Have you ever felt as if you were locked inside your head? Have you every felt as if you were not able to express yourself and your head became so heavily cluttered with thoughts that you thought it could explode? Although no one should feel alone, Paige Turner does. Although Paige had a wonderful life with many friends in Virginia, her parents decide to move to New York and there, Paige feels lost and hidden from the world although she pretends to be calm and altogether on the surface. In reality, Paige is an artist waiting to come out and be herself, nevertheless, she feels like no one would care and decides to sketch everything she desires and feels in a sketchbook she buys her third day in New York. Not only does Paige deal with the fact that she has moved to the Big Apple from small Virginia, but her parents don't even know her anymore. However, after meeting three people she instantly befriends, little by little, the real Paige comes out. At first she felt like she was being exposed as they flipped through her pages, but then, with them she sees what she wants and becomes more open, even to the point of dating one of her recent friends, Gabe.
Paige felt as if she were "born with my eyes facing the wrong way. Because they're always looking back into my head rather than looking out" (Page By Paige). Paige felt happy and day dreamed one moment, then could hardly stand the overwhelming feeling of how things could go suddenly bad, even if they didn't. Throughout Page by Paige, Paige wrote out rules that she should follow to finally express herself, and slowly, but surely, she does. With the help of her friends and boyfriend, Paige discovered that there is nothing to be afraid of and that you will always find happiness if you just let yourself be you.
Page by Paige earned a spot in 2012's Great Graphic Novels for Teens for many great reasons. Needless to say, the author, Laura Lee Gulledge, did an excellent job in writing this graphic novel. Although the novel provides black and white pictures, I believed that Laura Lee Gulledge did this not only for students' imaginations to image what the colors surrounding Paige might have been, but also to convey the thought that maybe, to Paige, everything was just black or white and never an in-between. Not only are the illustrations so true to each word written on each page, but the writings are all relevant to the emotions and situations that young adults face daily. Paige not only struggles physically in the way that she had to adjust herself as the new girl in the big city of New York, but also struggled internally with expressing herself to others and even to herself at times. The connections are uncanny in the way that whether your a boy or a girl, an artist or a writer, Paige, her friends, and the situations they go through are what several, if not all teenagers are confronted with. This graphic novel is about self-discovery and finding that voice inside of you that's hiding and letting it come out. Young adults that feel that they are the only ones going through these internal/external struggles of voice and self-acceptance, you are not alone. Page by Paige will help with students that struggle with finding that self-confidence to express themselves. Nevertheless, this graphic novel is a perfect and a must read for all young adults!
6 comments:
I think this book would be perfect because it describes the experience of exploration, in which many teenagers become familiar with at some point. I also find that if students are engaged in topics that are closely reletable they find much pleasurein learning. I would like to see this book offered for 9th and 10th graders. Reason being, after 10th grade high school becomes less explored. Just my opinoin!!
Safa
This class was the first time I had ever read a graphic novel, and I have to say I may be hooked. This one sounds like a great read. I like it is seems to confront many of the real life issues that teens have to face as they grow up, move on, and figure out how to express themselves in a meaningful way. Definitely something that the young adult audience can connect to as well as maybe giving a reminder to older readers what it was like to be that age. Putting this one on my ever growing to-read list!
I used to read collections of comics when I was younger (Calvin & Hobbes and the like) but this class was also the first time I encountered a graphic novel. So far they have been much better than I anticipated! This one seems very interesting. I really liked the insight you gave to why the author might have left the novel in black and white and what that has to say about it. It sounds like young adults would very much be able to relate to Paige and her struggles to define herself, and to also help young adults understand that others go through the same thing.
Same, this class was the first class I had ever read a graphic novel. I had always related them to just being cartoons, but they teach lessons that are very important. Another graphic novel you guys should look at is Fun House, very great read! Btw, thanks for the insightful comments :)
I hadn't ever thought of it, but portraying in artist's life through a graphic novel is such a great idea! I could see this being taught in a class and all the good themes and character development being brought to life by the students. It also seems to be a story everyone can enjoy; even though the protagonist is a girl and there seems to be romance, it doesn't seem to be too romantic or girly, which is good for the male students.
Thanks Amber and no, it wasn't too romantic at all. Yes, there were a couple pages dedicated to her love interest, but I am very glad that the author didn't overdo it and focused more on the character and her facing her fears. Page by Paige was an excellent read.
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