5 of 5 Stars

This graphic novel hybrid for middle school or junior high students is super sweet with an all around great message. In this story, which takes place in the space of one school day, Emmie confronts her feelings of anxiety and invisibility. I feel like realistic anxiety needs to be portrayed more often in young adult literature. I have so many students that find this kind of representation resonates with them.

Emmie is not extraordinary. She's not a super hero. She's not popular. She's essentially an only child, navigating life with older parents and her older siblings in college. She has one friend who is now in the gifted program and they are drifting apart. She's quiet and draws to cope with her anxiety. She procrastinates in her homework and is refreshingly normal.

The book also focuses some attention on Katie, a popular, pretty girl with a seemingly perfect life. She has tons of friends and everyone likes her. But she isn't pretentious or arrogant. She simply doesn't deal with anxiety or the same issues that Emmie does. Katie and Emmie interact over the course of the graphic novel and their interaction is wonderful.

The surprise near the end is wonderfully well done. It's subtle and powerful. It's also a neat idea for kids who find themselves in Emmie's situation.

** For parents and teachers, this is a powerful book for students dealing with anxiety or feel that they are mediocre. This is a graphic novel hybrid of sorts. It's great to bridge students who ONLY read graphic novels toward more typical formats of literature. There are no sexual scenes, lewd suggestions, or curse words. **