Graphic Novel Review - 'Page by Paige' by Laura Lee Gulledge

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