Skip to main content

Cub

Image
By
Cub
By Cynthia L. Copeland
Chapel Hill: Algonquin, 2020. Graphic novel.

Cindy Copeland knows one thing for sure - seventh grade is a jungle. Filled with mean-girl predators, and dorky prey, Cindy's goal is to play dead and stay invisible long enough to survive. One place she isn't invisible, though, is in her English class where her teacher soon arranges a "cub reporter" position at the local newspaper. Cindy's new mentor is a young and hip reporter who teaches Cindy how to be a reporter and gives her the self-confidence to navigate the world of her junior high - especially after her best friend starts to hang out with the predators.

This graphic novel memoir is sure to be a hit with fans of ROLLER GIRL, SMILE, or REAL FRIENDS. Set in the 1970s, some pop culture references may miss young readers (was John Denver ever really a dreamboat?) but many events mentioned have clear current ties (Watergate, Earth Day, ERA) and Copeland does a good job naturally introducing and explaining these cultural touchpoints.


Labels:

Comments

Tiffany said…
I loved Cub by Cynthia Copeland. Even though I didn't grow up in the 70's I felt like the author did a great job of talking about topics that are still relevant to our day, like taking care of the earth and the ERA. Its an entertaining and well told story about friendships, self discovery, and finding your own voice. I really enjoyed the drawings the humor and the main character, she was someone I could really relate to and understand. Even if you aren't a fan of the 70's and graphic novels pick up this book and give it a try, its an entertaining memoir.
April 10, 2020 at 11:38 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If You Like...KPop Demon Hunters

By
KPop Demon Hunters has been one of the most talked-about movies of the summer. If you loved this movie as much as I did, you don't want the magic (or the music) to stop. Try reading these books that touch on some of the same topics and themes as the animated hit! Brick Dust and Bones By M. R. Fournet New York: Feiwel and Friends, 2023. Fiction. 247 pages. Orphaned Marius works in the family business--as their cemetery's ghost caretaker. However, Marius also moonlights as a monster hunter in order to earn the costly Mystic currency he needs to bring his mother back from the dead. As the window to bring his mother back begins to close, Marius's exploits get more and more dangerous, and he may have set his sights on a monster too big to handle on his own. Like Mira, Marius longs for familial connection, and his work as a monster hunter will satisfy the thrill of demon hunting for fans the movie. Where's Halmoni? By Julie J. Kim Seattle, WA: Little Bigfoot, 2017. Comics. W...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: I Hate Everything!

By
  I Hate Everything! By Sophy Henn  New York: Beach Lane Books, 2025. Picture Book.  Two ghosts are floating atop a solid colored background. The first one yells, “I HATE EVERYTHING!” The second ghost responds, “Really?” Thus, begins the conversation which helps the first ghost realize that they don’t actually hate everything. This is a great picture book that is all about feelings and ghosts. The simple speech bubbles will allow even young preschoolers to understand what is happening. The illustrations though simple, have clever bits that readers will laugh out loud at. Basically, this is a brilliant book that every young reader who is mad at the world (or who knows someone who seems to be mad at the world) should read.
Post a Comment
Read more

If You Like...Monsters

By
There are plenty of new picture books about various monsters that have come out recently. Here are five new ones,that are sure to get kids in the mood for the spooky season.  Bob the Vampire Snail  By Andrea Zuill  New York: Random House Children’s Books, 2025. Picture Book.  This is a book about how one snail named Bob turned into a vampire; however, according to the author all the snails in the world are named Bob—so really this book could be about ANY snail. Anyway, the snail turned into a vampire snail. And Bob the Vampire Snail had to figure out what to eat…since what he used to eat no longer works on a vampire diet. Give this picture book to elementary school kids who like a dose of silly with their spooky.  The Ghost Who Was Afraid of Everything  By Nadia Ahmed  Minneapolis, MN: Beaming Books, 2024. Picture Book.  In this story Finn is a ghost who is afraid of literally everything. However, he is determined to face his fears, so that when H...
Post a Comment
Read more