Claudia and Mean Janine

Martin, A. M., & Telgemeier, R. (2008). New York, NY: Scholastic.

Plot: Claudia feels like her genius older sister Janine is the favorite. She always gets good grades and Claudia is a "C" student. Her parents think that Janine's studies are more important than Claudia being a part of the Baby-Sitter's Club, and are always asking her to do things that interfere with her baby-sitting duties instead of asking Janine. When Mimi, Claudia's grandmother, has a stroke after an argument with Claudia about fighting with Janine, Claudia feels like it was her fault. Claudia volunteers her time to help Mimi recuperate, while the rest of the baby-sitter's begin a new summer platgroup for their children that they baby-sit for. Will Claudia and Janine ever see eye to eye and get along?

Genre: Graphic novel

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-6

Subjects/themes: sibling rivalry, friendship, clubs, baby-sitting, summer, education.

Other books in this series:

• The Truth About Stacey
• Mary Anne Saves the Day
• Kristy's Great Idea

The Dodgeball Chronicles

Cammuso, F. (2008). The Dodgeball Chronicles. New York, NY: Graphix.

Plot: A hilarious take on King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, this graphic novel's hero is Artie King, who is new to Camelot Middle School. He quickly becomes friends with Percy after meeting him and his tarantula Hannibal on the way to school. He soon learns about a locker with a legend attched to it. Locker #001XCL hasn't been opened in years and is said to only open to a person of true heart and if the rightful owner of the locker comes along he will rule the school. Artie is assigned the locker, opens it but then gets challenged by the school bullies named The Horde. They challenge Artie to a game of dodgeball, if the Horde wins they have to leave Artie and his friends alone. If they lose Artie has to show the leader of the Horde how to open the locker so he can rule the school. One big problem stands in Artie's way... he stinks at dodgeball.

Genre: Graphic novel

Suggested reading level: Grades 4-7

Subjects/themes: sports, dodgeball, bullies, friendship, school.

Other books in the Knights of the Lunch Table series:

• The Dragon Players

The Legend of Old Salty

Loux, M. (2008). The Legend of Old Salty. Portland, OR: Oni Press.

Plot: Brothers Jack and Benny are spending their vacation with their parents in Chowder Bay, Maine. Jack isn't too thrilled and wants to play his Gameboy the whole time. Once there the boys discover saltwater taffy candy and love it. While in the candy store Benny gets his hand pinched by a lobster, but before he can show anyone the lobster disappears. The candy store begs robbed of all it's saltwater taffy and the boys, with the help of an old fisherman named Angus, plan to find out who robbed the store. Angus has a hunch it was Old Salty, the legendary seamonster of Chowder Bay.

Genre: Graphic novel

Suggested reading level: Grades 3-6

Subjects/themes: candy, legends, sea monsters, family, mystery, series 

Other books in the Salt Water Taffy series:

• A Climb up Mt. Barnabus
• The Truth About Dr. True

The Baby-sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacey

Martin, A. M. & Telgemeier, R. (2006). The Baby-sitter's Club: The Truth About Stacey. New York, NY: Graphix.

Plot: Stacey McGill is fairly new to Stoneybrook, Connecticut and the Baby-sitter's Club. Her friends Claudia, Kristy and Mary Anne are all in the club. Stacey has diabetes and her parents are always checking to see if she is ok, if she is eating because she has lost weight, etc. More trouble comes along when a new baby-sitting agency sets up camp in their small town and starts taking away their clients. How will Stacey and the BSC save their jobs, and can Stacey handle the pressure caused by her disease and her overprotective parents?

Genre: Graphic Novel

Suggested reading level: Grades 3-7

Subjects/themes: friendship, diabetes, family, community

Other books in the series:

• Kristy's Great Idea
• Mary Anne Saves the Day
• Claudia and Mean Janine