An engaging and heartwarming graphic novel that tells the story of a girl, her love for animals, and the allergies that keep them apart. Maggie dreams of having a pet. When her parents agree to let her get a dog, her dream is close to coming true. But, in addition to finding her perfect pup, Maggie discovers her raging allergies to all things furred and feathered. She tries other pets from lizards to turtles to tarantulas (seriously?), but none of these quite fit. Resigned to allergy shots (which will lessen but not eliminate her allergic reactions) and a pet-less life, Mia is devastated. When a new neighbor, Claire, moves in next door, Maggie is thrilled to have a new friend to take her mind off of her dog-free life. In a typical coming-of-age story, things go wrong as Claire makes a decision that deeply hurts Maggie; Maggie attempts to thwart her own allergies; and a shift occurs in Maggie’s family dynamic that causes her to reassess her views. Lloyd’s story is well-crafted and Nutter’s cozy illustrations perfectly capture the turmoil and melodrama of the thoughts and feelings of a middle grader. The design of the book is clean with plenty of white space and an uncluttered flow. Fans of RainaTelgemeier and Jennifer Holmes will gravitate to this book, but all lovers of graphic novels will gobble it up.

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