From the powerhouse duo behind the instant bestseller Allergic comes a spirited new graphic novel about finding your own space… especially when you're in a family of nine!
Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves living in Hickory Valley, Maryland. She loves her neighborhood, school, and the end-of-summer fair she always goes to with her two best friends. But she's tired of feeling squished by her six siblings! They're noisy and chaotic and the younger kids love her a little too much. All Avery wants is her own room -- her own space to be alone and make art. So she's furious when Theo, her grumpy older brother, gets his own room instead, and her wild baby brother, Max, moves into the room she already shares with her clinging sister Pearl! Avery hatches a plan to finally get her own room, all while trying to get Max to sleep at night, navigating changes in her friendships, and working on an art entry for the fair. And when Avery finds out that her family might move across the country, things get even more complicated.
Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter have once again teamed up to tell a funny, heartfelt, and charming story of family, friendship, and growing up.
Full-color illustrations.
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Gr 3–6—Avery Lee is the second oldest in a Korean American family of seven kids. She loves her siblings but feels overwhelmed by them, like when her teenage brother seems extra grumpy or when her sister keeps her up at night. When Theo gets his own room, a disappointed Avery presents a plan to her parents for why she needs her own space. Even when the plan doesn't fly and toddler Max gets added to her room, Avery pivots to earning money to build her own bedroom in the basement. Between adventures in dog walking and lemonade selling, her goals are upended when Theo lets it slip that they might be moving to Oregon. Avery's emotions about the potential move impact her family life, her friendships, and her art. Through the story, Avery tries to create a piece for the art fair and uses her art to center herself in the ruckus of the Lee family. While the story is focused on Avery's relationship with her brothers and sisters, there are also plenty of relatable friendship dynamics, as when her friend Dani makes a new close friend over the summer. Avery's plights are amusing and approachable, with art from Nutter that is gentle and light-filled. The chaos and love of the house is captured adroitly in the panels. VERDICT This engaging graphic novel tackles very real feelings and will keep readers invested in Avery's life. Highly recommended—Gretchen Hardin