Chiggers (original 2008; edition 2008)

What Larson does really well here is capture the feelings and social interactions of middle school girls. The somewhat fantastical elements don't work as well combined with this though. I was never quite sure what the little balls of light were meant to represent - lightning? magic? both? The insecurities and frustrations that Abby faces though ring true and middle school girls will enjoy reading abuot this brief summer that Abby spends at camp. I guess I would have preferred more character development but that can be hard to come by in such a brief format and perhaps suits the somewhat superficial relationships that by neccessity are made at summer camp. ( )

I don't really get a great feel for what camp is like--this graphic novel is a little short for exploring that--but it does give a good idea of the volatility of teen- and preteen-girl friendships.

Hope Larson's really good. More people should read her books! ( )

This graphic novel follows Abby, a socially awkward girl, during one Summer at Camp as she lives with old and new friends. Done in black and white, with a heavy use of black, the illustrations imaginatively interpret what Abby is thinking and feeling. While the storyline is simple, the narrative captures the trials and tribulations of being a young teenager. There are also a few segments in the book that cover camp experiences like showing the reader how to make a friendship bracelet. Hope Larsen is Etsner Award winning graphic novelist. Girls who go to Summer Camp or have problems socially adjusting will enjoy this book. Highly Recommended. ( )

If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all.So let me say something good first. The main character has geeky tendencies.Of course she also tends to repress them because of b---y cabinmates.The point of this graphic novel is that going to camp is pointless. Maybe? The main character goes to camp. She plays card games and capture the flag. She makes a friendship bracelet and listens to a ghost story. They seem to have very little counselor oversight. She makes friends, except she doesn't, because she's a horrible friend. A boy tells her she looks like an elf.And one kid gets chiggers and gets sent home, hence the name of the book.Or something.Honestly, I'm probably being generous to give it 2 stars.Oh, why did I read it in the first place? Because Bryan Lee O'Malley mentioned her at the end of Scott Pilgrim. Turns out they're married. And K had already asked me to bring it home from the library. So it was there and I was there and things happened.Maybe the American (Canadian?) comics scene is so hard up for chick comics that this is the best we've got. I don't know. ( )

More obviosly aimed towards YAs and tweens than her other titles, this volume none the less captures Larson's magic realism at its best. The art remains superb but I feel like she's beginning to get stuck in a narrative rut. I'm anxious to see what types of stories she creates in the future. ( )