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True Things

by Jimmy Gownley
163p. 978-1-41698-611-9.
COPY ISBN
Gr 4—6—Amelia McBride has to face some sad goodbyes, some difficult decisions, and her 11th birthday. Luckily she has an amazing cast of friends and family by her side through all the hilarious and heartwarming trials of life. One of the situations in this volume is the budding romance between her beloved teacher and her Aunt Tanner, causing her aunt to be a bit absent just when Amelia needs her help in dealing with her own painful and sometime embarrassing first real crush. Amelia really is growing up, so while she maintains a charming childlike personality, she is also becoming more self-aware and more responsible. Even her playtime is changing, with fewer caped crusades and clubhouses, and more Truth or Dare and trips to the mall. Gownley gets this transition just right. The art maintains the simple bright charm of the previous volumes of the graphic-novel series, and the cartoon-style drawings with strong child appeal are a perfect match for the humor and emotion of the story lines. With some parts laugh-out-loud funny and some heart-wrenching, this book has something for everyone.—Sharon Senser McKellar, Oakland Public Library, CA
As Amelia turns eleven she continues to learn bittersweet lessons about friends, families, and first loves. When Amelia finally musters the courage to profess her feelings to Kyle, things don't go as she'd hoped. Without losing its sense of humor, Gownley's episodic graphic novel also shows the real and messy sides of adult relationships in conjunction with Amelia's experiences.
Jimmy Gownley continues with his signature mix of seriousness and humor: complex relationships between well-drawn characters combine with lightness about the difficulties of growing up. Has a slightly more sophisticated look than previous books in the series, as Amelia deals with more grown-up problems, such as having a crush and doing poorly in school. She also confronts the loss of childhood things, including the clubhouse she once shared with her friend Reggie. Amelia’s beloved aunt Tanner plays a large role in this story. Tanner follows her dreams, dispenses advice, and ultimately leaves home to go on tour. The art is colorful and dynamic, with text and characters often extending outside of their panels.

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