Knots: A Graphic Novel

by Colleen Frakes

In this semiautobiographical graphic novel from award-winning cartoonist Colleen Frakes, Norah must navigate not just her foiled dreams of blond hair but also the tangled mess her family has become. 

Norah is the good kid. Good at pleasing her parents and being a good sister. Good at school. Good at, well, almost everything.

So when Mom’s work brings her to a new town leaving Norah and Dad behind, no one thinks twice. After all, Norah’s a mature sixth grader who can take care of herself…right? But things spiral out of control after a botched home dye job goes wrong and being the good kid quickly gets a little…hairy.

Before long, one small tangle becomes a knot of epic proportions, and Norah soon realizes that the only way to untangle the mess she’s made is to find her voice and ask for help. 

Perfect for fans of Just Pretend and Crunch, Knots is sure to have readers laughing (and cringing) along with Norah’s antics.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Childrens, Comics, Family

240 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 3, 2024

About the author

Colleen Frakes is a Xeric and Ignatz award-winning cartoonist and a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies. She has made comics for Zest Books, Koyama Press, the Graphic Canon series, Mirage Studios (Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Dark Horse, and many others.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not really sure what to make of this one...

Be sure to check the content warnings for this one as it illustrates parental neglect in a very real way through both the main character and a side character.

While I thought that this was going to solely focus on a main character who wanted to experiment with her hair; however, it delves heavily into family dynamics that can be difficult to navigate for some readers. I did think it was a solid read and there was parental/adult support evident through out the text; however, it's one that I would mindful of recommending to sensitive readers. The artwork is great and it does capture a very realistic experience for a lot of young children.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Norah's parents both work in the prison system, and often have to move for their jobs. Norah tries to not cause any more trouble in the family, because her younger sister complains a lot and also has a lot of behavior problems. Money is tight because of the frequent moves, so Norah's mother cuts her hair for her. Starting middle school is a big deal, so Norah wants a new look. After a brief argument, her mother agrees that Norah can color her hair, but doesn't put any on parameters on the activity. After talking to a woman in the drugstore who is training to be a cosmetologist, Norah buys the supplies and bleaches her own hair. It ends up being a weird mottled color, and while her mother isn't happy, she does allow Norah to dye her hair blue. The one friend Norah has made thinks it makes her look cool, and the day is not a complete disaster. Home life, however, frequently is. Norah is prone to accidents, like falling off her bike or burning things in the kitchen (she puts a metal tea kettle in the microwave), and her mother usually overreacts to these incidents in unproductive ways. Her father is more supportive. When the father gets a promotion, the mother must take a job in a different city, and moves out, taking the troublesome younger sister with her. Norah's father works long hours, and doesn't take very good care of Norah, leaving her to cook her own meals and take care of the house. Norah's hair grows out and becomes very unkempt. When she shares the story of the teakettle with her class, a fellow student tells a similar story about taking care of his two younger sisters and running into trouble, and the assistant principal who is observing the new teacher reports the family to children's services. Norah is very worried that something similar will happen to her. Will she be able to have a productive conversation with her parents and get the support she needs to take care of herself?
Strengths: Norah is accident prone in a way that many middle school students are; my own kitchen counter has a spot where my daughter put a hot frying pan even though I'm pretty sure I explained why there are several glass counter savers in the kitchen. She is given more freedom than many children her age, which will be interesting for tweens to read about. The episode with the classmate being reported to children's services was interesting, although I was a bit surprised that it was done so publicly. I was glad to see that despite her move, Norah was able to make a friend, and liked her teacher, who clearly cared about her. The artwork is appealing, with the same bright colors employed by other popular graphic novel series, like The Baby-Sitters Club or Terri Libenson's Invisible Emmie series.
Weaknesses: This is yet another semiautobiographical novel showing a traumatic childhood ala Raina Telgemaier, and is completely on trend with the current thought that it is necessary to share unpleasant details about one's personal life. Maybe the roots of this subgenre really go back to Alison Bechdel's 2006 Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic? I am of the generation that believes these are the sorts of stories best kept to oneself, but younger readers seem to revel in the schadenfreude of these graphic tell-alls.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Hale's Real Friends, Sax's Picture Day, Sharp's Just Pretend, Harper's Bad Sister or Ogle's Four Eyes.

[Kristin DeGarmo · Rating 3 out of 5]

So the only thing about this book that I didn’t like was that when Jason went missing for a month that it was because his parents were neglecting him but it wasn’t really shown that that’s what happened. I read about it in the author note at the end. I didn’t feel like his situation was that bad. My parents left me at home to cook and watch my younger sister (granted I was 12 and she was 9). I didn’t feel like my parents neglected me. I wish Jason’s situation had been explained more. I’m not sure why I felt so angry about him being taken away from his parents. Anyway, I like that Norah was able to start speaking up for herself especially with her parents. Being the good kid is hard. Overall, good graphic novel.

[Laela · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book with some low-key expectations. Like, okay, here we go—another story about a kid whose parents are basically MIA because they’re always working. But oh, I was wrong. Way wrong. This book isn't just about absent parents or some generic struggle. It's about a middle school girl who feels like she's carrying the weight of her entire world in her backpack, and she has no idea where to unpack all this anxiety she’s lugging around. The parents? Yeah, they're... not exactly winning any Parent of the Year awards. But what really makes the story work is how other adults show up. They fill in those emotional gaps in surprising ways, reminding you that sometimes help comes from places you least expect. It’s messy, real, and maybe a little too relatable for anyone who's ever felt lost at that age—or, you know, at any age.

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was ok. The pressure that Norah was under as a tween starting in a new school, parents who seem to be fighting all the time, an annoying younger sister and the need to just fit in oozed across the pages. I was NOT a fan of the parents. This one was ok.

[Harlyn Rengel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good! Favorite character is totally lark😝I act just like that when I get my hair brushed!

The reason it got a 4 star instead of a 5 star was because I don’t really care for the illustrations🙁

[Andrea Bayhan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yikes. This was not about a young teen experimenting with her hair; it was about a very dysfunctional family, and it was very depressing.

Poor Norah. She's trying so hard to keep it together, but she can't do anything right in her neglectful parents' eyes. When they saddle her with adult responsibilities, she runs herself ragged trying to please them, but when the cracks start to show, she gets verbally abused again and again for not "making her Dad's life easier," and then later gets it again for "not asking for help."

Um, you're the adults. ALL of that is YOUR job. I HATED her parents.

I get that this is a reflection of what many kids go through (yours truly included,) but boy, is it heavy for a kids' book.

Proceed with caution if you're looking for something light.

[Jesse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the story interesting enough without hair as the connecting piece throughout. Every time her hair was referenced I felt pulled back out of the story. But the rest was fun (and relatable).

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Knots by Colleen Frakes.

This is a middle grade graphic novel. There was a whole lot of different aspects to this story. It is about Norah who is figuring out who she is. Her parents are both prison guards and work a lot. This book does deal with some serious issues. Her best friends talk about her parent's divorce. During circle time a boy shares about his not-so-great home life and the principal of the school reports it to CPS. Norah goes through several different hairdos. Her parents don't have the extra money for professional haircuts or getting her hair colored. So, she takes matters into her own hands....and I am sure you can guess how that goes.

I like this graphic novel. I like how things are discussed, and eventually things are explained. That way whoever is reading it understands why certain things take place. It brings up a lot of good talking points for those going through middle school.

[Hannah Spencer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great middle-grade contemporary graphic novel with cartoon-y illustrations!
This one touched on some topics like mandated reporting, latch-key kids and themes like self-sufficiency, family, and friendship over the course of the school year and Norah's rough journey with her hair. The subject matter makes this a great book for kids in late elementary school and middle school.
Similar to other popular middle-grade titles such as Frizzy and Allergic.

[Cheryl Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of family problems through the lens of middle-school hair drama, this graphic novel struck me as endearing and realistic. I appreciated the portrait of Norah's parents as believably stressed but loving. Norah's sixth-grade teacher, Ms. Washines, is also a great character—a Yakama woman who wants to create a safe and culturally affirming space for her students, but sometimes finds herself in over her head. And I definitely related to Norah's good-girl identity problems.

[Kat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a light hearted graphic novel about a young girl's home hair dye job gone wrong (hello, is it me?!)... but instead this was pretty heavy. The main character's parents are BUSY... so busy they borderline neglect their children. When they are around, they yell and argue ALL. THE. TIME. I know there are kids who can relate to the main character's experiences, I just wish there was a little more hope and redemption baked in. Meh.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knots is a great addition to the middle school graphic novel genre. This story not only gives details to the knots in Norah's hair, but also describes the "knots" that seem to have taken over her family. Norah realizes that she's going to have to speak up if she wants to fix her hair and fix her feelings about her family.

[Lila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book! All the characters were really unique and the art work was simple but told the story well. Norah's worries were so genuine and felt very kid friendly while talking about some very serious topics. Great story about speaking up for yourself and growing up.

[Julesy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story 4 stars The parents bicker too much.
Artwork 5 stars
Color 5 stars
Lettering 4 stars A bit small for reading.

Overall rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4 stars)

Theme/genre: Realistic middle grade fiction
Setting: Washington State
Likable characters: Norah, Ashley

Twelve-year-old Norah Dowd and her younger sister by two years Lark have had it rough. Their parents work for the Washington State prison system and have been transferred many times over the course of their daughters’ short, young lives. The family finally seems to have settled in Cheney, WA, just as Norah is about to start middle school. As if being in middle school wasn’t stressful and difficult enough with really only one friend, Norah’s father receives a promotion. Since both parents work in the same prison location, Norah’s mother must transfer to another prison location miles away from home to avoid nepotism. The family is split in half. Norah stays in Cheney with her father and Lark moves with their mother.

Money is tight in the Dowd household so Norah’s mother has given her permission to dye her dark, thick hair herself with a drug store bleach kit. Norah’s attempt did not turn out as she hoped and re-dyed it into a shade of blue instead. This is a hit with middle schoolers but when her roots start to grow out, she attempts to bleach her hair again to blond. Norah is left to her own devices without parental supervision because her mother lives in another town and her father is working crazy hours in his new position. Norah’s hair ends up with as a fried disaster resulting in nothing but “knots”.

There are two aspects to this story: the fractured family and Norah’s fractured hair. They seem worlds apart to provide continuity but it works.

The artwork and color were very pleasing. The story was semi-autobiographical based upon the author’s personal account of her bad hair day as a young girl.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

[Caiylin Dobson]

This book talks about a girl named Norah who dyes her hair and has to deal with her rude little sister and parents and moving over and over again. Before starting 6th grade she wanted to dye her hair and surprisingly her strict mother said yes so she used up some of her savings to go to the dye store to get dye she decided on blue so when she got home she used the bleach to dye her hair to make it lighter then she adds the blue. Eventually her parents had to separate houses because the boss didn't want them to work together and give each other all the attention. When it was the first day of school the teacher had them sit on the floor and do circle time someone told a story about him and his 2 little sisters about how they accidentally set the house on fire after that the principal knew and the police came because they were wondering why would you leave your kids alone especially the the 2 little sisters. SO about a week later they found out that the boy and the 2 little kids are living with there grandma until them parents are responsible for them. Norah keeps on dying her hair and the more she does it the knots and split end she gets so she went to the salon and had to get a big chop but good thing she liked it. Them her parents had a talk with her and her sister that they had to move again because they´re parents wanted to start there career and wanted to live in the same house. SO the next day Norah said goodbye to her best friend and her Norah and her family headed for the road the next day.

I think this book is okay, it´s not really my favorite, but I like how even though her parents can be tiring and annoying she still finds ways to make her happy.

[Emalee Marrazzo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Knots by Colleen Frakes is a charming graphic novel exploring the complicated time of early adolescence. Norah must learn to cope with increasing demands as she enters middle school, her dad works more, and her mom and sister move across the state for work. Set in my own small Washington town of Cheney, the book offers a look at both small-town life and middle school. It is a great option for middle grade readers and can offer either a mirror to kids living in a small town or a window for kids living in bigger cities. It is a great way to teach kids about individuality, the conflict between childhood and growing up, and changing family dynamics. The book does a wonderful job of integrating humor into a story that, while light-hearted, has deeper meanings to help middle grade kids.
The book has a host of connections for an educator. The book can be connected to CCSS.Literacy.RL.7-8.7 through the practice of visual literacy and the integration of this multimedia story. This can be done in a variety of ways, CCSS.Literacy.RL4-8.2, RL4-8.3, and RL.4-8.6 can be integrated into RL.7-8.7. A teacher can use reading journals, class discussions, writing prompts, drawing prompts, etc. to integrate these standards. Another option is having students create their own comic strips in order to gain an understanding of the art form and how it works. The book teaches a variety of lessons including many SEL topics and cultural ideas while drawing in a humor that will engage younger and older readers alike.

[Roben · Rating 4 out of 5]

Middle school can be rough. It can be even rougher if you are in a family that moves around a lot - which often makes you the new kid. And you don't have a lot of money so no new school supplies. And hair! You believe you have the worst hair ever! Plus a very annoying little sister. And then - to make it even worse - mom has to move hours away to take a new job, taking your little sister with her and leaving you with your dad!
That's Norah's situation. Fortunately - she and her dad get along really well! Unfortunately, dad's job is keeping him super busy and he is basically ignoring Norah. Yikes! She really, really misses her mom!

As you might anticipate from the cover, this is another memoir-ish graphic novel. Though the author explains at the end that most of this story is not her story - it all started with a short comic about her hair and grew into Knots. And I can so relate to her hair stories! I had similar hair issues and also had a perm at a young age that was a disaster. Like Norah, my mom's solution was to ignore it or keep it short. I did not, however, dye it or bleach it. Well, at least not in middle school!

I liked that Norah was willing to take a lot of chances. Those chances do result in a few disasters along the way - and she does have a ton of anxiety about having to take care of so many things. But she learns a lot about herself and about her family - and ends up being able to stand up for herself. And with a pretty awesome haircut!

[Paytan Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a middle school girl named Norah and her family. Throughout the book Norah is trying to figure out her identity at a new school and navigate family challenges at the same time. There is a lot of pressure on Norah to be the "good kid" and it begins to weigh on her. This book is about finding your voice and adapting to change.
This was the first graphic novel I have read and I really enjoyed it. I was able to relate to Norah as I think many other people can and this kept me engaged throughout the book. I finished it in just two sittings.
As a teacher I would love to use this book as a mentor text in my classroom. I think it would be really fun to read this book as a class and then have students write their own short comic about themselves. This could help the class reach common core state standards around narrative writing but also social emotional learning standards. Incorporating this lesson will foster and environment where students feel comfortable sharing things about themselves and it will help me as a teacher to get to know my students on a more personal level.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book and I look forward to read Colleen Frakes' graphic novel "Prison Island" next!

[Aubrey Bunten]

Knots is a graphic novel about a young girl named Norah who is faced with many life obstacles. Throughout this novel, Norah is also faced with an identity crisis, which causes her to change her hair multiple times. Norah is faced with responsibility and independence. Norah has always wanted to be treated like an adult, but when her parents face her with tasks, she may realize to just enjoy where she is and what she has. Norah has moved a lot throughout her life and is faced with many challenges, like making new friends, finding activities to get involved in, and building connections with her teachers. Norah has never felt comfortable asking for help, but when everything in her life gets overwhelming, and other people start to notice she is acting differently, or there is a change in her appearance, she has a realization that maybe she can't do everything by herself, and having so many responsibilities at a young age is challenging and not always ideal. One way that teachers could use this in a classroom would be to have their students create a comic strip of an event that has occurred in their lives. They could also get the opportunity to share it with the class and add a lesson that could have been learned during that event in their life.

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knots is a graphic novel with growing pains galore. Handling middle school is enough stress for any 12-year-old, but Norah suddenly has a lot of time on her own when her parents' jobs split up the family. Norah's mom and little sister have to move, leaving Norah and her dad behind. Norah has a lot of anxiety and an unfortunate hair mishap turns out to be the least of her worries. The stakes feel even higher when a classmate is removed from his home due to neglect. Frakes sensitively portrays family stresses and middle school angst with a good dose of humor. Norah and the supporting characters are realistically developed. Adults are portrayed as both imperfect and loving. Set in a small town about half an hour from Spokane, Washington, Frakes includes characters who represent the Indigenous Peoples from that area. The colorful, expressive panels will appeal to realistic graphic novel lovers, especially fans of Raina Telgemeier's work. The author includes a note about land acknowledgements and also gives readers insight into how this story, which began as a memoir, evolved into its final published form.

Highly recommended for readers in grades 3-7.

[Savannah Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knots is a graphic novel that follows a sixth-grade girl named Norah. Norah is nervous for the first day of sixth grade and wants to switch up her style, so she does what any 11-year-old would do, dye her hair. But it didn't turn out the way she wanted it. Norah was known as "the good kid" but this pressure to be good all the time eventually causes distress. Norah's parents are both prison guards that move frequently due to better opportunities elsewhere. These opportunities have moved them all over Washington State, but what happens when one parent is given an opportunity to move, and the other doesn't? In Knots, Colleen Frakes unpacks what it is like to be a young girl with the challenges of growing up. Norah's story is something that I would recommend to many middle school girls as this story is a great representation of the struggles they are facing. As a local Cheney resident, I found a lot of joy reading a story that was based on where I live. I think a lot of students in Spokane County and even Washington State would enjoy this story as well. I highly recommend this for upper elementary and middle school classrooms.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have this beautiful graphic novel in my school library, and I wanted to share which readers I think would benefit most from it.

Knots follows Norah, a sixth grader navigating middle school while dealing with complicated family circumstances. As things at home become more difficult, Norah has to learn that being the “good kid” doesn’t mean handling everything on her own. She ultimately learns to find her voice, speak up, and ask for help.

This is a wonderful choice for upper elementary and middle school readers, especially Grades 5–8. It explores family stress, anxiety, loneliness, responsibility, and learning to advocate for yourself in a way that feels very authentic to the tween experience.

There are some sensitive topics, including parental neglect and involvement with child protective services, so I would recommend that librarians and educators be mindful of individual readers’ experiences. However, the story handles these topics with care and ultimately emphasizes communication, support, and the possibility of repair.

A thoughtful, relatable graphic novel for readers who are learning that they don’t have to carry everything by themselves.

[Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A few months after having been promised that moving to their current home would be their last move, 6th grader Norah struggles to cope when her mom has to move away for work and takes Lark, the little sister, with her. Both her parents are in corrections, and when her dad gets a promotion, nepotism fears force the mom to leave.
But her parents were already not that observant or helpful. They argue a lot, and the dad is quiet like Norah; mom yells, like tantrummy little sister Lark. Mom lets her dye her hair ("It's your hair").
Norah is the "good daughter", esp after the mom moves away and askes her to be. too much pressure.
Norah fries the microwave, and then a classmate shares his fire story, and the AP reports him to CPS. Norah afraid of the same--her hair is matted and eventually a brush gets stuck in it.
Economic diversity.
Through it all, her hair is a struggle and a symbol of her parents' neglect.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost started this review by saying how much I enjoyed the narrative but I've already done that twice recently. This book tells the story of a girl accustomed to moving around due to her parents' jobs as corrections officers in Washington State. She hopes that they can finally settle down but a promotion for her dad means a transfer for her mom because they can no longer work at the same prison. The family tries to make things work with the mom and little sister moving temporarily while the main character stays with her dad. Meanwhile, the main character attempted to do somethign new with her hair but it turns into a disaster with her mom gone and her dad working a lot more. Frakes does an excellent job portraying these realistic struggles and attempted solutions. I will definitely add this one to my classroom library.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gave me anxiety. The parent/child relationships here (with main and side characters) were toxic and I have concerns that a child reading this might either think they’re being neglected just for being left home occasionally and having to provide some meals for themselves… or alternatively, be afraid to confide in trusted adults or teachers because of fears of mandated reporters. It just seems like there could be a lot misinterpreted here from children. I liked the premise of the book and the weaving in of the hair dye episodes to create a theme throughout, and I thought the ending seemed to get things back on the right track, but most of the middle of the book seemed rather traumatic. I did enjoy the illustrations and the general stylistic feel of this graphic novel.

[SOYAMRG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knots is a graphic novel with growing pains galore.

Handling middle school is enough stress for any 12-year-old, but Norah suddenly has a lot of time on her own when her parents' jobs split up the family. Norah's mom and little sister have to move, leaving Norah and her dad behind. Norah has a lot of anxiety and an unfortunate hair mishap turns out to be the least of her worries. The stakes feel even higher when a classmate is removed from his home due to neglect.

Frakes sensitively portrays family stresses and middle school angst with a good dose of humor. Norah and the supporting characters are realistically developed. Adults are portrayed as both imperfect and loving. Set in a small town about half an hour from Spokane, Washington, Frakes includes characters who represent the Indigenous Peoples from that area. The colorful, expressive panels will appeal to realistic graphic novel lovers, especially fans of Raina Telgemeier's work.

The author includes a note about land acknowledgements and also gives readers insight into how this story, which began as a memoir, evolved into its final published form.

Highly recommended for readers in grades 3-7.

K.M.
School Librarian

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Semi-autobiographical graphic novel for ages 8-12. It takes place before cell phones, I believe. I don't remember any. They were excited about the idea of getting a computer. This was a coming-of-age story with some unusual elements. Norah is often anxious and doesn't express her needs. There is a focus on neglect, and manual reporting to social services. Lots of arguing in the family and less-than-ideal circumstances, but trying to work it out when Norah finally speaks up. Realistic and down-to-earth, kids not understanding what's happening to them and why, a Native American teacher and some classmates, really good "land acknowledgement" in the author's notes, and other things that make this one unique.

[Elizabeth]

The story was interesting enough, but there were two many errors in the book. Many of the text bubbles had words joined together without spaces, instead of the two separate words they should’ve been. In one chapter, the main character says she colors her hair a completely different color, but the different color isn’t shown in the illustrations until the next chapter. Also, it’s said in one chapter that they are coming back to school after a weekend, yet the teacher makes a comment saying they will continue with the lesson from the day before, which would’ve been a Sunday. Very poor job editing this book before it was published and people paid money for these errors!

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. This was such a cute middle grade graphic novel. Our main character, Norah, has short hair and she hates it. She is taller than everyone and she just doesn't feel beautiful. She wants long blonde hair but her family doesn't have a lot of money so she tries to bleach it herself. She makes a mess of her and her life is kind of a mess as well. Her mom loses her job and has to move away with her little sister for awhile and nobody seems to notice her because she's "the good kid". I fell for this family and wanted so much good for them. The fall and winter vibes are also strong. Loved it.