So far all the books have been engaging and heartwarming, so it makes sense for this new installment to continue doing what has worked so well. Truly Tyler sticks to the formula of the previous books, showing how one character struggles to fit in, but ultimately chooses friends who will accept him as he is. But, up until now, readers have not really known how Tyler feels about Emmie. Tyler’s story will be especially appealing to fans of the books since they will know Emmie has a huge crush on him. So it is interesting as a reader to see how Brianna, for example, merely appears in Emmie’s stories to offer advice or hang out as friends, while, in Brianna’s stories, she is dealing with her own inner turmoil that her friends might not fully see or appreciate. Each protagonist sees themselves as the hero of their own story, with the others being relegated to side characters. It is a great way for tweens to read more, without realizing they are doing so!Īlso fun is how each book focuses on a different character, so readers can see over the progression of the series, how their lives intersect. This gives the books a fun air, as if one is actually reading the journals of the characters, and can get inside their heads as they deal with the trials and tribulations of middle school. It is also about having the courage to express yourself. It mainly focuses on Emmie, who flies under the radar, but still desires to be heard. It stars Emmie and Katie, two seemingly opposite girls.
Rather, the books are diary-like in nature, with handwriting-ish text paired with doodle illustrations. The lives of two middle-school girls - one a quiet artist, the other an outgoing, popular overachiever - intersect in unexpected ways in this humorous and surprising graphic novel hybrid, the debut of internationally syndicated, Reuben Award-winning cartoonist Terri Libenson. Invisible Emmie is the first book in the drama-filled world of Emmie & Friends. The books are often shelved with the graphic novels, but they are more text-heavy than most, and do not include panels. Much of the appeal of the Emmie & Friends books is, no doubt, its accessible style.
Another feel-good story with a positive message from Terri Libenson. However, both ultimately find the courage to be themselves, regardless of what others thing. Plenty of mishaps and misunderstandings happen along the way.
Tyler’s and Emmie’s stories intertwine as Tyler tries to balance his love of basketball with his desire to spend more time on art, and Emmie begins to wonder if she’s “cool” enough to be Tyler’s girlfriend. The novel seems to rotate its point of view between quiet and timid Emmie and the perfect and beautiful Katie, but in the end we learn that Katie is a fictional cartoon character created by Emmie, who draws comics in her notebook in order to help her deal with the pressures and stresses of being a girl in middle school.
Truly Tyler is an exciting installment in the Emmie & Friends series as it is the first to represent the point of view of a male character–and, of course, that character just happens to be Emmie’s long-time crush Tyler. Invisible Emmie is a graphic novel that is told in the first person by the main character, Emmie.