Ayun Halliday – Peanut
48. Peanut by Ayun Halliday and Paul Hoppe (2012)
Length: 216 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Graphic Novel
Started/Finished: 18 June 2013
Where did it come from? The library.
Why do I have it? I was randomly browsing, and it’s got a peanut on the cover!
It’s harder to live
with a fake nut allergy
than with a real one.
Summary: Even though it’s less than an hour away from her previous school, Sadie is not thrilled about having to move – again – and leave her friends behind and start a new high school. But Sadie’s got a plan for a way to make herself stand out in a new school where nobody knows her: she’s planning to tell them all about her serious peanut allergy. And it works; Sadie starts making new friends, including Zoo, an offbeat but charming boy. The only problem? Sadie’s not actually allergic to peanuts, and keeping her stories straight is getting more and more difficult.
Review: I enjoyed the heck out of this one! It reminded me a lot of Friends With Boys or Drama – both the “new kid trying to fit in on the first day of school” thing and just in their general sensibility and sense of humor. Sadie was relatable, and Zoo was charming and sweet – although I wish his techno-phobia had been explored a little more, so it would have been more than just a convenient character quirk. I also liked some of the character choices that Halliday made – in particular, the growing distance between Sadie and her old best friend, the interplay of relationships among her new friends, and the hurt and confusion on both sides when she won’t introduce Zoo to her mom. The artwork is also great, line drawings vaguely reminiscent of Raina Telgemeier‘s style, but mostly greyscale except for Sadie, who’s always wearing a pop of pink. Is the moral of the story earthshakingly novel or complex? No. But it’s a cute story, and one that feels both current, and relatable to anyone of any age who was ever the new kid in school. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: Definitely recommended to fans of Raina Telgemeier and similar YA graphic novelists, or anyone looking for a fun and charming hour’s diversion.
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First Line: No one at my old school knew about my peanut allergy…
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I really liked this one too – that pop of color on every page was great! I liked that Sadie discovered just how difficult it is to keep up a facade like that.
Kathy – Indeed! Although I’m a terrible liar, even little facades are hard for me. :)