What do you think?
Rate this book
Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel
Everyone sees a quiet redhead who draws things. But when I close my eyes, I'm laughing and screaming and scheming and daydreaming.New city. New friends. New Paige?
When Paige's parents move her family from Virginia to New York City, Paige doesn't know where she fits in anymore. At first, the only thing keeping her company is her notebook, where she pours her worries and observations and experiments with her secret identity: ARTIST. With the confidence the book brings her, she starts to make friends and shake up her family's expectations. But she is ready to become the person she draws in her notebook?
Laura Lee Gulledge's stunning art digs deep into the soul and exposes all the ups, downs, and sideways feelings of being a young adult on the edge of the rest of your life.
192 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
120 people are currently reading
8362 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lee Gulledge
4 books183 followersLaura Lee Gulledge (she/ we) is an Eisner Award nominated cartoonist, teaching artist,
collaborative muralist, and creative polymath based in Charlottesville, VA.
Her books include YA graphic novels The Dark Matter of Mona Starr, Page by Paige, Will & Whit, and the interactive Sketchbook Dares: 24 Ways to Draw Out Your Inner Artist. (Abrams Books) Her teen musical adaptation of Will & Whit is now available for licensing! (willandwhit.com)
Laura Lee explores visual storytelling at the intersection of wellness, whimsy, comics, co-creation, neurodiversity, and citizen artistry. When not in the studio she enjoys ecstatic dance, shared care, and laying under trees.
***Interested in hosting Laura Lee for a virtual or in-person visit? Please reach out at lauraleegulledge at gmail.com to learn more about workshops + residencies.
#artnerlove @lauraleegulledge
collaborative muralist, and creative polymath based in Charlottesville, VA.
Her books include YA graphic novels The Dark Matter of Mona Starr, Page by Paige, Will & Whit, and the interactive Sketchbook Dares: 24 Ways to Draw Out Your Inner Artist. (Abrams Books) Her teen musical adaptation of Will & Whit is now available for licensing! (willandwhit.com)
Laura Lee explores visual storytelling at the intersection of wellness, whimsy, comics, co-creation, neurodiversity, and citizen artistry. When not in the studio she enjoys ecstatic dance, shared care, and laying under trees.
***Interested in hosting Laura Lee for a virtual or in-person visit? Please reach out at lauraleegulledge at gmail.com to learn more about workshops + residencies.
#artnerlove @lauraleegulledge
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,041 reviews
December 2, 2014
If you're looking for a corny book about a country-turned-city girl with a excessively low self-esteem, look no further!
Also featuring,
But really, I'm still looking for that one graphic novel that will blow my senses away. Better luck next time.
Also featuring,
But really, I'm still looking for that one graphic novel that will blow my senses away. Better luck next time.
October 27, 2011
Wow! This has to be one of the best depictions I’ve come across of the interior mental life of a shy, introverted, creative, insecure, reflective mind. There’s a little bit of adjustment to the style for the first few pages, because they’re meditative as much as narrative and warm up to telling the story just as you warm up to reading it; it takes Paige a while to find her voice. What’s there immediately is her ability to use her pictures and art to expose her thought process, how she interprets, translates, and reacts to her external experiences inside her head. Everyone who interacts with Paige experiences a reserved, impassive demeanor and doesn’t realize all the voices and activity under the surface she never lets show. She begins using her sketchbook as a way to express herself, and through doing so learns to allow herself to be vulnerable and express her inner self to others. This book is that sketchbook, capturing the journey from its start. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
August 14, 2017
This book really makes me wish for a half-star option. It was a solid 3-1/2 for me, rounded up because I liked looking at it so much.
It IS a beautifully-drawn, sweet, insightful illustration of a young introvert's journey of self-discovery when she's taken out of her familiar surroundings and is forced/has the chance to start defining herself rather than just floating along with her circumstances and existing friendships. Thanks to her fondness for Love and Rockets, Paige is picked up by a trio of creative/geek friends: Singer/songwriter Jules; Jules's brother Longo, who, like Paige, is struggling with believing he can be an artist; and writer Gabe. Paige connects with each of them in a slightly different way, forging true individual friendships along with the group friendship. She also gains a little more closeness with and respect for and from her mother over the course of the story, too.
As a former shy-ish, awkward, introverted teen who was terrified to show anyone my writing (no Wattpad back then!), I really enjoyed this book. Minuses are that it's a little obvious and more than a little navel-gazing, but its charm and good naturedness outweigh those quibbles for me. I'm glad I stumbled on this.
Paige Turner and her writer parents (writers with an awful sense of humor...) move from North Carolina to Brooklyn halfway through Paige's frosh or sophomore year of high school (she's 15, but that's all that's given away). Paige likes to draw, so she buys a sketchbook and promises herself that she'll do at least a few drawings a week. She's definitely her parents' daughter, though, as she also includes a lot of words! The sketchbook becomes a sort of diary-plus-self-help vehicle, as Paige picks out a goal each month ("open up to people more," "be a better friend," "get brave and post my art online," etc.) and uses her drawing to show the reader how she achieves it.I'm really not sure how to rate this. It's not exactly a diary, or a self-help book, or fiction, although it has elements of all of those. It's not exactly a plotted story, but it does have a plot of sorts as Paige's life unfolds from December through July.
It IS a beautifully-drawn, sweet, insightful illustration of a young introvert's journey of self-discovery when she's taken out of her familiar surroundings and is forced/has the chance to start defining herself rather than just floating along with her circumstances and existing friendships. Thanks to her fondness for Love and Rockets, Paige is picked up by a trio of creative/geek friends: Singer/songwriter Jules; Jules's brother Longo, who, like Paige, is struggling with believing he can be an artist; and writer Gabe. Paige connects with each of them in a slightly different way, forging true individual friendships along with the group friendship. She also gains a little more closeness with and respect for and from her mother over the course of the story, too.
As a former shy-ish, awkward, introverted teen who was terrified to show anyone my writing (no Wattpad back then!), I really enjoyed this book. Minuses are that it's a little obvious and more than a little navel-gazing, but its charm and good naturedness outweigh those quibbles for me. I'm glad I stumbled on this.
May 30, 2013
I wasn't expecting this book to be as thoughtful as it is. I love how Paige expresses her feelings in her sketchbook, and how the visuals work with the words. The story is simple enough, in that new-girl-in-school subgenre. Paige and her friends are likeable and have real personality. Paige wanting so badly to draw while feeling so insecure about sharing her art is something that I'm sure a lot of people can relate to. I think that artistically inclined readers would enjoy this even more than I did, but I really enjoyed it even while completely lacking in artistic talent.
August 20, 2018
When I was a teenager I used to love to draw. I wasn't very good but I still drew. As I grew older I lost interest and moderation. Every time I would get the moderation to draw, I draw a blank. Reading this book has inspired me to get back into what I loved doing.
October 23, 2011
Ok, two is totally too harsh. But reading other people's reviews, I get the sense more and more that this is a graphic novel written for non-graphic-novel readers, and furthermore, written to too many YA specs that give it that flat after-school-special-with-just-enough-edge flavor. New York! It's so edgy and full of inspiration! Parents! Sometimes they get mad at you and wear proverbial "masks"! Let's put art in trees! Oh! Those crazy artistic teens!
Something about the basic message of this -- stop fretting and do your art, stupid! -- resonated with me of course, but the flatness/obviousness of the characters lives sort of undid that message or made it less compelling. Art is dirty and hard and takes work, even when you're a teenager, and this seemed to sidestep that entirely.
Also -- and maybe this is just me, the art was technically fantastic, but had a very commercial/plastic/prettified quality about it that irked me. Oh, you're stuck in your head, Paige? But it's so *cute* in there! But..yeah.. I should have known. In this case, a book can be judged by its cover.
I think the two stars is mostly for misleading the teens/tweens who might otherwise get into much more interesting and inspiring comics. Poo.
Something about the basic message of this -- stop fretting and do your art, stupid! -- resonated with me of course, but the flatness/obviousness of the characters lives sort of undid that message or made it less compelling. Art is dirty and hard and takes work, even when you're a teenager, and this seemed to sidestep that entirely.
Also -- and maybe this is just me, the art was technically fantastic, but had a very commercial/plastic/prettified quality about it that irked me. Oh, you're stuck in your head, Paige? But it's so *cute* in there! But..yeah.. I should have known. In this case, a book can be judged by its cover.
I think the two stars is mostly for misleading the teens/tweens who might otherwise get into much more interesting and inspiring comics. Poo.
October 2, 2024
When in Laura Lee Gulledge's 2011 young adult graphic novel Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel (and with Lee Gulledge being both author and illustrator), artistically inclined (and at first also very lonely, introverted, often anxious, lacking self confidence) teenager Paige Turner (whose parents are both writers, hence the punny name Paige Turner) moves with her family from rural Virginia to New York City, she purchases a sketchbook for herself to get in touch with her artist self and to also help express and confront her feelings of confusion and her painful homesickness for Virginia.
Thus Laura Lee Gullege having Paige use said sketchbook as both a guide and equally so a visual artistic diary while at the same time also following the six rules her grandmother taught Paige about what is important about being an artist, Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel both textually and illustratively shows how Paige (in a first person narration) spends the rest of the school year (in New York City) learning about being/becoming an artist, about friendship, self-expression, getting in touch with both herself as well as her parents, moving from extreme introversion, to becoming more extroverted, less anxious and of course also more confident and self assured. And indeed, many of Paige Turner's musings (both text-based and illustratively) in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel and in particular her issues with not being able to relate to and confide in her parents, her anxiety, her fragile self esteem, her tendency to pretty extreme introversion and in particular Paige's all encompassing homesickness after moving to New York City from Virginia, her sadness at leaving everything and everyone she knows behind (and in particular her best friend Diana), her culture shock of relocating from a rural area to a huge metropolis, yes, all of this has been and is very much personally relatable to and for me (having experienced something pretty similar when my family immigrated to Canada from Germany when I was ten) and that this in particular at the beginning of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel also makes Paige Turner a total kindred spirit so to speak.
But just to also point out, I do have to admit that Laura Lee Gulledge's artwork for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel is sometimes just a trifle too visually exaggerated for me, that I wish Gulledge's illustrations would show Paige Turner's hair being red (like on the cover image for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel) and that there is a textual criticism of introvertedness being presented in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel which (introverted and proud of this) I personally speaking tend to find rather strange, rather uncomfortable (and which also makes me wonder whether Laura Lee Gulledge herself might have been told as a teenager that being introverted was not something acceptable, was something she needed to change, that she needed to become more of an extrovert).
Now at the beginning of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel, I was definitely thinking that with me finding Paige Turner such a hugely relatable character (both with regard to herself as a person and with regard to her feelings of isolation, homesickness, culture shock, losing her best friend because of her move to New York City), my rating for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel would likely be solidly four stars (not yet five stars and see above as to why). However, my pretty much complete and total original reading joy kind of gets a few major dings and moves towards a three star rating for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel when Paige meets a group of friends who almost immediately include her in their small circle. For albeit it is I guess a positive that Paige finds artistically inclined companions in New York City who accept and cherish her for who she is and with no questions asked (and that there is even a budding romance being included), I do tend to find how quickly in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel Paige makes friends in New York City and how quickly she also seems to forget and no longer think about Diana both unbelievable and also rather rubbing me the wrong proverbial way (and not to mention that while I actually have no issues in general with Paige and her friends doing street art in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel, it does somewhat bother me when Laura Lee Gulledge depicts and describes Paige as drawing or painting smiley faces on tulips, as that is in my opinion no longer art but nature destroying or at least potential nature destroying behaviour, as one can and should draw, paint or photograph flowers but should obviously not paint or draw things on flowers in the wild, in gardens, fields etc.)
All in all a pretty good young adult themed graphic novel is Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel (and perhaps even a bit autobiographical in scope, as it certainly feels as though Paige Turner's voice might be author/illustrator Laura Lee Gulledge's voice as well), a decently enjoyable reading and visual experience for me, but also one where by the middle of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel (when Paige almost instantaneously makes friends with no issues at all) I was getting a bit frustrated and no longer totally felt as though the main protagonist, as though Paige Turner was entirely relatable anymore and a carbon copy of me internally, emotionally (but then again, I might also just be feeling a bit envious, since when I immigrated to Canada, it took me years to find any true friends and that reading in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel how Paige Turner basically has no issues immediately making friends in New York City, well, it makes me sad and upset that this was not the case for me).
Thus Laura Lee Gullege having Paige use said sketchbook as both a guide and equally so a visual artistic diary while at the same time also following the six rules her grandmother taught Paige about what is important about being an artist, Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel both textually and illustratively shows how Paige (in a first person narration) spends the rest of the school year (in New York City) learning about being/becoming an artist, about friendship, self-expression, getting in touch with both herself as well as her parents, moving from extreme introversion, to becoming more extroverted, less anxious and of course also more confident and self assured. And indeed, many of Paige Turner's musings (both text-based and illustratively) in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel and in particular her issues with not being able to relate to and confide in her parents, her anxiety, her fragile self esteem, her tendency to pretty extreme introversion and in particular Paige's all encompassing homesickness after moving to New York City from Virginia, her sadness at leaving everything and everyone she knows behind (and in particular her best friend Diana), her culture shock of relocating from a rural area to a huge metropolis, yes, all of this has been and is very much personally relatable to and for me (having experienced something pretty similar when my family immigrated to Canada from Germany when I was ten) and that this in particular at the beginning of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel also makes Paige Turner a total kindred spirit so to speak.
But just to also point out, I do have to admit that Laura Lee Gulledge's artwork for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel is sometimes just a trifle too visually exaggerated for me, that I wish Gulledge's illustrations would show Paige Turner's hair being red (like on the cover image for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel) and that there is a textual criticism of introvertedness being presented in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel which (introverted and proud of this) I personally speaking tend to find rather strange, rather uncomfortable (and which also makes me wonder whether Laura Lee Gulledge herself might have been told as a teenager that being introverted was not something acceptable, was something she needed to change, that she needed to become more of an extrovert).
Now at the beginning of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel, I was definitely thinking that with me finding Paige Turner such a hugely relatable character (both with regard to herself as a person and with regard to her feelings of isolation, homesickness, culture shock, losing her best friend because of her move to New York City), my rating for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel would likely be solidly four stars (not yet five stars and see above as to why). However, my pretty much complete and total original reading joy kind of gets a few major dings and moves towards a three star rating for Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel when Paige meets a group of friends who almost immediately include her in their small circle. For albeit it is I guess a positive that Paige finds artistically inclined companions in New York City who accept and cherish her for who she is and with no questions asked (and that there is even a budding romance being included), I do tend to find how quickly in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel Paige makes friends in New York City and how quickly she also seems to forget and no longer think about Diana both unbelievable and also rather rubbing me the wrong proverbial way (and not to mention that while I actually have no issues in general with Paige and her friends doing street art in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel, it does somewhat bother me when Laura Lee Gulledge depicts and describes Paige as drawing or painting smiley faces on tulips, as that is in my opinion no longer art but nature destroying or at least potential nature destroying behaviour, as one can and should draw, paint or photograph flowers but should obviously not paint or draw things on flowers in the wild, in gardens, fields etc.)
All in all a pretty good young adult themed graphic novel is Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel (and perhaps even a bit autobiographical in scope, as it certainly feels as though Paige Turner's voice might be author/illustrator Laura Lee Gulledge's voice as well), a decently enjoyable reading and visual experience for me, but also one where by the middle of Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel (when Paige almost instantaneously makes friends with no issues at all) I was getting a bit frustrated and no longer totally felt as though the main protagonist, as though Paige Turner was entirely relatable anymore and a carbon copy of me internally, emotionally (but then again, I might also just be feeling a bit envious, since when I immigrated to Canada, it took me years to find any true friends and that reading in Page by Paige: A Graphic Novel how Paige Turner basically has no issues immediately making friends in New York City, well, it makes me sad and upset that this was not the case for me).
December 26, 2017
Honesty! I can say that Laura really bares her soul here and the lessons life has taught her. I feel she is very honest in what she talks about. We are all naturally self-centered and this brings that out. I love the art work to go with the honesty and how she blends her daydreams into her thoughts. It really is charming and brilliant.
She has the creative zest of youth. I truly enjoyed reading this little book and I will miss seeing what is lurking in the head of Paige. This is a strong work and I suggest giving it a read.
She has the creative zest of youth. I truly enjoyed reading this little book and I will miss seeing what is lurking in the head of Paige. This is a strong work and I suggest giving it a read.
June 30, 2011
Before you read this review, I just want you to know what my biases are. I went to art school and hold a BFA in illustration with minors in art history and creative writing (the path Gulledge's character Paige might take, though she most definitely would be an SVA or New School kid). I want you to know this because I've observed more than my fair share of angsty art school stuff, personal comics, and feelings of isolation due to artistic difference. These sorts of things either get snuffed out in the first semester of freshman year (all it takes is the first crit to bash your ego into the ground), or the individual leaves. Because of this, I found the graphic novel annoying. Paige seems too wrapped up in her artwork, and because the book is a graphic novel, it feels that the illustrator is taking herself too seriously. Many of the images are overly dramatic (specifically the one where Paige is sewing her mouth shut), yet even outgoing characters like Jules don't exhibit much outward emotion. And talk about angst-ridden (that being said, teenagers certainly like their angst).
While Page by Paige doesn't resonate with me, I feel it will find an adoring audience of teenagers: indie-music lovers, the "arty" or sensitive kids, and anyone who feels like they don't belong (which is every teenager). The quick pace and varied framing make the book a quick read. Readers will empathize with Paige, seeing their friends, their romance, and their difficult parental relationships. The message of the book is evident, but not didactic and nicely woven into the narrative.
Shelf-talker for the book: When Paige Turner (her parents are writers) moves from Virginia to Brooklyn, she feels lost and alone. Her first companion in this new place is her sketchbook. It is through her relationship with her sketchbook, and the drawings, doodles, and messes she makes, that she comes to learn about herself. With the support of her new friends (and boyfriend) Paige begins to define her identity and her home, while learning how to support her friends in turn.
While Page by Paige doesn't resonate with me, I feel it will find an adoring audience of teenagers: indie-music lovers, the "arty" or sensitive kids, and anyone who feels like they don't belong (which is every teenager). The quick pace and varied framing make the book a quick read. Readers will empathize with Paige, seeing their friends, their romance, and their difficult parental relationships. The message of the book is evident, but not didactic and nicely woven into the narrative.
Shelf-talker for the book: When Paige Turner (her parents are writers) moves from Virginia to Brooklyn, she feels lost and alone. Her first companion in this new place is her sketchbook. It is through her relationship with her sketchbook, and the drawings, doodles, and messes she makes, that she comes to learn about herself. With the support of her new friends (and boyfriend) Paige begins to define her identity and her home, while learning how to support her friends in turn.
August 9, 2014
Ignore the corny-ass title. This book is sooo cute you can’t look at it straight on. You have to open one eye and peak at it or you’ll dissolve into molecules. Paige is like a NYC-based Angela Chase - an introverted, insecure teenage girl who falls in with a bunch of hipsters and learns all about love, life, and what it means to be an artist. Why didn’t books like this exist when I was in high school?!?
March 19, 2017
4.5* Wow. I think it's safe to say I adored this. I had no idea what to expect from this when I picked it up. I'd heard absolutely nothing about it and received is as a gift for my birthday and I was pleasantly surprised. I think this book may just be the definition of 'pleasantly surprising', if you just change 'pleasantly' to 'oh my gosh, this was fantastic. How did I not know about this and why am I only just reading it?' surprising. Simply put, I adored it. This was almost painfully relatable at times, in a way that, at first, I thought might be uncomfortable but ended up being really quite the opposite. It was a lovely portrayal of anxiety and the way it can effect the way you see yourself, your actions and the world around you. (Although it was never formally stated that Paige suffered from anxiety, reading from her perspective I personally assumed that she did?) The way it was structured was unlike anything I've read. The writing was somewhat reminiscent of free verse and the way it was often dotted around the page was so interesting, with the result creating a unique reading experience. The only reason I'm not giving this the full 5/5 is that there were a few questionable comments made on one page when the characters were describing their racial identity, which I wasn't quite sure what to make of. It was also a little too sweet and cliche for me at times but overall I absolutely loved it. I can definitely see myself reading this again in the future and I think it's made its way into my collection of favourite graphic novels!
April 7, 2013
There are many times that I've caught myself thinking "I'm not an actual writer. How dare I share my work with others? How dare I even think that my work is good enough? What if my work is horrible? ... etc." I think this novel is great for any aspiring artist, author or songwriter. It comes to show many of us that we can't grow with all the self doubt and pessimism.
I only picked up Page by Paige because I've always wanted to read a graphic novel and I'm glad I did. It's simple, easy to follow and oddly relatable. However, I think the greatest thing about this novel is the art, as it is extremely metaphorical. The novel is narrated by Paige and is technically her sketchbook, giving the reader a look in Paige's head.
I only picked up Page by Paige because I've always wanted to read a graphic novel and I'm glad I did. It's simple, easy to follow and oddly relatable. However, I think the greatest thing about this novel is the art, as it is extremely metaphorical. The novel is narrated by Paige and is technically her sketchbook, giving the reader a look in Paige's head.
December 6, 2011
It is not often that the heroine of a book is a shy, over-sheltered, socially awkward introvert. As someone who was and is all of those things, I was pleased to see “us” get some props. I have a feeling the author may have been writing from experience. And I must say I loved the illustration of the teddy bear “pity party.”
Read
March 5, 2015This is a good book. I like how paige inspires herself at the end.
June 14, 2022
📚 Hello Book Friends! PAGE BY PAIGE by Laura Lee Gulledge is such a fantastic graphic novel. I love the illustration and the story about a teenager who has insecurities and surmount them by expressing herself through her drawings. The story is corny at times, but it has a “feel real” quality to it as well. I love her group of friends and how they encourage her to be an artist. Many teenagers face similar mental health issues and do not find an outlet to help them. I love the positivity of the story and recommend it.
#bookstadog #poodles #poodlestagram #poodlesofinstagram #furbabies #dogsofinstagram #bookstagram #dogsandbooks #bookishlife #bookishlove #bookstagrammer #books #booklover #bookish #bookaholic #reading #readersofinstagram #instaread #ilovebooks #bookishcanadians #canadianbookstagram #bookreviewer #bookcommunity #bibliophile #pagebypaige #lauraleegulledge #amuletbooks #abramsbooks #bookreview
April 2, 2016
REVIEW: How gorgeous is this book? The surreal illustrations really make Paige's already-interesting story pop. Through her artwork, we get to see a side of Paige that her friends and parents do not see. Paige's art shows us that she is insecure, scared, brave, happy, sad, moody, shy, proud, and confused all in the midst of just a few pages or days. This is the realistic life of a modern teen, and I think many young girls will relate to Paige. Though she is moody and unfair to her mother at times, Paige remains a likable protagonist because she is so realistic. I think even adult readers will see some of their own teenage years reflected in Paige.
Supporting characters--Paige's new friends and her parents--are also likable and realistic. I love how each of her new friends has his or her own distinct personality and interests. I also love how Paige's friend Jules is gay, but that does not define her at all. It's part of who she is, but no one acts like she is any different from anyone else. She seems like she'd be a pretty cool girl to hang out with.
There's a light romance. It's cute and sweet and completely PG.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An excellent addition to middle and high school libraries. Recommended especially for girls who love art or looking for a realistic story with a little romance. I know exactly who I'm recommending this book to tomorrow at school!
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We have it, and I will be recommending it.
READALIKES: Smile (Telgemeier); Awkward (Chmakova); This One Summer (Tamaki/Tamaki)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5--those beautiful illustrations!
Characters: 5/5
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: mild; some mild kissing, hand-holding
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none
Other: Paige's friend is gay (female); artistic vandalism
Supporting characters--Paige's new friends and her parents--are also likable and realistic. I love how each of her new friends has his or her own distinct personality and interests. I also love how Paige's friend Jules is gay, but that does not define her at all. It's part of who she is, but no one acts like she is any different from anyone else. She seems like she'd be a pretty cool girl to hang out with.
There's a light romance. It's cute and sweet and completely PG.
THE BOTTOM LINE: An excellent addition to middle and high school libraries. Recommended especially for girls who love art or looking for a realistic story with a little romance. I know exactly who I'm recommending this book to tomorrow at school!
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We have it, and I will be recommending it.
READALIKES: Smile (Telgemeier); Awkward (Chmakova); This One Summer (Tamaki/Tamaki)
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5--those beautiful illustrations!
Characters: 5/5
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: mild; some mild kissing, hand-holding
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none
Other: Paige's friend is gay (female); artistic vandalism
January 3, 2013
This is one of the best graphic novels I have read since Blankets by Craig Thompson (which is my standard for judging all graphic novels because it is amazing and blows me away everytime I read it).
Paige is a teenager and has just moved to New York from Virginia with her parents who both work as writers. She's awkward and struggles to find herself through her artwork she keeps in a sketchbook. Before long, she makes some awesome friends and bravely shares her artwork with the world via the Internet and some pretty cool art exhibitions on the streets of the Big Apple.
What blew me away about this book was how the artwork really helped me understand Paige's emotions. She expressed herself so well in her artwork and by having a bird's eye view of her sketchbook I came to know her inside and out. Sometimes the experience of reading a graphic novel feels like reading a book with a fabulous background of pictures, which is good but not great. Great is using the artwork to bring the story to life, to express something that can only be expressed using images not countless words. I am so excited by this author/artist and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
Paige is a teenager and has just moved to New York from Virginia with her parents who both work as writers. She's awkward and struggles to find herself through her artwork she keeps in a sketchbook. Before long, she makes some awesome friends and bravely shares her artwork with the world via the Internet and some pretty cool art exhibitions on the streets of the Big Apple.
What blew me away about this book was how the artwork really helped me understand Paige's emotions. She expressed herself so well in her artwork and by having a bird's eye view of her sketchbook I came to know her inside and out. Sometimes the experience of reading a graphic novel feels like reading a book with a fabulous background of pictures, which is good but not great. Great is using the artwork to bring the story to life, to express something that can only be expressed using images not countless words. I am so excited by this author/artist and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!
June 7, 2011
Eh... I don't know. I liked it well enough I suppose. Some of the drawings were magnificent. But Graphic Novels still creep me out for some reason. Plus, I don't like my YA to have the word Orgy in them. I think that's uncomfortable. I'm just glad this was shelved under YA, because at BEA I met Ms. Gulledge (who was super nice by the way) and the discussion made it sound like it was for Middle Grade. I don't think it is quite that appropriate. And maybe I am just old fashioned. And maybe I do want children to be as innocent as they can be for as long as possible. But still. If there are moments I am uncomfortable when reading a child's book, then I know there are children out there feeling the same way and that leaves me feeling disoriented.
BUT. For girl's who love Graphic Novels and are looking for a one girl centered about growing up, and don't mind a lot of angst (another reason I didn't particularly enjoy it, but that's simply a matter of taste) then as long as their more mature, I believe they would enjoy this book.
BUT. For girl's who love Graphic Novels and are looking for a one girl centered about growing up, and don't mind a lot of angst (another reason I didn't particularly enjoy it, but that's simply a matter of taste) then as long as their more mature, I believe they would enjoy this book.
February 18, 2018
Trigger warnings: nothing that I can think of??
2.5 stars.
I picked this up for the Contemporaryathon and the challenge to read a contemporary graphic novel. And I read it cover to cover in about 45 minutes, so...you know. There's that.
But I have to say, I didn't really care for this. The art was solid. But the whole story - despite dealing with the protagonist's emotions over moving to a new city and being away from her friends and struggling in social situations - just felt a little...surface level.
Add in the fact that literally none of the characters talk like actual teenagers, and I just...yeah. I didn't love this.
2.5 stars.
I picked this up for the Contemporaryathon and the challenge to read a contemporary graphic novel. And I read it cover to cover in about 45 minutes, so...you know. There's that.
But I have to say, I didn't really care for this. The art was solid. But the whole story - despite dealing with the protagonist's emotions over moving to a new city and being away from her friends and struggling in social situations - just felt a little...surface level.
Add in the fact that literally none of the characters talk like actual teenagers, and I just...yeah. I didn't love this.
October 23, 2011
A really charming graphic novel. Yes, it's about a girl who moves to New York from Virginia, but it's really about how to live a creative life and still get outside of your own head from time to time. The art is great and does a great job of taking us inside Paige's head. And I really liked that this is a relatively small, quiet, and simple story that's sweet without being treacly. I really enoyed it.
Read
February 17, 2015I really like this book because I really like art. And has photos of art that she draw. Its really interesting to me its not that girly.
January 22, 2023
2023 EDIT:
Reread: It's flawed - like, early 2010s flawed - but I still love it. 'Page by Paige' is such a raw, personal, emotional, haunting, funny, lovely coming-of-age, semi-true story, about art and the artist. About friendship. And parent relationships.
Moving and sweet.
I guess it would be a classic by now, huh?
Goddesses, I'm old.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
I honestly did not expect to like this graphic novel as much as I did. I was downcast right before reading it, and it really helped me to sort out my feelings and think about what is inside myself. I love being pleasantly surprised, especially by a comic book. Trust me, it is not as plain or "seen/read-it" as it might appear.
'Page by Paige' is a coming-of-age semiautobiographical book about art, growing up and the fears that come with it, searching for inspiration, the awakening of creativity, realising your faults, being wilful to change for yourself and for others, and just about gaining new experiences - you have the power to change the world, but first YOU'VE got to change ('Man in the Mirror' by Michael Jackson playing in the background here). Be brave!
Laura Lee Gulledge's "art book" (I feel I must call it that) is sensitive and wonderfully imaginative, even a little funny at times. The first thing to take note is the gorgeous artwork filled with creative images that express the main character Paige's emotions and anxieties. She moves to New York away from the countryside in Virginia. There, with the help of her artist grandmother's advice, she gets to know her new environment, puts in effort to make new friends, learns to confide in her parents, and draw what is true to her.
Throughout her journey she unleashes her inner artist and comes up against the obstacles of that pursued dream. She even gets swept up in a sweet romance that isn't contrived or annoying.
Written and structured like a diary and sketchbook, 'Page by Paige' is both a visual splendour and a read that can tug on heart strings and make you care for the characters. It is scary how much I related to Paige Turner (her parents are writers; thus the name) and her feelings, imaginings, and troubles. She is a teenager who needs to sort out herself and be confident in order to get her art out into the real world - but being young she still has a whole life of experiences ahead of her yet! This is sure to strike an emotional chord with anyone who is an artist of any kind, or who is aspiring to be one.
So, due to personal reasons and the beautiful art and characters, I love 'Page by Paige'. I'll keep it close to my heart, in case I'm in a creative slump or in need of cheering up.
Final Score: 5/5
Reread: It's flawed - like, early 2010s flawed - but I still love it. 'Page by Paige' is such a raw, personal, emotional, haunting, funny, lovely coming-of-age, semi-true story, about art and the artist. About friendship. And parent relationships.
Moving and sweet.
I guess it would be a classic by now, huh?
Goddesses, I'm old.
Final Score: 4.5/5
Original Review:
I honestly did not expect to like this graphic novel as much as I did. I was downcast right before reading it, and it really helped me to sort out my feelings and think about what is inside myself. I love being pleasantly surprised, especially by a comic book. Trust me, it is not as plain or "seen/read-it" as it might appear.
'Page by Paige' is a coming-of-age semiautobiographical book about art, growing up and the fears that come with it, searching for inspiration, the awakening of creativity, realising your faults, being wilful to change for yourself and for others, and just about gaining new experiences - you have the power to change the world, but first YOU'VE got to change ('Man in the Mirror' by Michael Jackson playing in the background here). Be brave!
Laura Lee Gulledge's "art book" (I feel I must call it that) is sensitive and wonderfully imaginative, even a little funny at times. The first thing to take note is the gorgeous artwork filled with creative images that express the main character Paige's emotions and anxieties. She moves to New York away from the countryside in Virginia. There, with the help of her artist grandmother's advice, she gets to know her new environment, puts in effort to make new friends, learns to confide in her parents, and draw what is true to her.
Throughout her journey she unleashes her inner artist and comes up against the obstacles of that pursued dream. She even gets swept up in a sweet romance that isn't contrived or annoying.
Written and structured like a diary and sketchbook, 'Page by Paige' is both a visual splendour and a read that can tug on heart strings and make you care for the characters. It is scary how much I related to Paige Turner (her parents are writers; thus the name) and her feelings, imaginings, and troubles. She is a teenager who needs to sort out herself and be confident in order to get her art out into the real world - but being young she still has a whole life of experiences ahead of her yet! This is sure to strike an emotional chord with anyone who is an artist of any kind, or who is aspiring to be one.
So, due to personal reasons and the beautiful art and characters, I love 'Page by Paige'. I'll keep it close to my heart, in case I'm in a creative slump or in need of cheering up.
Final Score: 5/5
March 11, 2020
GET THIS BOOK INTO THE HANDS OF THE CREATIVE 13-yr-olds IN YOUR LIFE!! I mean, I’m 40 and loved it to pieces, so it’s not *limited* to that age group by any means!! I’m just imagining that my 13-yr-old self could’ve really benefit from encountering this beautifully told story. And I could’ve especially used the push to be comfortable actively expressing myself (still could!).
The main character/author’s art is a glorious visual representation of the inner process we all go through when trying to negotiate who we are and what we are capable of contributing to the world. The humor and whimsy and creativity expressed by these characters is everything! By example, the characters demonstrate the fruits of engaging with the world with such an embrace for the adventure of it all. I finished the book feeling so inspired and just itching to do something creative.
The main character/author’s art is a glorious visual representation of the inner process we all go through when trying to negotiate who we are and what we are capable of contributing to the world. The humor and whimsy and creativity expressed by these characters is everything! By example, the characters demonstrate the fruits of engaging with the world with such an embrace for the adventure of it all. I finished the book feeling so inspired and just itching to do something creative.
December 18, 2024
Really beautiful book.
reread:ok
reread:ok
December 5, 2019
This is a comic book style graphic novel for teens. Paige has moved with her parents from the mountains of Virginia to NYC. She misses the natural beauty of her home and her best friend to the point of feeling overwhelmed and anxious. She feels she can't talk to her parents at all and feels very very alone until she meets a group of friends who are artistic misfits like herself and they set out to explore Paige's creativity- and their own.
This book is OK. Paige really really suffers from bad anxiety. When she was upset she had no one to talk to I was thinking she needs to talk to a school counselor or therapist. Her parents didn't seem that bad but they projected their own desires onto their daughter. (They're both writers).
What I found unrealistic was Paige and her friends going around NYC bringing joy to people through art but in essence committing vandalism. I was appalled that nature-loving Paige . I never met any kids like this in high school. Gabe is super introspective for a teenage boy and seems to mature and kind. All the teenage boys I knew were stupid and gross.
The black and white artwork is a little tough to get used to. Paige is described as having red hair and I wish I could see it. Is it too cliched to wish for some color as Paige becomes more comfortable in her new home?
I would actually recommend this to creative older teens 14+ who have anxiety issues. It's on the maybe list for niece #1 for the future. We'll see how she does at making friends as she gets older. Same large school I went to, so I'm anxious for her!
This book is OK. Paige really really suffers from bad anxiety. When she was upset she had no one to talk to I was thinking she needs to talk to a school counselor or therapist. Her parents didn't seem that bad but they projected their own desires onto their daughter. (They're both writers).
What I found unrealistic was Paige and her friends going around NYC bringing joy to people through art but in essence committing vandalism. I was appalled that nature-loving Paige . I never met any kids like this in high school. Gabe is super introspective for a teenage boy and seems to mature and kind. All the teenage boys I knew were stupid and gross.
The black and white artwork is a little tough to get used to. Paige is described as having red hair and I wish I could see it. Is it too cliched to wish for some color as Paige becomes more comfortable in her new home?
I would actually recommend this to creative older teens 14+ who have anxiety issues. It's on the maybe list for niece #1 for the future. We'll see how she does at making friends as she gets older. Same large school I went to, so I'm anxious for her!
December 20, 2018
קומיקס יפהפה ומרשים ויזואלית, אך לא נוגע ומרגש כהוא זה. לא הצלחתי להתחבר לדמות הראשית, תחושותיה, לבטיה ותהליך ההתבגרות שהיא עוברת. הייתי מעדיפה אומנות פחות נקיה ומושלמת, אך עם יותר נשמה.
המחברת של פייג'/לורה לי גולאג'
המחברת של פייג'/לורה לי גולאג'
November 7, 2012
Sixteen year old Paige has just moved to New York City with her parents and feels very shy and alone, in this beautifully drawn graphic novel. She buys a sketchbook to draw about her feelings, as she tries to make new friends and make her way around the city. She tries to follow her grandmother's 9 rules that she came up with as she taught herself to be a painter, things like "Draw a few pages every week," and "Draw what you know; if you feel it or see it, draw it." "Listen to what's going on in your head." Paige's problem is that there is so very *much* going on in her head, tons of self-doubt and insecurity about herself and her art. "Don't take it so personally" is a grandmotherly rule that's hard for her to obey. "Figure out what scares you and DO IT"--well, she's scared to show anyone her drawings, but she gets the nerve to show them to Gabel, a friend from school, and two friends she makes. They meet over comics, and bond with "Agents of Whimsy" adventures where they draw faces on tulips in yards or do other "random acts or art." Paige also has an epiphany with her mom, who like all moms of teenagers doesn't always say or do the right thing but they work it out together. I loved the art in this book, how it shows her inner self so expressively, and her journey to becoming a more self-confident young woman and accomplished artist. A book every teen can relate to, and those with an artistic side will really appreciate.
September 28, 2012
I was surprised how much I liked this book. It is definitely a graphic novel for teens. It's even safe enough for tweens to read.
It's about an introverted young artist who moved from Virginia to NYC. She makes friends and get a boyfriend. The framing device for each chapter is artistic advice from her grandmother, which she follows each month. It works well with the twin themes of artistic and personal growth.
It resonated with me because of artistic growth and how some introverts are self-focused that they live in their own heads, doubt themselves, and have trouble asking for help and connecting with others. This helped it overcome the early teen angst in the book.
The best part of the book is the art. The graphic novel is supposed to be the protagonist's sketchbook. This allows the narrative to give way to many imaginative images that reflect Paige's state of mind. The art is black and white, but makes up for it with creativity. The LLG plays with panels and the two dimensions of the flat page to illustrate Paige's many conflicting emotions. It makes the book an enjoyable gem that I want to pick up again and again and become immersed in the images again.
It's about an introverted young artist who moved from Virginia to NYC. She makes friends and get a boyfriend. The framing device for each chapter is artistic advice from her grandmother, which she follows each month. It works well with the twin themes of artistic and personal growth.
It resonated with me because of artistic growth and how some introverts are self-focused that they live in their own heads, doubt themselves, and have trouble asking for help and connecting with others. This helped it overcome the early teen angst in the book.
The best part of the book is the art. The graphic novel is supposed to be the protagonist's sketchbook. This allows the narrative to give way to many imaginative images that reflect Paige's state of mind. The art is black and white, but makes up for it with creativity. The LLG plays with panels and the two dimensions of the flat page to illustrate Paige's many conflicting emotions. It makes the book an enjoyable gem that I want to pick up again and again and become immersed in the images again.
August 18, 2011
I love this book, oh did I love this book. Page by Paige isn't the typical graphic novel in format. It's a little more free-flowing as there are many pages without panels. The author does a brilliant job of combining the artwork with the main character's emotions as the main character, Paige, is an artist and the GN reads like a combination of her diary and sketchbook.
Paige's parents have uprooted her from her life in Charlottesville, VA and moved to Brooklyn. Forced to start over with new friends in a new city, Paige feels isolated and afraid. She can't open up to her mother, who she feels always wears a "happy mask," and she can't open up to her new friends for fear of burdening them with her problems. So she lets out her emotions by drawing. Paige slowly progresses from shy, secretive, and angsty to brave, funny, and creative as she challenges herself to do the things that scare her the most.
A realistic story about a girl becoming who she has always wanted to be accompanied by absolutely stunning artwork. This one's a keeper.
Paige's parents have uprooted her from her life in Charlottesville, VA and moved to Brooklyn. Forced to start over with new friends in a new city, Paige feels isolated and afraid. She can't open up to her mother, who she feels always wears a "happy mask," and she can't open up to her new friends for fear of burdening them with her problems. So she lets out her emotions by drawing. Paige slowly progresses from shy, secretive, and angsty to brave, funny, and creative as she challenges herself to do the things that scare her the most.
A realistic story about a girl becoming who she has always wanted to be accompanied by absolutely stunning artwork. This one's a keeper.
November 26, 2014
This book was about a girl named Paige. And she was so shy she had to by a sketchbook just so she could get all of her emotions out. So lets get away from emotions. She is a girl who moved from Virginia to New York. She hated switching schools because she only had a few friends and she didn't want to have to find new friends because it was hard enough trying to find her first ones. But on her first day she had already made 3 friends their names are Jules, Gabe, and Longo. So back to the skechbook she never let any one see it util she found out that she liked Gabe then she thought she could tell him anything! So she showed him and he showed Jules and Longo. After they both saw it they came up with a whole lot of ideas to show every one eles! And after they came up with some ideas... Gabe became Paige's boyfriend. I liked this book because it tell how one girl opens up her drawling to every one!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,041 reviews