SEA LEGS: A Graphic Novel, by Jules Bakes and Niki Smith, Graphix, Feb. 4, 2025, Paperback, $14.99 (ages 8-12)
Follow a girl and her family as they make their home on a sailboat in Sea Legs, a graphic novel memoir by Jules Bakes and Niki Smith.
Janey’s family is about to set sail for the adventure of a lifetime! The only problem? Janey must leave her school, her life, her best friend, the entire country behind for new adventures ― coral reefs, colorful markets, and new cultures. Life at sea is exhilarating, but there’s a major downside: when you’re raising anchor every few days with sights on a new harbor, it’s almost impossible to make new friends.
Finally, Janey meets the cool and aloof Astrid ― a fellow boat kid who’s equally starved for friendship. But Astrid can be a challenging friend to navigate, and beyond that, hurricane season has only just begun . . .. —Synopsis provided by Graphix
My daughter loves graphic novels and — as with most graphic novels that I receive for review — Sea Legs garnered an immediate, “Can I borrow that? I promise I’ll give it back.” She read it in one sitting, and gave it back as promised, under the stipulation that it would be hers once I finished reviewing it.
Though it was the cover that drew my daughter in, it was the adventure that kept her reading.
Sea Legs is inspired by Jules Bakes’ life on her family’s 42-foot schooner named Merimaid. Her family moved aboard when she was 7 and stayed that way for many years.
Sea Legs features highs and lows, adventure and quiet moments. Illustrations are informative, thoughtful and full of humor. Bright colors and expressive artwork take it over the top. This graphic novel will especially appeal to fans of real-life stories.
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