Page by Paige

Gulledge, L. L. (2011). Page by Paige. New York: Abrams. Moving to a new place isn't easy--especially when you're in your late teens, and the move is from Virginia to New York. While the move offers Paige a chance to recreate herself, it also leaves her unsure about who she is or where she fits in since everything around her is unfamiliar. The notebook is one of the few things that are familiar to her, and she relies on it to keep her company as she learns about her new home. In this graphic novel, the teen explores her identity through the notebook she maintains. She uses it to record her concerns and observations on the world around her. As she grows more confident in her own artistic and written abilities and makes new friends, she takes risks, some of which surprise her family and even Paige herself. As she becomes more like the person she creates in her notebook, she encounters some resistance on the part of her family. Watching Paige bloom and embrace her creativity is a delightful, eye-opening experience that is certain to inspire young artists hesitant to push the boundaries. Gulledge's highly original art will surely provoke responses and conversations.