{"id":38053,"date":"2021-02-07T23:53:34","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T03:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38053"},"modified":"2021-02-07T23:53:58","modified_gmt":"2021-02-08T03:53:58","slug":"review-of-stepping-stones-by-lucy-knisley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38053","title":{"rendered":"Review of Stepping Stones, by Lucy Knisley"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Stepping Stones<\/em><\/p>\n

by Lucy Knisley<\/p>\n

RH Graphic, 2020. 218 pages.
\nReview written July 22, 2020, from a library book
\nStarred Review
\n2020 Sonderbooks Stand-out<\/a>:
\n\t#10 Children’s Fiction<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a winning formula: A graphic novel about a kid navigating middle school, based on the author\u2019s own life. After all, there\u2019s so much material in our lives at that age for humor and pathos.<\/p>\n

Stepping Stones<\/em> doesn\u2019t include any scenes at school, but it\u2019s based on what the author went through at that age. Jen\u2019s parents have split up. Jen\u2019s mom is following her dream and moving to a farm in the country with her boyfriend. The author sets us up concisely by showing Jen in a room surrounded by boxes making a list of things she misses about the city and things she HATES about the farm.<\/p>\n

The number one thing Jen hates is the chores. And right away we see the adults telling her how much they expect as they set up a chicken coop and get ready for their order of chicks to arrive. They\u2019re going to be Jen\u2019s responsibility. And at the Farmer\u2019s Market booth, she\u2019s expected to help \u2013 even though doing the calculations to make change is a challenge.<\/p>\n

But things get extra interesting when Jen\u2019s mom\u2019s boyfriends\u2019 two daughters start coming to the farm every weekend. Andy, the girl who\u2019s Jen\u2019s age, is a big know-it-all and bosses Jen around. When Jen complains, she\u2019s called a Drama Queen.<\/p>\n

The summer goes on and we watch a family forming before our eyes. Everyone does have their annoying quirks, but they find ways to connect and come together, and they all have contributions to make for the success of the farm.<\/p>\n

I hope that the kids who\u2019ve loved Raina Telgemeier\u2019s<\/a> and Victoria Jamieson\u2019s<\/a> and Jerry Craft\u2019s<\/a> books will find Lucy Knisley\u2019s as well. It\u2019s a warm and humorous graphic novel about farming and stepfamilies and new experiences.<\/p>\n

lucyknisley.com<\/a>
\nRHKidsGraphic.com<\/a><\/p>\n

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

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/stepping_stones.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 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

Tweet<\/a>