Recommended for ages 8-12
Amelia's father, who has been absent from her life so long, she doesn't even remember him, has written back to her. The letter is the only thing she's ever gotten from her dad, and "It felt like a time bomb." That's how Amelia's Family Ties, by Marissa Moss, begins.
Amelia gave up hope he would write back. She had written to him, but months had passed, with no answer. She was almost afraid to open it.
Cleo, her older sister (with a jelly roll nose) wanted to read it, because it was her dad, too. But Amelia said no way; Cleo should write her own letter if she wanted one from him.
Her father invited Amelia to spend a week with him, his new wife, Clara, and baby half-brother. Amelia wanted to go meet him, but she noticed he didn't sign the letter, "Love, Dad."
She decided to go, and the rest of the book deals with her thoughts, observations and experiences. She wonders what kind of father he would be. Would he be the laughs-too-loud, jokey kind of Dad? Or the working-all-the-time, business-guy dad?
When she finally sees him at the airport, a drawing in her notebook with arrows pointing to different parts of her drawing describe him. "He was carrying a teddy bear, like I was a baby or something."
This is another in the series related to Amelia's Notebook. Fans will know what to expect with this one: lots of pictures of things that catch Amelia's eye, quirky comments, and souvenirs taped in. In this case, there were sketches of decorated cows as part of an art exhibit that she found all over the city of Chicago.
The black and white, splotchy covers, multiple full color drawings, plus cards, trinkets, and memorabilia taped inside, make it feel just like you are holding a real sketchbook in your hands. (They are just drawings of stuff made to look 3-D, not the real things inside.)
If you are a kid who can relate to Amelia's frustrations and worry about meeting her father, you'll enjoy this book. This is also interesting to children of divorced parents. They will be able to relate to Amelia's concerns and awkwardness when she tries to form relationships with a man she has never met before, who is supposed to be her father. Reluctant readers will have no trouble staying interested, with not just one, but multiple pictures on every page of this graphic novel. There's a lot to keep your attention in Amelia's Family Ties, by Marissa Moss.
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