#BookReview for Sincerely, Harriet by Sarah Winifred Searle

Synopsis: Harriet Flores struggles with boredom and an unrequited crush while learning to manage her chronic illness through a long, hot, 1990s summer in Chicago. She uses her imagination to cope, which sometimes gets her into trouble, as she makes up fantastical fibs and wonders if there are ghosts upstairs. One neighbor, Pearl, encourages Harriet to read and write, leading Harriet to have a breakthrough and discover the power of storytelling.
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About the Author: Sarah Winifred Searle originally hails from spooky New England but currently lives in sunny Perth, Australia. She's known for graphic memoirs and fiction inspired by history and the connections between people. When she isn't writing and drawing comics, Sarah's favorite things are planning Dungeons & Dragons adventures with her partner, rainy day cuddles with their foster cats, and naming the lizards and bugs that live in their garden. Find out more at swinsea.com.

Rating: ✫✫✫
My Review: This was such a great little book that will get kids to read.  It is all in graphic novel format and it worked so well.  This book deals with MS and Polio and is set in the 90's.  It was all about family and over coming issues.  I did love this one but I wished that the story would have been more involved.  Becuase I didn't feel like I got a real story out of this one.  

"Thoughtfully and lovingly illustrated, Sarah W. Searle deftly weaves together a gentle tale about chronic illness, and the power of storytelling to bridge gaps between people across social and generational divides."--Melanie Gillman, author of As the Crow Flies

--Other Print

"Sincerely, Harriet reads like a love letter to a younger self--an invitation to be kinder, more patient, more open to possibility. It handles its subjects with grace and understanding, all woven together with stunningly beautiful art."--Kate Leth, author of Power Up and Spell on Wheels

--Other Print

"Sincerely, Harriet is a relatable, empathetic story about a girl in the midst of a transitional summer. A sweet and subtle story, Searle's characters are so lovingly rendered that it's impossible not to be immediately drawn in."--Molly Ostertag, author of The Witch Boy

--Other Print

"Harriet Flores is lonely. Her camp friends won't return her postcards, her parents work all day, and she's stuck all summer inside her family's new apartment with the TV on and school books she'd rather ignore. Harriet's parents send her to help their elderly downstairs neighbor Pearl, who sets Harriet to working on a scrapbook for Pearl's grandson. Through conversations with Pearl, a new diary, and revelations about her building's mysterious third floor and by being honest with herself and with her parents, Harriet learns to wield her creative powers against loneliness and unease. Bored and fussy, she entertains unfounded suspicions that the mailman and Pearl are harboring secret criminal intentions. Unfortunately, while she is reprimanded for making up these stories, that both targets of Harriet's suspicions have dark skin goes unaddressed. Readers who stick by Harriet discover the source of much of her anxieties: a recent diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. An author's note and suggested further reading further highlight invisible disabilities, a topic infrequently depicted in literature. Little details make the book more inclusive from a gender and sexuality standpoint: Harriet nurses fleeting crushes on other girls, and a scrapbook photo depicts her father rocking pink hair and a crop top. The wide-eyed, expressive characters and reassuring art are well suited to this introspective narrative. VERDICT A secondary purchase for collections where contemplative graphic novels are popular."--School Library Journal

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Posted in: 3 Stars, Middle Grade, Review