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Summary
Summary
With revamped art and now in full color, One Year at Ellsmere is an endearing--and surprising--middle-grade friendship story from beloved author Faith Erin Hicks!
Was boarding school supposed to be this hard?
When studious thirteen-year-old Juniper wins a scholarship to the prestigious Ellsmere Academy, she expects to find a scholastic utopia. But living at Ellsmere is far from ideal: She is labeled a "special project," Ellsmere's queen bee is out to destroy her, and it's rumored that a mythical beast roams the forest next to the school.
Author Notes
Faith Erin Hicks is a writer and artist in Vancouver, British Columbia. Her graphic novels include The Nameless City trilogy, Friends with Boys , Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong (with Prudence Shen), Pumpkinheads , and the Eisner Award-winning The Adventures of Superhero Girl .
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
Juniper ("Jun") is the first and only scholarship student at the prestigious Ellsmere Academy for Girls, a castle turned boarding school founded for girls to study science and literature. With thrift store clothes, a $10 haircut, and a single mother, Jun finds that her initial hesitation about attending alongside rich kids morphs into a close friendship with her roommate, Cassie, and an engaging rivalry with mean-girl Emily. Both outcasts, Jun and Cassie bond over Emily's cruel treatment and investigate the history of Ellsmere's forest, where the founder's sons disappeared nearly two centuries ago. Jun's rivalry with Emily comes to a head as Emily threatens Jun's last connection to her late father and perfectly captures Hicks's (Pumpkinheads) primary strength: clear character motivations, in which readers feel invested, that create dramatic situations. Panels are broken out to capitalize on specific moments, creating a variety of impactful emotional beats: sardonic retorts, profound loneliness, smug satisfaction, and doe-eyed vulnerability. Previously published in black-and-white, this edition sports updated line art and solid color work by Shelli Paroline that subtly enhances Hicks's original art. Ages 10--14. (July)
Horn Book Review
Originally published as The War at Ellsmere in 2008 (by SLG Publishing) and now back in print with revamped art, this graphic novel stars Juniper, the first scholarship student at a prestigious boarding school for girls. Her friendship with her roommate and her conflicts with a rival both bring up issues of economic privilege, adding depth to a generally breezy (and generally realistic, though fantasy elements lurk in the school forest) read. Hicks's varied panel sizes control pacing effectively, while her muted palette gives the castle-like school an archaic feel. Back matter details Hicks's process of re-inking the book for this new edition. (c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Two roommates become friends at a prestigious boarding school. Juniper, who goes by Jun, leaves her public school after winning a scholarship to the elite Ellsmere Academy. After scaring away her roommate, Cassie, during their first meeting, Jun later redeems herself when she stands up to Emily, queen bee and bully, for calling Cassie an orphan. Jun's confrontation with Emily is the beginning of their rivalry, each vying to be the best student for her own reasons. Jun's sarcasm and wit serve her well when dealing with Emily, but as the school year goes on, the bullying gets more and more severe. Driven by her desire to become a doctor, Jun finds her life at Ellsmere is constantly at risk due to Emily's scheming. All the while Jun and Cassie's friendship blossoms as the two get to know each other. A fantastical element involving the Ellsmere family and the dark forest next to the academy is woven into the story but lacks development. Fans of Hicks' visually appealing artwork in Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads (2019) will enjoy the familiar art style and bold lines. Characters are expressive and cleanly drawn, complementing the straightforward text and accessible storytelling. Jun is illustrated with beige skin, dark hair, and dark eyes while her roommate, Cassie, has pale skin, light-brown hair, and green eyes. Several pages of notes on the illustrations are appended. Kindness and friendship prevail in this charming story. (Graphic fiction. 11-15) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
