Tamaki, M. (2008). Skim. Toronto, Ontario: Groundwood Books.
Summary:
Kimberly “Skim” Keiko Cameron is a 10th grader at a private high school who does not quite fit in. She broke her arm tripping over her Wiccan altar. This graphic novel, loosely written in a journal format chronicles Skim’s life at high school. Skim has to deal with the death of a classmate’s ex-boyfriend, her feelings for her English teacher, and her sometimes tenuous relationship with her best friend Lisa.
Advisory Information:
Themes:
a. Identity: Kimberly is questioning who she is, who she wants to hang out with, and who she likes. She worries about her future.
b. Suicide: John Reddear, classmate Katie Matthew’s ex-boyfriend, ends up committing suicide. The rumor is that he did it because he was gay, but there is nothing to confirm it. The school starts a “Girls Celebrate Life!” League to help cope with his death.
c. Sexual Orientation: Kimberly has a crush on her English teacher, but she does not quite know what to make of it.
d. Friendships: Kim learns about the value of friendship in many ways. She learns that sometimes friends were never your friends, like that of Julie Peters, that some friends start to grow apart, like her and Lisa, and finally that sometimes you find friends like with Katie Matthews.
Age Recommendation:
This novel has mature language, themes, and shows minors smoking. It also talks about the religion Wicca, and shows an example of a coven meeting. I would recommend this graphic novel for older teens aged 15 – 18.
Other Information:
The graphic novel takes place in 1993.
The illustrations were drawn by Jillian Tamaki.
Reaction:
I thought that this was an accurate portrayal of high school life for the ordinary girl. The journal format allows the reader to see how Kim questions her world: her identity, friends, authority, and society. Her responses are honest and easy to relate to. While this graphic novel takes place in 1993, much of the interactions of teenagers seem authentic.
Summary:
Kimberly “Skim” Keiko Cameron is a 10th grader at a private high school who does not quite fit in. She broke her arm tripping over her Wiccan altar. This graphic novel, loosely written in a journal format chronicles Skim’s life at high school. Skim has to deal with the death of a classmate’s ex-boyfriend, her feelings for her English teacher, and her sometimes tenuous relationship with her best friend Lisa.
Advisory Information:
Themes:
a. Identity: Kimberly is questioning who she is, who she wants to hang out with, and who she likes. She worries about her future.
b. Suicide: John Reddear, classmate Katie Matthew’s ex-boyfriend, ends up committing suicide. The rumor is that he did it because he was gay, but there is nothing to confirm it. The school starts a “Girls Celebrate Life!” League to help cope with his death.
c. Sexual Orientation: Kimberly has a crush on her English teacher, but she does not quite know what to make of it.
d. Friendships: Kim learns about the value of friendship in many ways. She learns that sometimes friends were never your friends, like that of Julie Peters, that some friends start to grow apart, like her and Lisa, and finally that sometimes you find friends like with Katie Matthews.
Age Recommendation:
This novel has mature language, themes, and shows minors smoking. It also talks about the religion Wicca, and shows an example of a coven meeting. I would recommend this graphic novel for older teens aged 15 – 18.
Other Information:
The graphic novel takes place in 1993.
The illustrations were drawn by Jillian Tamaki.
Reaction:
I thought that this was an accurate portrayal of high school life for the ordinary girl. The journal format allows the reader to see how Kim questions her world: her identity, friends, authority, and society. Her responses are honest and easy to relate to. While this graphic novel takes place in 1993, much of the interactions of teenagers seem authentic.
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