Mariko Tamaki and Rosemary Valero-O\u2019Connell<\/p>\n

First Second, 2019. 300 pages.
\nReview written February 11, 2020, from a library book
\n2020 Michael L. Printz Honor<\/a><\/p>\n

This graphic novel won a Printz Honor, which doesn\u2019t happen often for graphic novels, so I had to take a look. Unlike the Newbery, the Printz considers the art as well as the text, and a quick glance through the pages already told me this graphic novel is creative and innovative, using panel layouts and angles of view in interesting ways.<\/p>\n

The story is about Freddy, writing to an online advice columnist after Laura Dean has broken up with her for the third time. The third time is extra bad when she finds Laura Dean making out with someone else at a Valentine\u2019s Day party. But before long Laura Dean is back, and Freddy takes her back.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, things are going on in the lives of her other friends, but Freddy keeps thinking about Laura Dean.<\/p>\n

This book is a quick read, but there are a lot of insights to be gained from watching other people mess up \u2013 and realize they\u2019re messing up. <\/p>\n

I like the point the advice columnist makes that breaking up and being in love have a lot in common, so questions about breaking up are also questions about the nature of the love between you.<\/p>\n

And I like this line from her advice: \u201cIt\u2019s true that giving can be a part of love. But, contrary to popular belief, love should never take from you, Freddy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thinking about these questions in someone else\u2019s love story can certainly help you think about them in your own.<\/p>\n

hirosemary.com<\/a>
\nfirstsecondbooks.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Teens\/laura_dean.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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