I actually haven’t read a book about a kid dealing with allergies before, and when I started Allergic I thought the book would be too low stakes to keep my interest. However, this graphic novel features Maggie, a fifth grader dealing with things many children will find relatable: siblings, wanting a pet, a new baby, allergies, a new school, and anxiety.
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The summary, from Amazon:
A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!
At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with the new baby they’re expecting, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world. Maggie thinks a new puppy is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She’s severely allergic to anything with fur!
Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet? With illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, Megan Wagner Lloyd draws on her own experiences with allergies to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, and finding a place to belong.
Buy Allergic here.
Allergic is a graphic novel about Maggie, a fifth grade girl who wants a pet. She is already dealing with some anxiety surrounding the fact that her mother is having a baby. She feels alone in her family, though they are close, because her twin brothers have one another and her parents have one another. She wants a pet, especially a dog, but when she goes to get one for her birthday, she finds out she’s allergic.
On top of this, Maggie is starting a new school. She doesn’t know anyone but quickly befriends her new next-door neighbor, Claire, who is in sixth grade. But when Claire gets a dog, Maggie feels their relationship is threatened… Maggie tries everything she can to get her own pet, all while dealing with the anxiety of making and losing friends at a new school and changes within her family.
Allergic might seem low stakes, but the characters are strong and some really important and common issues are featured. I also appreciated the diverse cast of characters, both as main characters and in the background.
This book has some serious Telgemeier vibes, dealing with the emotional aspects of being a preteen. Fans of Telgemeier’s graphic novels will enjoy this book too.
Overall, this was a 4 star read for me. There were times I questioned the characters’ decisions, but overall it was very sweet and much more than I went into it expecting.
Find out more about how I rate books here.
Allergic: A Graphic Novel by Megan Wagner Lloyd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book has some serious Telgemeier vibes but is its own unique story. Love the characters, including the diverse background cast. Deals with things many kids can relate to: siblings, wanting a pet, new baby, allergies, new school, anxiety.
Book Club Questions
- Why does Maggie want a pet so badly?
- Should Maggie have snuck a pet into the house? What was a better choice she could have made?
- Why is Maggie nervous about the new baby?
- Have you ever had to research a new pet that is a good fit for you/your family?
- Do you think Maggie will ever get a pet? What other callings does she seem to have found in life?
Interested? Buy Allergic.
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