The Squirrel Mother by Megan Kelso is a graphic novel that is told in short stories or panels that give a snapshot into the lives of various girls of approximately the same age. The majority of the sections are about five to six pages with simplistic drawings that are humorous while also melancholic. Such "short stories" range from a girl learning how to dance to another adolescent girl who sadistically cleans her room. Another story is of a girl who judges her neighbors on the music that they play on Halloween. The concluding section is about the founding fathers in which Kelso mixes historical truths with modern-day romance. Overall, the collection is quite interesting, enduring, and spunky.
As other reviewers have stated, I very much enjoyed the short sections that depicted various girl and their "coming-of-age" moments. Each story was completely unique while also connecting to the overall theme of the book. If the graphic novel was comprised of only these stories, I would surely have given it four stars. However, the final section was a bit odd. Kelso's art was perfect, as is typical of her, but the storyline was a bit too bizarre for me. Had that section been left out, it would have been worthy of four stars!
-DLP
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