Frankie’s World: A Graphic Novel

Gr 3-6–Eleven-year-old Frankie is a sweet yet socially awkward girl living in Ireland. She’s been told she talks too much and has a habit of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time; she never quite feels like she fits in, and the mean girls at school are quick to call her “weird” and “freak.” Frankie does have a support system, though: she’s very close with her Mam; her best friend, Sam; and even her stepfather and annoying younger sister. An upcoming art competition at school prompts introspection in Frankie as she thinks about her “true self”—the competition’s theme—ultimately sending her on a quest to find and connect with her father, who may have answers as to why she is the way she is. Dooley, who is autistic, presents a positive journey to self-discovery and an autism diagnosis, depicted as a moment of enlightenment rather than a grim delivery: “No wonder my brain didn’t know what to do. It had the wrong manual.” Clean, bold comic-style artwork in black, blue, and orange is eye-catching and easy to read, and illustrations are fun and engaging. Frankie and her family present as white, and diverse characters populate the story.