Publisher: Amulet Books (May 1, 2011)
Audience: Young Adult
Source: Advanced Readers Copy - ALA Midwinter
Graphic Novel * Contemporary Fiction
Description from GoodReads:
Paige Turner has just moved to New York with her family, and she?s having some trouble adjusting to the big city. In the pages of her sketchbook, she tries to make sense of her new life, including trying out her secret identity: artist. As she makes friends and starts to explore the city, she slowly brings her secret identity out into the open, a process that is equal parts terrifying and rewarding.
Laura Lee Gulledge crafts stories and panels with images that are thought-provoking, funny, and emotionally resonant. Teens struggling to find their place can see themselves in Paige's honest, heartfelt story.
I was going to wait to post this review a little closer to the release date but I have heard from a Twitter pal (Paul Hankins) that Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge has been spotted in the wild. So I am celebrating early. I have been dying to share about this book since January when I picked up an Advanced Readers Copy at ALA Midwinter.
Page by Paige is the debut graphic novel from Laura Lee Gulledge. According to Gulledge's bio on her website "the story is her journey as an artist and transplant in New York". In the book, Paige is 16 and has moved from VA to NYC with her writer parents. It is a tough time to a teen's life to move and teen readers will resonate with this aspect of the story as well. Despite Paige's many wonderful traits/characteristics, she is filled with myriad of insecurities as well. Through her developing friendships with Gabe, Jules and Longo, as well as with her sketchbook, Paige discovers more about herself and how she fits into the world around her and how others may see her. All of these are themes that will connect with especially female teen readers.
As I read this graphic novel, I was particularly taken with how the illustrations perfectly match the text. Some of the images were just so expressive and vivid which truly moved the text to a new level for me. I immediately wanted to find people around me to share the images. I encourage you to check out the book trailers below just to get a taste of the artwork from the book.
I can't wait to start giving this out as gifts or sharing it with teens that I know. Page by Paige is a wonderful debut by Gulledge and I certainly look forward to future work from her.
For more information about Laura Lee Gulledge, check out her websites: http://whoislauralee.blogspot.com/
http://www.cobaltdesigns.biz/lauralee/
To follow her on twitter: @whoislauralee
To find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/lauraleegulledge
The original book trailer on YouTube:
And the revised book trailer on YouTube: