Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles

by Karen Romano Young

Moving is tough. Being the new kid in school is even tougher. But the hardest thing of all about the move that Doreen "Dodo" Bussey's family is making is that she suspects it might be because of her. She got into trouble at her last school.

On the drive to their new home, her mother gives Dodo a blank notebook, which she uses to chronicle the move, the first days in a new city, and the ups and downs of starting a new school and making new friends. In the process, she reinvents herself as the Doodlebug. Her little sister seems to adjust to everything so easily―why is it so hard for Dodo?

Genres: Middle Grade, Graphic Novels, Realistic Fiction, Adhd, Childrens, School, Juvenile

128 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Karen Romano Young is the author of young adult novels as well as nonfiction books and magazine articles. Although Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking is her first book for Scholastic, she has contributed to Scholastic magazines for the past twenty years. Her other credits include Cricket, National Geographic World, and The Guinness Book of World Records.

Member: Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Authors Guild, National Marine Educators Association.

Honors Awards: Smithsonian Best Book Award, and Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold Medal, both 2002, both for Small Worlds: Maps and Mapmaking.

Reviews

[Lars Guthrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading some good graphic books aimed at twelve-year-old girls recently. Jane Yolen and Mike Cavallaro's 'Foiled.' Raina Telgemeir's 'Smile.' Amy Ignatow's 'The Popularity Papers.' So good that boys should read them, too.

But 'Doodlebug' is just extraordinary. Doreen Bussey, aka DoDo, aka Doodlebug, chronicles her family's move from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and her adjustment to a new school, in handwritten text and hand-drawn pictures. Her wonderful and not-at-all weird family is not at all like any family I've ever met in children's fiction. Their reasons for moving to San Francisco are not like any plot device I've ever encountered, even though they are totally realistic, and all too likely.

Doodlebug herself is irrepressible and irresistible. Don't you worry, she, and her sister Momo, are going to win the day. And that's not giving anything away.

Plus, her initiation into drawing is a sketch of the post office tower in Ojai, a familiarly comforting sight to me. Some bonus points there.

Like 'The Popularity Papers,' I've seen 'Doodlebug' categorized as another 'Wimpy Kid' spinoff. Oh, come on. Was 'Wimpy Kid' the first ever one of its kind? What about 'Diary of a Part-Time Indian?' By the way, didn't Kinney kind of rip off 'In Ned's Head?'

Anyway, the relationship between 'Wimpy' and 'Doodlebug' is pretty tenuous. Black and white drawings. Doodlebug is no blasé, brash tween. Karen Romano Young has created a unique and enduring character with an original and profound story for fourth graders on up.

Highly recommended.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

Middle-schooler Dooreen (Dodo) Bussey has had a few problems at school. So you think she would be excited about moving to a new city and starting fresh at a new school. Not so, she is still quite nervous about relocating from LA to San Francisco. On the drive there she discovers doodling and even decides to call herself "The Doodlebug". Filling her blank sketchbook with doodles of the move and her new life proves an excellent outlet for her ADD. Unfortunately, not all of her new teachers find it acceptable. Dodo and her sister Momo both face challenges at their new school and they each have unique ways of coping. Reading Doodlebug is a bit tedious at times as the writing is sometimes cramped and chaotic, causing the flow of the story to not always be clear. However, for fans of illustrated diary-type books, this is a decent one that has a real story dealing with some fairly serious issues.

[Kristin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the novel in doodles aspect- would have liked to seen the story line a little more developed.

[Jeff Lewonczyk · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was cute - one girl's doodle-diary of her family's move from LA to SF and subsequent struggles to settle, complicated by her own experience with ADHD and overall journey of self-discovery. The visual style - all handwritten, all doodled! - is perfectly idiosyncratic, but there were aspects of the story that rang untrue for me in a nearly cringey way. Still, a quick, empathetic, visually imaginative read.

[Anggun P.W · Rating 2 out of 5]

it was okay, kinda headache read the handwriting,hhe

[Kathie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hard to follow.

[Ellie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Picked this up for one of my fourth graders-but eeesh! So glad I chose to read it first—-definitely meant for older readers!!! 😳 will be tucked away in case I ever teach middle school

[Tasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dodo has been expelled from her last school because she tried to sell her Ritalin to other students in her class. Now her family is moving from LA to San Francisco. Her parents are hoping for a fresh start for their careers and for Dodo. Her younger sister Momo is angry about the move, and Dodo is unsure that it will make any difference at all. On the trip, Dodo discovers that she loves to draw, that doodling makes her calmer and better able to deal with the drive and the move. Dodo starts a new school, changing her nickname to Doodlebug. Her doodling is accepted in some classes and forbidden in others. Momo is desperate to join the school’s choir, so she tries several stunts, like singing into the PA system of the school. Both girls may have pushed it a bit too far in their new school. Will Dodo be expelled again?

A fabulous combination of journal, graphic novel and story, this book allows readers to really understand what it is to be a visual learner and to have ADD. Dodo is a great character, fully developed and complex. Just as wonderfully drawn are her family members, even the new cat, Sven. They are all complicated and interesting, portraying a real, multicultural family dealing with change and opportunity.

Young’s creativity is fully on display here with pages filled with a variety of lettering, lots of drawings and plenty of forward momentum. Several touches will resonate with young artists who will find the names of the pens used to make the black and white illustrations. They will get plenty of inspiration to create their own journals, capture their own lives and adventures.

Highly recommended, this book will be enjoyed by readers who enjoyed the Joey Pigza series, Amelia’s Notebook, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. Appropriate for ages 9-13.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dodo (short for Doreen) renames herself Doodlebug when she starts drawing to pass the time during the family’s move from Los Angeles to San Francisco. She likes it so much, and she’s so good at it, that she keeps on doodling through her classes at her new school. It helps her make friends, but some of her teachers are not amused. Can she convince them that doodling helps her learn?

Doodlebug, a Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano Young explores how some children have different learning styles and ways of coping to help them through emotionally trying times. Doreen and her sister Maureen (or Momo), both have to figure out how to adjust to their new environment, and they have different styles of coping. Their parents are also adjusting to new jobs, and maybe not paying as much attention to their children as they need to while they do.

The illustrations, made to look like doodles, are a perfect companion to the story. They’re sophisticated enough so you know the author is also a talented illustrator, but they’re also simple enough for readers to feel that maybe they could take up doodling as well. Doodlebug ends up being her own best advocate and learns a lot about addressing problems instead of ignoring them and hoping they will go away.

I recommend Doodlebug for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged nine to 12.

[Sarah Sammis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dodo and Momo are moving to San Francisco with their family. For the ride from Los Angeles, they are each given a blank sketch book. Dodo decides to turn her's into a diary. Doodlebug by Karen Romano Young is Dodo's diary.

What caught my attention first was the plot, namely the move they were making. Having gone through that move myself, though not with children and not as a child, I was hooked. The diary part also got my attention. When I was in high school I briefly kept a doodle diary.

Some of the pages are very crowded with Dodo's artwork. It takes a couple pages to get used to her crowded, conversational style. Younger readers might need extra time to work through all the words crammed onto a page. Older readers though should find the story engaging enough to not mind the busy pages.

It was fun to see San Francisco as rendered in ball point pen doodles. Fans of Smile will recognize many of the same locales. I think the characters even go to the same school at one point.

Best of all though, was its appeal to my children. My son actually borrowed the book from me for about a week to read it himself. My daughter wanted me to read it to her.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think Doodlebug had potential, and the style was fun to read, but, like some other "novels in doodles" I've read, the plot left something to be desired. It felt very rushed and there was no real climax--or conflict, come to think of it. It's too bad: Dodo's story of trouble at a new school that she just can't help (she has, essentially, ADHD) could have been explored beautifully. While the illustrations were cute, I almost think that they prevent the story from exploring the emotional depths it could have. And I would have liked to have learned more about what exactly happened at her last school--it's alluded to that she got more or less expelled for trying to sell her medications to the other students. Why? What was the motivation? Does she still take meds? Frankly, that would have been a more interesting story.

So Doodlebug gets three stars--interesting premise, but too shallowly executed to have any real impact.

[W.H. Beck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Moving is tough. Being the new kid in school is even tougher. But the hardest thing of all about th...more She doesn't just love doodling, she needs it. . . .Moving is tough. Being the new kid in school is even tougher. But the hardest thing of all about the move that Doreen "Dodo" Bussey's family is making is that she suspects it might be because of her. She got into trouble at her last school. On the drive to their new home, her mother gives Dodo a blank notebook, which she uses to chronicle the move, the first days in a new city, and the ups and downs of starting a new school and making new friends. In the process, she reinvents herself as the Doodlebug.

(blurb from goodreads.com)

(112 pages)

[Jan Polep · Rating 3 out of 5]

In my search for stories told in letters, diaries, graphic novels...I fell on this one which is written for middle schoolers and written in mostly doodles. ADHD Doreen renames herself Doodlebug after she moves from LA to SF, starts at a new school, and is in and out of trouble for inattention, talking back, ditching class and most of all doodling in class. Quick read, not at all heavy handed, that might help an ADHD kid or any kid for that matter, to realize that there are different learning styles, rules can be questioned, and sometimes a little gumption is needed to make it through new situations.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

12 year old Doreen "Dodo" Bussey is moving to a new city, which means new school, new home, and new friends. To help her relax she starts a sketch book. She soon finds that sketching helps control her A.D.D. and even helps her learn! With the help of some new friends, Dodo uses her sketch book to prove to her teachers, and even her Principal, that she doesn't need medicine to control her behavior--she just needs to be able to doodle! Through her sketches and diary entries, the reader learns to stand up for themselves and others, that it's important to encourage creativity, and that sometimes it's important to know that not everyone learns the same way.

[Stephanie Croaning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is very creative and fun to read. The story is told from the viewpoint of a 12-year-old girl with ADD who has learned to control her fidgets by doodling. The entire story is told with hand-written text and doodling...lots of doodling. Karen Romano Young put in a lot of work on this book!

Dodo was kicked out of school in LA, so her father takes a new job in San Francisco and the family make a big move. Dodo has the chance to start anew, and decides to be known as "Doodlebug." Will the family adjust to the move? Will Dodo fit in better at her new school? Read this unique novel and find out!

[Elizabeth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came home with a large bag of books from my library sale, and this was one in the stack. Dodo is diagnosed with ADD, and has been expelled from school. And if that was not bad enough, her Dad has a new job and the family needs to move from Los Angeles to San Francisco. To keep her amused during the move, Dodo is given a sketchbook and a pen, and she finds a new passion - doodling and journaling. She chronicles the challenges of the move, a new school and making new friends. This graphic novel's pages are full of "handwritten" text and doodles, and will resonate with middle grade kids who find they do not fit in for whatever reason.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! The "Doodlebug" is a master of graphic facilitation. (My favorite part is when she helps her sister figure out fractions by drawing an iPod screen with time elapsed/time remaining.) The book makes the best use of its format - it's completely hand-written and hand-drawn, but rather than being "illustrated," the story is enhanced and deepened by all kinds of doodles, designs, drawings, and different lettering styles throughout. It deals with personal development, family issues, school troubles, friendship, and challenging authority!

[Emilia P · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite serviceable. Reminded me of an illustrated version of Dar Williams Amalee books in it's slightly crunchy, Free To Be You And Me attitude. The doodle style worked well, but I would have liked a more fun story to go along with it. That said, the story was cute enough, and got meta -- doodling is good! visual learning should not be overlooked! - near the end. Can't complain. Recommended by that lovely Ruth friend of mine.

[Donalyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must admit that I was not interested in reading another graphic novel copying Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but Dodo (aka Doodlebug) pulled me into her story. Doodlebug has ADHD, which causes problems at school. She finds an outlet for her energy and feelings by doodling in her notebook.

My only complaint, my eyes are getting too old to read the scrawled print and tiny sidebars. Oh, well, I'm not the target audience. Their eyes are better!

[Christiane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dodo and her family move to San Francisco and we gradually learn why a new start in school is so important to Dodo. The story is told entirely in dense, black and white "handwritten" text and tons of little drawings (well, doodles). It took a lot of concentration to read! But it is well worth the effort. I love the parents and how supportive they are of their daughters, and I think the story will resonate with a lot of kids who don't quite fit in for whatever reason.

[katsok · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hadn't heard of this book until I skimmed by it on the library shelves. Graphic novels are huge in my classroom so I picked this one up. I was drawn in more than I thought I would be. The character of Doodlebug was a compelling one. She clearly suffers from ADD and reminded me of so many students I've had over the past years. I love how she articulated her needs, through words and drawings. A nice reminder of the need to know each student individually.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. We had just gotten some new books in my school library, and I knew this was the one for me. Of course, it's hard to read at first, because it's all complicated and doodley, but at some point you get the hang of it. That is pretty much the only bad thing about this book. Let me take that back. It's not even BAD, and my REAL star rating is 4 and 3/4, but IT DOESN"T LET ME DO THAT. Anyway, it's a grest book.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The busy page layout and small handwriting made this a tough read for me, though maybe my age is a factor in that. I liked how the book covered alternative learning styles and the fact that the parents were very human and had fears, but I thought the story lacked continuity (or maybe the format just made me feel that way?). Good for upper elementary/early middle school.

Also, if you know the song Doodlebugs by Laurie Berkner, it'll be stuck in your head.

[Deborah]

Talk about "show, don't tell"...

Dodo, aka "Doodlebug", is all over the pages of this book, a story told completely in her hand. We can actually follow her brain all over the page, and see the way her ADD mind works. But this is not a gimmick – Romano Young has a traditional, strong story and wonderful characters under all of the doodles.

Made me want to go find my Ed Emberly books!

[Childrens Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to recommend because of the format. This one deals with some good meaty content because the main character is trying to manage her adhd without medication but a couple of teachers at her new middle school don't want to let her draw during class (a technique that helps her concentrate). Good resolution. -Maeve

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

ADD - moving - somewhat diary style. Really liked this one. Doreen is borderline ADD but does not want to take ridalin and by zoned out. Family is moving as she's afraid it's her fault--trouble at old school. On the trip to new house discovers doodling. Really helps her keep calm and deal with things, but will her new teachers go for it?

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really cute book that deals with some big themes, like learning differences and moving. I loved the format. It's made to look like it's an actual kid's journal - handwritten and filled with doodles. Kids who liked The Popularity Papers or Middle School is Worse Than Meatloaf will love this, too.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is going to be compared to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and it is so much more. Doodlebug's story is so much more complex and interesting, and her family and friends feel real instead of caricatures.

The doodle format is sometimes hard to read, but I think that will depend on the age of the reader.
I really loved this book.

[Deborah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a cute story, and I liked all the formats. Lots of fun things I can think to do with it. The story was okay. Since I'm a word person, sometimes the illustrations that told part of the story were distracting for me--but I don't think they would be for kids.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young girl and her family move from LA to San Fransisco. She chronicles and deals with the stress of their first few months there by drawing doodles in a blank notebook her Mom gives her. She also discovers doodling helps her concentrate as she has decided not to take her Ritalin.