Making Friends by Kristen Gudsnuk
Published by Graphix on July 31st 2018
ISBN: 1338139215
Pages: 272
Goodreads

Readers of realistic, friendship-themed graphic novels will be drawn to this title. Once the book is in their hands, they will find a fantastical twist to the plot, and while the twist doesn’t diminish the message and shouldn’t turn any readers away since it is really well-done, it does push the book into the fantasy genre.

Who wouldn’t want the power to draw the perfect friend? Dany is struggling with the adjustment to middle school. Her two best friends from elementary school are not in any of her classes or her lunch, so Dany feels isolated and alone; bully Nick is not helping matters. When Dany’s great aunt dies, Dany inherits a sketchbook, but it is no ordinary sketchbook. When doodling the head of her favorite character, evil Prince Neptune from the show Solar Sisters, causes the head to pop off the page and into Dany’s life, she realizes that she might have found the magical key to her loneliness. She will draw a new, perfect best friend, one who is attractive, witty, and programmed to love and support Dany, thereby making Dany cool and attractive by association. The problem is the characters created by the notebook are as real as any natural-born humans with minds of their own. Madison doesn’t appreciate being plopped into the world with no story and no family. And Prince Neptune can’t abandon his evil thoughts and his need for power at the expense of human lives (he absorbs their energy to bolster his own power). When things go horribly wrong, Dany has to rely on other people, people who are not only willing, but happy to support and route for her. The messages that we have more people in our lives who like us and that you have to be a friend to make a friend are well-drawn and are important for middle-school-aged readers to hear/read/see over and over.  Gudsnuk’s full-color, bright illustrations are eye-catching and all of her characters are distinct and easy to identify. The magic in the book works well with the plot and sets up a sequel for Dany and her now-magical friends should Gudsnuk have more adventures in mind. Add this to any school or public library.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Merrill Memorial Library, Yarmouth