According to Aggie

by Mary Richards Beaumont, Genevieve Kote (Contributor)

As far as 11-year-old Aggie knows, everything is great. Friends, school, family—all are fine and fun and predictable. But one random day, Aggie's longtime friend Fiona starts to pull away, canceling plans and acting, well, kind of different. It's not like anything happened—or did it? There aren't any good answers, and Aggie is left wondering how she's supposed to act now that her friend seems to have moved on without her. It turns out, though, that a new friendship can turn up just when you need it most.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Friendship, Juvenile, Childrens, Comics, Realistic Fiction

115 pages, Paperback

First published August 24, 2017

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cute children's graphic novel about friendship. Our main character Aggie learns how to cope with a friendship that just happens to fade away. They don't argue or fight but one day she goes to school and realizes that they are no longer friends. I thought that this graphic novel contained some really good aspects related to friendships. It definitely would be a good story for late elementary to early middle school kids. The artwork was colorful and clean and crisp. I didn't realize that this was actually a part of the American Girl magazine so I'll be interested in seeing if they come out with something else related to Aggie.

[Heather Love · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story that deals realistically with what happens when friends simply drift apart, and how to move on from it. Its a topic not often covered in Children's fiction, and it is very well done.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Why are there so many books like this where one girl is suddenly into makeup and fashion while the other girl just wants to keep climbing trees?
-Whitney

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned about this book a few months ago, probably here on Goodreads, and was intrigued to learn that American Girl has published a graphic novel. My library system doesn't own this title, but I noticed a copy on the accidental returns shelf today, and I read it on my break. I enjoyed it, but it's nothing spectacular. I would mainly recommend this book to girls who are interested in realistic graphic novels about friendships changing, but don't want to deal with the stress level involved in Shannon Hale's duo or the Terri Libenson series.

This is a very gentle, simple story, without any dramatic events, backstabbing, gossip, or crushing rejections. Aggie simply notices that she and her best friend since kindergarten are growing apart, and has to accept that her friend has new interests. She deals with her emotions about this, talks with her parents to get advice, and then makes a new friend. The story is very simple and reassuring, and is appropriate for children who are in middle school or elementary school, based on their interests and need for it.

[Michele Knott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up at the Scholastic book fair. I was pleasantly surprised to see a new graphic novel and it looked like it would be a book to pass on to the readers who enjoy BSC.
Good story about how friendships can drift apart and how you can make new friends.
I was very disappointed with the lack of diversity and different families within the book. There were some token diverse characters, none that had an impact on the main story. Maybe some of the characters came from single family homes but since there wasn't much reference to it, you don't know for sure.
I would love to see more books like this but it definitely needs different cultural and family structures represented.

[Sarah Johnson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is good for its intended audience- older elementary girls who like realistic graphic novels. It covers friendship changes and models talking to parents to figure out how to deal with problems in life. I got it for my 9 year-old niece as a gift and I think she will really like it.

[The_Sunflower_Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so adorable! It is probably in my top ten favorite graphic novels. I would definitely reccomend it if your a fan of graphic novels.

[Flannery · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first read this book
1 star
When I read this book after my sister and friend and their pens got to it
5 stars

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly more higher reading level than i thought. It looked like it was meant for first graders, because of the art style.

[Jobie · Rating 5 out of 5]

When your daughter tells you to read a book, you do :)

[Matthew Archibald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very nice book, for what it was. It was obviously geared for a much younger audience than I. It was full of important messages. (Friendship isn't easy; change is inevitable; etc.) Aggie's parents are almost too awesome, though I do like her dad's sense of humor. :-)
The ending seemed a bit abrupt for me, though, and the cast was not as diverse as I would expect from an American Girls graphic novel.

[parsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS ‼️‼️‼️ LITERALLY FIRE 🔥🔥🔥 before it was high key sucky but after we got to it with our markers and Crackle living in our heads rent free it was turned into an amazing story ~ 😌

[Ricki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great graphic novel for kids. It's cute, it's got heart, great full color art. There's basically nothing wrong with this book. The only criticism that could be made is that it would be nice if there were more boy characters, guy friends at school. The moral of the story--that friendships sometimes fade and it's no one's fault and you just have to get over it--is one that everyone needs to learn.

Aggie is 11 in the story, but I'm going to let my 6yos read it now because they'll love the pretty illustrations and inoffensive story. I have it from the library, but I'll buy it for them when they're older.

There are a lot of similar middle grade graphic novels about friendship out there. I would say this is the most appropriate for all ages. But when kids are around 10 or 12, they might need something a little more real, and then I would suggest Shannon Hale's autobiographical Real Friends series.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Some friends have tons in common. That’s not me and Fiona, though.”

Aggie and Fiona have been best friends for a very long time. But lately, Fiona seems to be pulling away from Aggie. She doesn’t want to come over on Friday afternoons anymore and she’s hanging around with other girls. This really confuses Aggie. “This might be easier to understand if you two did have a fight. But friends don’t have to get mad to grow apart.”

This is a normal plot in middle grade fiction, but this one takes a little bit different approach. It’s not treated as a tragedy, just a normal thing that happens to friends as they grow older. Aggie moves on to a new friend with similar interests, just as Fiona has. “And that’s kind of how it went with Fiona and me. Instead of best-friends-since-kindergarten, now we were just two kids who go to the same school.”

A good graphic novel for 3rd grade and older.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic novel for late elementary grades to early middle girls. Aggie experiences the loss of a friend, and the making of a new one. The story is a bit of a downer and the whole book is a bit solemn. The discussion of losing a friend, not because of what anyone specifically did but due to changing interests and tastes and the mourning of a loss is an important one, making a new friend is a great one too. I really thought that was a worthy topic. Unfortunately, Aggie is a character is not very interesting and nor that useful. A nonfiction book might have been more meaningful. The book is written in simple but respectful language and the illustrations are clear and match the text. A better sense of humor or character development might have helped readers attach to Sggie but it isn't presently there.

[Sarah Hay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Aggie is trying to navigate a change in her friendship with Fiona. Aggie and Fiona have been best friends since kindergarten but lately their interests have been different. Aggie is not sure if she has done something wrong and begins to worry that she may end up friendless.
Good graphic novel about dealing with a difficult situation.
Good for ages 8 and up.

[Katt Hansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aggie (the representative characters for American Girl) is going through a tough time when she finds she's growing apart from her best friend. How she deals with that is sensitive and sweet. I like Aggie. She has a good heart, and shows us just because someone isn't your best friend anymore, it doesn't mean they aren't still your friend. Nice story!

[Mere · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this when I had a free moment one afternoon. I thought it was a charming graphic novel, that dealt with some real issues of friendships.

Charming and adorable, I would love to see more of Aggie.

The art was also gorgeous and bright.

[Maddie's_Bookshelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very cute story about having a friend drift away and how sweet Aggie gets over it and makes new memories and new friends. She never gets mad at her friend, but does except that that friendship is going a different way.

[Jenna Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I just binged this in like 20 minutes. I was looking through books and got a little distracted…. Anyways I enjoyed this a little too much and loved the bonus scene!! Recommend for anyone wanting a heartwarming childhood book 😉😜

[Charlie - disableddaydreamer | itsbarbieparis (looking for mutuals) · Rating 3 out of 5]

cute and random kids graphic novel from american girl. it doesn’t seem like this girl or IP was used or explored very much beyond the graphic novel.

it was very cute and explores some topics that even adults struggle with like the cycle of some friendships.

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. It told me so much that I want to read it over and over again because it was that good. If I could I would give it ten stars.

[Nitza Campos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good subject matter about friends drifting apart.

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

An American Girl graphic novel about losing old friends and gaining new friends. This book lacked the charm of Raina Telgemeier’s books and Shannon Hale’s Real Friends.

[Avie Murray · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this book is pretty good...

[Allison Renner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute American Girls graphic novel about how friendships change.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Baker & Taylor and the publisher for a copy of this book!

Good graphic novel to explain how friendships can change and how to be a friend. Good for tweens.

[Megan Close Zavala · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book to read alongside my niece - did a great job of addressing the difficulties of navigating the world of friendships between girls.

[Senator · Rating 4 out of 5]

American Girl, you delightfully surprised me once again! A sweet, well meaning novel about losing touch with old friends that doesn't shove the concept down the reader's throat.

[nathan waltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

It is kind of sad that she loses friends throughout the book, but she also gains many more.