Great Graphic Novel for Girls

The book I am profiling this week is wonderful story for any girl who has felt left out of the in-crowd.  It is a beautiful graphic novel which explores how difficult it is to fit in and what an important thing connections can be.  Enjoy!

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Title:       Jane, the Fox & Me

Authors:  Fanny Britt & Isabelle Arsenault

Target:    Grades 4-8

Series:     No

What this book is about: 
In this graphic novel, Helene has been ostracized from her group of friends.  They mock her and call her fat.  Her only solace is in her novel Jane Eyre where she feels a kinship with Jane.  The reader is taken on a lonely journey as Helene struggles to make connections and eventually finds a girl she can call a friend.

Why I love this book:
First off the illustrations are absolutely gorgeous.  This book won a New York Times Best Illustrated Book award, and there is no doubt as to why (it also has a slew of other "best of" stickers).  Helene’s head hung low as she travel through the halls at school, her utter belief in the things the girls have said about her resonates through her body, and the colors that emerge as small connections are made in her life all translate beautifully in the stunning pictures.

The reality and loneliness of bullying also felt very real throughout the story.  As Helene owns the things the other girls say about her we see her sink deeper and deeper into herself.  However, we also see how small connections bring light and life back to her and how it challenges her to realize that what others say is not always the truth of a situation.

Who this book is for:
This is a wonderful book for girls to see that they are not alone in feeling hurt by other’s actions, and to remind them that what they say can truly effect others.

Final thoughts:
This book was originally written in French and while occasionally some small cultural differences peek through, in fact the themes are so universal that most kids will not even notice.

To purchase this book:
Click on the following link to connect to Amazon: Jane, the Fox, and Me  A portion of each purchase goes to support this blog at no cost to you.