Insta Review: Page by Paige, by Laura Lee Gulledge

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This intricate little graphic novel caught my attention at the public library, and I ended up sitting on the floor in the teen section – making actual teens step over me – until I had finished the whole thing. Paige is a teenaged only child new to NYC. Like many teens, she's insecure, full of self doubt, and stuck in her own head. On the first page Paige, missing her artist grandmother, buys herself a sketchbook to try something new – and the rest is history. Author and artist Laura Lee Gulledge creates a character that’s such an introvert, I wasn’t sure she was going to be able to tell a real story – but the mix of Paige’s drawings of her internal thoughts and the more structured graphic representations of external life events allow you to get to know the character literally inside and out. These two styles mix in a creative portrait of a young girl, blooming. My artistic skills stop at cartoon animals and sub-par bubble letters, but aspiring artists will be left breathless from the beautiful illustrations. Page by Paige resembles its main character – quiet and unassuming on the surface, but hiding substance and artistry within. Only one frustration – two or three sexual innuendo make this book out of bounds for middle grade readers. Wishing I could tear those pages out so my 5th and 6th graders could enjoy. #bookstagram #booklover #booknerd

A post shared by Ms. Fitz (she/her) (@fitzbetweentheshelves) on Dec 27, 2016 at 9:55am PST