Debut author Jules Bakes and illustrator Niki Smith (The Deep & Dark Blue) portray the exciting highs and despondent lows of young friendship in the delightful middle-grade graphic novel Sea Legs.
Fourth-grader Janey is a "boat kid" whose family constantly sets anchor in new places. It's January 1993, and they are leaving Florida for the Caribbean, forcing Janey to leave behind best friend Rae. Once in St. Thomas, a lonely Janey spies a girl on another vessel and flings herself into her orbit. Astrid, who isn't even sure what grade she's in ("Fifth? Sixth?"), cares for her younger siblings while her captain dad drinks beer and lets the boat collect barnacles. His abuses against Astrid go unnoticed by Janey, who is enamored by the older girl's cool vibe. Astrid is, in fact, all Janey can talk about when she finally gets to call Rae, causing turbulence in their relationship. And when Janey acts too oblivious, Astrid lashes out.
Smith gives each character a dazzling range of visible emotion through exaggerated features and body language in splashy art that bursts with color. The illustrator regularly shows Janey breaking free of the graphic novel's panels in proudly corny outbursts and whiplashing displays of overwhelming feelings. Also brilliantly depicted are Janey's initial nerves ("I can't... I'll get tetanus... I'm dehydrated") then overzealousness ("I was no little kid") as she finds her legs with rule-breaker Astrid. Nautical imagery and local scenery complete the atmosphere, and guides (such as one devoted to "The Head") help readers develop their own sea legs. --Samantha Zaboski, freelance editor and reviewer