[Mid-Week Reads] The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop

Mid-Week Reads focuses on novellas, short stories, graphic novels and any thing in between.

Typically these stories will be under 100 pages making for a nice evening read.

Title: The Isobel Journal

Author: Isobel Harrop [Twitter | Blog]

Publisher: Switch Press an imprint of Capstone Young Readers

Genre: Young Adult - Contemporary, Graphic Novel

Release Date: UK- November 7, 2013; USA- August 1, 2014

Format: review copy via the publisher – review policy here.

Synopsis via Goodreads:

This quirky, narrative scrapbook gives readers a witty, honest look at what it means to be a teenager. Using mini-graphic novels, photos, sketches, and captions, The Isobel Journal offers a unique glimpse into the creative life of eighteen-year-old Isobel, just a northern girl from where nothing really happens.

The Story

Isobel is an English teenager who ruminates life using quote-worthy phrases designed for a social media driven audience. Each page could easily be shared on instagram or tumblr with full repost potential, however if you're expecting a progressive story line you'll be disappointed. Instead, readers are treated to the internal musings of a teenager as she navigates everyday life on the topics of Beyonce, love and breaking up. The prose is reflective of the female inner dialogue filled with doubt, dreams, and sprinkled with tidbits of motivation.  

Do you ever see those super cool looking girls in the street
and you just wish you could make them your friend
– and then they vanish?

The Art

Drawn with a childlike innocence, Harrop is able to convey an array of emotions in a raw state, while maintaing a connection between the teenage character's journal and an audience peeking in. At first the rough sketches made me *side eye* with the hauntings of a hipster trend, but combined with the prose the jaggedness the illustrations became an extension of Isobel's humanity. The artwork becomes more intimate with the scanned images of her journals, and photograph and illustration mash-ups allowing for an intimate view of Isobel's life. 

Overall Isobel's Journal has great potential to become a graphic series. With questions of how her parent's came to divorce, her living with dad, who broke her heart, why she felt left out of the art group and so much more!

Switch Press is an imprint of Capstone Young Readers and will officially debut at Book Expo America 2014.

3.5 Stars - Cute, authentic and relevant to teens today! Hope to see more on Isobel.