'Allergic: A Graphic Novel' by Megan Wagner Lloyd tells the story of Maggie, a young girl who is allergic to many animals and unable to have pets. The book explores Maggie's journey of navigating life with allergies, dealing with disappointments, forming friendships, and finding resilience. The plot follows Maggie as she tries to stay optimistic despite setbacks, makes mistakes, and learns important life lessons along the way. The writing style of the book is gentle and honest, addressing serious topics like allergies, friendship, and coping with limitations in a reassuring and encouraging manner.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by an approachable and supportive tone that gently addresses the themes, enhancing comprehension through visuals.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot revolves around a young girl grappling with her new allergy to animals just as she wishes to adopt a puppy, illustrating her journey through personal challenges and emotional growth.

Setting:

The setting is contemporary and suburban, grounded in the relatable contexts of home and school life.

Pacing:

The pacing is mostly fast and engaging, but some elements felt rushed or concluded abruptly, which has drawn mixed reactions.

Genres:

graphic novel

children's literature

Topics:

dealing with adversity

family dynamics

Notes:

The main character, Maggie, is a 10-year-old girl who develops a severe allergy to animals right before adopting a puppy.

The book explores themes of change, disappointment, and emotional complexity in children.

Maggie's journey includes dealing with allergies, family changes, and friendships.

The story addresses how allergies impact daily life both physically and emotionally.

Maggie’s relationship with a character named Sebastian could have used more depth, according to some readers.

Maggie's character is seen as relatable and optimistic, showing her flaws and mistakes along the way.

The book has been particularly comforting for children dealing with changes and anxiety.

It’s appreciated for being approachable and informative about allergies, including discussions of EpiPens and allergy shots.

The artwork is praised for its detail, color palette, and unique style, differing from many anime-inspired graphic novels.

Many children, especially those with allergies, have found connection and comfort in the story.

The book has inspired children to engage in discussions about their own experiences with allergies.

The gentle honesty in the storytelling allows serious topics to be handled in a reassuring way.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include depictions of allergies and allergy shots, which may be sensitive for some readers.

From The Publisher:

A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!

At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with getting ready for a new baby, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world. Maggie loves animals and thinks a new puppy is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She's severely allergic to anything with fur!

Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet? With illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, Megan Wagner Lloyd draws on her own experiences with allergies to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, and finding a place to belong.

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Allergic: A Graphic Novel

Megan Wagner Lloyd