Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley

Abstract

Reviewed by: Stepping Stones by Lucy Knisley Alaine Martaus Knisley, Lucy Stepping Stones; written and illus. by Lucy Knisley; color by Whitney Cogar. Random House Graphic, 2020 [244p] Library ed. ISBN 978-1-9848-9685-8 $23.99 Trade ed. ISBN 978-0-5931-2524-3 $20.99 Paper ed. ISBN 978-1-9848-9684-1 $12.99 E-book ed. ISBN 978-1-9848-9686-5 $9.99 Reviewed from galleys R Gr. 3-6 City girl Jen has her life turned upside down when her parents split and her mom moves to a farm in this graphic novel. Formerly happy on her own with her drawing pad, Jen’s now faced with daily chores, weekends working the farmers’ market, and her mom’s fault-finding new boyfriend, who has two daughters of his own, including a bossy know-it-all Jen’s age. Still, as she learns to care for baby chickens, uses her art to advertise the farm’s produce, and reluctantly bonds with her new sort-of-siblings, Jen realizes her new life may have its own rewards after all. Drawn from the author’s childhood experiences, this fish-out-of-water coming-of-age tale shines with its colorful farm-life palette and its heartfelt authenticity. While the underlying story may be a familiar one, every misadventure with chicks, frogs, snakes, and stepsisters reads like fresh fare. Meanwhile, Jen’s awkwardness, her struggles with math, and her grudging acceptance of her new life make her a relatable heroine that readers will root for. The book ends with Jen learning to take pride in her talents, accepting other’s flaws, and finding genuine friendship with her former nemesis, an audience-pleasing level of happiness both imperfect and real. Copyright © 2020 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois