“Skim” by Mariko & Jillian Tamaki

Kimberly is a 10th grade girl in a Catholic school in Canada. Overweight and slightly depressed, she is nick-named “Skim” by her classmates and seeks solace in the practice of Wicca. The setting is 1993, which allows the story to feel contemporary but be freed from constant interactions via computers and cellphones. The entries in this graphic novel are mostly diary-like, with Kim reflecting her frustration with the cliques and shallowness of those around her, while feeling a little lost by not fitting in. She experiences distance from her best friend and a kiss from someone unexpected, which leaves her even more confused and alone. The artwork is excellent, with black and white pen drawings that have great detail but also show whimsy and infer emotional tone. Fainter images of leaves, birds, footsteps in the snow, etc surround the comic-like strips and unite them, creating an overall tone for each of the three “chapters”. The book’s subject matter is mature. With 16 year-old characters, we see issues of sexuality intermingled with smoking, strong language and suicide. Like many teen novels, the majority of adults are dismissed as clearly not understanding where these young women are at. The dialog is light for the 143 page book, but it is a memorable story in terms of the “completeness” of the characters. I think this is a book high school girls would very much enjoy – if they were the kind to pick up graphic novels. Sadly, they are not, so to get this book read it will have to be marketed.