Spring 2019, Wild Readers 5 discussion

For my second book choice I chose to read the book Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles, by Karen Romano Young. The somewhat short novel follows the story of Maureen Bussey mainly referred to as DoDo for a majority of the novel. DoDo was kicked out of her school for selling her prescribed Ritalin pills to her classmates and friends at school for .25 cents a piece (in my opinion, probably not her smartest idea). After DoDo is kicked out of school their mother makes the executive decision that the whole family will pick up and move to San Francisco, which DoDo’s sister MoMo isn’t necessarily so happy with. When leaving to embark into their new journey DoDo’s mother gives her a blank drawing book to use during their drive. DoDo falls in love with drawing. As she begins to try to commemorate her life through doodles and script she falls in love with the idea of recreating herself at her new school as “DoodleBug”, hence the title of the novel. Drawing seems like an aimless behavior however, we as readers can infer that the act of drawing means so much more to DoDo. It helps her to subdue the behaviors caused by her hyperactivity disorder, as she clearly was not finding a cure through her Ritalin. Drawing is not just a part of who she is, it really helps her to calm what she experiences with her hyperactivity disorder. She and MoMo find their way in San Francisco, quickly. DoDo begins to make new friends still worried that her teachers will not understand why she must draw, and MoMo is desperate to join the schools choir (she even tries to sing through the announcing system at her school). They both find their ways, and it is a happy ending and start to their new lives.
I can relate to DoDo in that I doodle when I become anxious or am bored. I feel I could maybe even incorporate this idea of creating the story of your life through doodles into my future classroom as a helpful activity for my students! Overall this novel was packed full of originality, and creativity. The story was captivating and quite applicable to my life, currently (minus the getting kicked out of school portion)!