Stepping Stones

I love and have read almost all of Lucy Knisley's graphic novels, and this one is her first foray into fiction. Stepping Stones is the story of Jen, a teenage girl who does not get what she wants. When her parents get divorced, her mom and she move into the country, even though she prefers city life. She has to deal with her mother's annoying, know-it-all boyfriend who keeps calling her Jenny. She has to tend to chickens and also help run the stand at the weekly farmers market, even though she struggles mightily with math. Finally, she has to share her bedroom on weekends with her mom's boyfriend's two daughters, with the older one being the golden child who can do no wrong.

All of these adversities contribute to a story that vividly portrays the sorts of emotions that go along with Jen's situation. I very much appreciated how it shows them in a nuanced way where she does not merely come off as an entitled brat, but shows how she is a child caught up in the wake of adults' actions. Also, although Jen does find certain silver linings in her new life circumstances, not everything resolves so neatly. I think the message that life often entails disappointment and compromise is a realistic one that respects what its readers might be going through. It offers no false promises. All of these messages are really driven home not only by the main narrative but also by the copious author notes that follow where it comes out that much here is based on Knisley's own childhood experiences.

I really enjoyed the artwork, which was done with pencil and digitally colored by Whitney Cogar. This technique lends a slightly sketchy aspect to an otherwise clear and cartoony style, a bit of grit that feels right with this story. It is a great complement to Knisley's clearly impressive storytelling and character work. This tale is a very human one, and the artwork brings forth a great amount of personality and feeling.

All of the reviews I have read about this book have been full of praise. Kirkus Reviews summed up, "Painfully realistic, this is a strong addition to the middle-grade shelf." Publishers Weekly wrote, "Knisley balances humor and deeply felt emotion to capture the particular unfairness of being a child at the mercy of parental decisions." Also, in a cool piece of synergy, half of the latest issue of PanelxPanel (#35) is dedicated to interviews and articles related to the book. Knisley speaks more about her work on Stepping Stones in this interview.

Stepping Stones was published by Random House Graphic, and they offer more info about it here. The book is solicited as also being Peapod Farm #1, whiich I hope means we'll get more books with these characters. I'd be glad to see how these characters cope with each other going forward.

Giant Days, Volume 1

Here's another series I recently dove into from Comixology Unlimited. This book follows a trio of young women as they embark on their first year at university. Esther de Groot, Susan Ptolemy, and Daisy Wooton are freshmen in a typical situation, namely they are a motley bunch tossed together by the random decisions of university housing. Esther is an outgoing goth who attracts lots of trouble, Daisy a naive, home-schooled student with poofy hair, and Esther is the sarcastic, "sensible" one who thinks she knows best. As neighbors, they hang out, go to parties, navigate relationships, fight against male chauvinism, publish a zine, celebrate Daisy's 18th birthday, and get into dramatic situations. Typical college stuff.

 

 

Giant Days is a slice of life kind of story, with no superheroes, fantasy, sci-fi or other fictional affectations. The series works because the characters are interesting and complex, the artwork is clear, energetic, and fun, and the plots are relatable, funny, and compelling. Also, it is worth noting that the events here all happen in England at the University of Sheffield, so it has a very British sensibility and sense of humor. Still, I think the themes and situations here are fairly universal, helped along by the wit of the writing as well the clever drawings. I very much enjoyed reading this book, and I plan to dive into future volumes as soon as I can.

The comics in this collection, which cover the first four issues of the series, were written by John Allison, drawn by Lissa Treiman, and colored by Whitney Cogar. Allison is known for his webcomics Bad Machinery and Scary Go Round (both available here). Treiman is an artist and animator who has worked on movies like Wreck-It Ralph and Big Hero 6. Cogar is an artist and colorist who has worked on Steven Universe comic books and a few films. Allison and Treiman speak about their work on this series in this interview.

The reviews I have read about this book have been largely positive. Johanna Draper Carlson wrote, "I quickly found myself caring about and rooting for the trio, even when they’re making silly (but age-appropriate) mistakes." Oliver Sava commented that the series creators have "used this slice-of-life concept to create one of the year’s most engaging, hilarious comics." Gregory Paul Silber was more lukewarm about this book, summing up that it "isn’t particularly ambitious or challenging (at least so far), but it’s an amusing read with appealing artwork."

Giant Days was published by Boom! Box, and they have more info about it here.