Middle-Grade Graphic Novel Review: One Year at Ellsmere

I recently enjoyed reading the middle-grade graphic novel One Year at Ellsmere by Faith Erin Hicks, a realistic boarding school novel with just a hint of magic mixed in.

Juniper (Jun, for short) has just arrived at Ellsmere, an exclusive boarding school. Jun, the daughter of a single mother, is their first scholarship student, and she's happy to have the opportunity since their graduates go on to attend some of the most prestigious universities. Jun is smart enough to be there, but she can see right away that she doesn't exactly fit in. The other girls all come from wealthy families and immediately snub the new girl and "charity case." Emily is the meanest of the mean girls, but Jun puts her in her place on the first day, which creates a powerful enemy. Luckily, Jun has a very sweet roommate named Cassie, who is one of Emily's favorite targets. Cassie welcomes Jun with open arms, and the two girls are soon inseparable. One day while out on the grounds, Cassie tells Jun a rumored story about a mysterious creature that lives in the woods, from before Ellsmere was even a school. The girls help each other through Jun's first year and protect each other from Emily and the other mean girls.

Sample pages from One Year at Ellsmere

 

Clearly, this novel deals with a lot of classic issues in kids' books: bullying, friendship, disparities in wealth, and more. But it also has that touch of magic, which comes as a bit of a surprise when it enters the story. Jun and Cassie's friendship is warm and kind and provides a wonderful example of two kids from very different backgrounds connecting with each other. The drawings are realistic, with a bit of a Japanese anime look to the characters' faces (especially around the eyes). It's a fun, immersive story of real-world boarding school ups and downs, with just a dash of fun fantasy. This book felt like the beginning of a series, so I hope there will be more adventures to come for Jun and Cassie!

 

171 pages, First Second

 

You can purchase One Year at Ellsmere from an independent bookstore, either locally or online, here:

 

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Or you can order One Year at Ellsmere from Book Depository, with free shipping worldwide.