Skim

Marc Notes: ; Skim is Kimberly Keiko Cameron, a not-slim, would-be Wiccan goth who goes to a private girls' school in the early '90s. When her classmate Katie Matthews is dumped by her boyfriend, who then kills himself, the entire school goes into mourning overdrive. Suicide, depression, love, homosexuality, crushes, cliques of popular, manipulative peers-- the whole gamut of teen life is explored in this poignant glimpse into the heartache of being 16.; 2; 10-up.; 8; Ages 14 and up.; New York Times Best Illustrated Childrens Books Award, 2008; Ignatz Award, Outstanding graphic novel, 2008; Doug Wright Awards, Best book, 2009; Joe Shuster Award, writer, 2009. Publisher Marketing: The time is the early 1990s, the setting a girls' academy in Toronto. Enter Skim, aka Kimberly Keiko Cameron, a not-slim, would-be Wiccan goth. When her classmate Katie Matthews is dumped by her boyfriend, who then kills himself, the entire school goes into mourning overdrive. It's a weird time to fall in love, but Skim does just that after secret meetings with her neo-hippie English teacher, Ms. Archer. When Ms. Archer abruptly leaves the school, Skim has to cope with her confusion and isolation, as her best friend, Lisa, tries to pull her into real life by setting up a hilarious double date for the school's semi-formal. Skim finds an unexpected ally in Katie. Suicide, depression, love, being gay or not, crushes, cliques of popular, manipulative peers -- the whole gamut of tortured teen life is explored in this masterful graphic novel by cousins Mariko and Jillian Tamaki. Review Citations: Publishers Weekly 02/04/2008 pg. 44 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Kirkus Review - Children 02/15/2008 pg. 202 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Quill & Quire 03/01/2008 pg. 66 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Booklist 03/15/2008 pg. 62 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Bulletin of Ctr for Child Bks 05/01/2008 pg. 402 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) - *Starred Review School Library Journal 05/01/2008 pg. 160 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Voice of Youth Advocates 06/01/2008 pg. 154 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2008 pg. 459 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Publishers Weekly Best Books 11/03/2008 pg. 29 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) New York Times Book Review 11/09/2008 pg. 36 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Kirkus Best Young-Adult Books 12/01/2008 pg. 19 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Hornbook Guide to Children 10/01/2008 pg. 380 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2009 pg. 55 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Library Journal Annex 06/08/2009 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) ALA Best Books Young Adults 03/15/2009 pg. 16 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) - *Starred Review ALA Graphic Novels for Teens 03/15/2009 pg. 20 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) - *Starred Review Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2008 pg. 380 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Quill & Quire Books of the Yr 12/01/2008 pg. 1 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Wilson Middle/Junior Hi Catalo 01/01/2009 pg. 416 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Wilson Senior High Core Col 01/01/2011 pg. 465 (EAN 9780888997531, Hardcover) Contributor Bio:  Tamaki, Mariko From the Book Jacket: Mariko Tamaki is a Toronto writer, performer, and playwright. She is currently a graduate student at York University.