• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2020 April #2
  It's bad enough that Jen is forced to move to a farm in the country with her mom's new boyfriend, Walter, but when he brings his daughter Andy into the mix, Jen's feelings of isolation deepen. Walter is bossy and condescending, and Andy is "Miss Perfect." As the makeshift family establishes their farm and a booth at the weekend market, Jen's struggles with math and clashes with Andy stoke familial tensions. Knisley's first foray into children's comics—a fictionalized version of her own experience—beautifully captures the loneliness of childhood. Dropped into a new life with relative strangers, Jen's only refuge is her notebook, the doodles of which serve as full-page chapter breaks and occasionally intrude on panels. Knisley's storytelling style is a natural fit for middle-grade readers, with her clean, inviting art tracking Jen's emotional journey through subtle shifts in expression and posture. While Walter's antagonism will make readers red in the face, Jen's growth and relationships ultimately provide a heartwarming arc to this quietly charming tale. Grades 4-6. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Lucy Knisley is the critically acclaimed, award-winning, New York Times bestselling comics creator of Relish and Kid Gloves. She lives in Chicago with her husband and son. She specializes in personal, confessional graphic novels and travelogues. Stepping Stones is Lucy's first graphic novel for kids. Find her online at @lucyknisley.