Making Friends

Dany’s first shock comes while drawing idly in a sketchbook that she’s inherited: her drawing of Prince Neptune, a favorite anime character, springs to life from the page. Apparently, the sketchbook can make anything that she draws real. Adrift in middle school, insecure Dany is thrilled to realize that she can create a cool best friend who won’t scorn her, but she forgets to give her creation, Madison, a credible backstory. Injecting fantasy into an angsty school-life story allows Gudsnuk (creator of the Henchgirl series) a wealth of plot twists. Dany learns the ropes of middle school with help from a loyal, funny friend, Tom, while grappling with the implications of Madison’s free will and her own new abilities. Gudsnuk’s sturdy cartooning gets added spice from Prince Neptune’s anime world as well as elfin mini-characters who make snarky asides: “adios, muchacho,” one says to the defeated Prince after he fails to take over the world during a school pep rally. Gudsnuk’s powers of imagination will make her plenty of friends, too. Ages 8–12. [em](July) [/em]