Lou!: Secret Diary

Title: Lou!: Secret Diary (volume 1)
Author: Julien Neel
Illustrator: Julien Neel
Publisher: Graphic Universe (Lerner)
Copyright: 2012
Price: $27.93
ISBN: 978-0-7613-8776-3
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Summary and Quick Thoughts: Precocious tween Lou is in love with the boy across the street. How will she ever confess her love to him? Although, this is only one of the many problems she faces in this book. A few of the problems she faces include being taken seriously as a fashion designer, setting her mom up with the new neighbor, and helping her mom when it comes to a visit from Memaw (Grandma). Lou’s story is told in one to two page comic spreads that can easily be read in small sittings, but you have to read it in order as the spreads do build upon each other.
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Recommended Audience: upper elementary
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Things to be aware of: revealing clothing, characters in underwear.
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Further Thoughts: Oh look, another French import. My first thought when I grabbed this one was that I wasn’t going to enjoy it. Why? It was too bright, too kiddy, too girly, and lastly, it was Graphic Universe. I’m still not used to them putting out anything decent.

Well, this one was decent. Frankly, I enjoyed this a bit more than I thought I would. Lou is fun. Lou is actually really smart and a bit wise for her age of 12 going onto 13. Her mom is completely childish (I mistook her for an older sister in the beginning), but they obviously care about each other. Also, the timing in the comics is impeccable. I found something funny in everything, excepting Lou’s back story about her parents. That was just touching and I know that we’re going to be exploring that more in the future.

The art is colorful and things are easily recognizable, like cell phones and the now past Game Cube. I don’t think that detracts from the story though. It will be recognized as “video games” and the phone is still as cell phone. Otherwise, these are full color comics with fantastic, comedic details.

Any tween will easily relate from the fact their crush picks his nose to parent troubles to just general tween drama. A strong yet relatable heroine makes this a great pick for that tween generation.

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Source: Library copy.