Publishers Weekly
04/03/2023
As outlined in an author’s note, Shepard (the Pretty Little Liars series) draws from her own childhood experience with anxiety for this diary-style illustrated novel. Rising fifth grader Penny is looking forward to her best friend Violet’s return from summer gymnastics camp. But the start of school promptly reveals that Violet has moved on: she’s no longer into Art Club—an activity the girls previously shared—and camp has bonded her with popular mean girl Riley. But Mrs. Hines, the “feelings teacher” Penny speaks with regularly about her worries, proves a catalyst for personal change, giving Penny a journal to work through things. As Penny encounters, and slowly befriends, other students who talk to Mrs. Hines, she directs her diary entries to her “loyal and nice” dog, Cosmo, who shares many of Penny’s fears (“Storms. Fireworks. Balloons. Clowns”). In chatty, quick-moving installments, Penny tells entertaining anecdotes and details her brother’s recurring croup, her concerns about social scenarios, and a secret her parents seem to be keeping. Shepard’s light touch and sketchbook-style b&w doodles make for an engaging read that candidly portrays the effect of destabilizing changes on one child experiencing anxiety. Character portrayals reflect the white of the page. Ages 8–12. Agent: Richard Abate, 3 Arts. (May)
From the Publisher
Praise for Penny Draws a Best Friend:
A Good Housekeeping Kids’ Book Awards Selection
“Uses humor and relatability to address big topics like mental health and anxiety in an approachable and tween-friendly way . . . Perfect for fans of graphic novels like Smile, Click, and the Dork Diaries series.” —Brightly
“Shepard’s light touch and sketchbook-style b&w doodles make for an engaging read that candidly portrays the effect of destabilizing changes on one child experiencing anxiety.” —Publishers Weekly
“Imbued with humor, colorful characters, and the perilous dilemmas of childhood . . . Shepard carefully and successfully walks a tightrope in her treatment of Penny’s worries by validating her feelings while suggesting that they should not be the only thing that guide her actions and choices. The epistolic format and the quirky, lovable main character will appeal to fans of Rachel Renée Russell’s Dork Diaries and Svetlana Chmakova’s Brave.” —The Bureau of the Center for Children's Books
“A bright and emotionally accessible story full of wit and warmth.” —Kirkus Reviews
“Readers will likely relate to [Penny's] concerns . . . This new series comes straight from the heart.” —Booklist
“A great new series to help new middle graders figure out and process their new world.” —Book Riot
“Fantastically fun, funny, and heartfelt. I loved it.” —Max Brallier, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Kids on Earth series
“Perfectly captures the hilarity, anxiety, and silliness of being a kid. A charming, zippy read that will keep you smiling all book long.” —Melissa de la Cruz, New York Times bestselling author of Disney’s Descendants series
“Heartfelt and oh-so funny—an utterly charming read that’s perfect for any kid who’s ever had a worry, or who simply loves to laugh.” —Sarah Mlynowski, New York Times bestselling author of the Whatever After series
“Like the worries in Penny’s head, drama and hilarity run amok in this sweet, relatable, and engaging story.” —Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of the Emmie & Friends series
Kirkus Reviews
2023-02-08
Penny learns important lessons about friendship and worry in a series opener inspired by the author’s own early struggles with anxiety.
As Penny prepares to start fifth grade, she can’t wait for her best friend to return from camp, but when Violet gets back, things are awkward. Violet’s no longer interested in drawing, and she’s spending all her time with popular but mean Riley. Penny tries to accept this, but intrusive, spiraling thoughts continue to interrupt her life; between Violet’s distance, her parents’ big secret, and her little brother’s croup that requires frequent ER visits, she has plenty of real reasons to worry. Thankfully, Penny’s visits to Mrs. Hines, the Feelings Teacher, give her a safe place to talk about what is going on in her head, and familiar faces open the door to new, unexpected friendships whose value becomes clear when something bad really does happen. Illustrated throughout with black-and-white sketches that highlight some of the more comical moments in the story, the book features just the right amount of humor to balance out more serious explorations of changing friendships and the ways uncertainty and lack of control can contribute to an increase in feelings of panic for young anxiety sufferers. Many readers will see their own concerns and feelings reflected here. Penny and her family read White.
A bright and emotionally accessible story full of wit and warmth. (Fiction. 8-12)
