Sea Legs (Sea Legs #1) by Jules Bakes, Niki Smith
on February 4, 2025
ISBN: 1338835866
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

“Sea Legs” is a middle grade graphic novel by Jules Bakes and Niki Smith. The book is loosely based on Jules Bakes’ time spent traveling on a boat with her parents as a child. In the book, Janey is a middle-schooler who is leaving her school to travel with her parents on their boat, “The Merimaid.” She leaves behind her best friend and since this is set in the early 90s, it will be a long time that she’ll be out of touch. The story follows Janey going to new places and learning new things (and teaches the reader about the different parts of the boat), and eventually making a friend (?) in Astrid, a girl on another boat.

Readers will see Janey learn about making friends and having empathy, and finding out that you don’t always know what others are going through in their lives. The book was a bit heavy at times, but felt appropriate for middle school readers. A recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections.

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.