cover image Lou #1 Secret Diary

Lou #1 Secret Diary

Julien Neel. Lerner/Graphic Universe, $8.95 (48p) ISBN 978-0-7613-8868-5

The buildings in 12-year-old Lou’s neighborhood may look a bit odd, but she’s surrounded by realistic people and problems—a mother who’s more enthusiastic about gaming than finishing her SF novel, inept at cooking, and too shy to admit she’s attracted to the guy who just moved into their building; a best friend who listens to Lou’s rants, but tartly cuts them down; and a cute boy she longingly peeks at across the street, even when she notices him picking his nose. A casual, relaxed plot develops out of these characters. The action is sequential, though most pages are self-contained episodes. Design of the characters is manga-influenced—big, flexible mouths and wild hair that looks like roughly cut construction paper, for example, but the painted art is done with a rich, glowing palette. Although nominally aimed at girls, it makes for enjoyable reading for both sexes and all ages. A sequel, Summertime Blues, is also available. Ages 9–14. (Apr.)