Becoming Brianna

by Terri Libenson, Terri Libenson (Illustrator)

Overview

New York Times bestseller! Terri Libenson returns with another endearing, relatable story of friendship and finding confidence. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm.

Middle school is full of challenges.

Everyone knows how much brainy Bri likes the spotlight (not). So why did she ever agree to something that forces her to learn a new language, give a speech, help organize a party, and juggle drama at school and home?! As the big event inches closer, Bri wonders if it’s all worth it. . . .

Told in alternating past and present chapters, Bri’s heartwarming story unfolds over the eight months leading up to her bat mitzvah—as well as over the course of the big day itself.

Plus don't miss Terri Libenson's Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062894533
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	05/05/2020
Series:	Emmie & Friends Series , #4
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	67,429
Product dimensions:	5.40(w) x 7.90(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Terri Libenson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Emmie & Friends series and the cartoonist of the (now retired) award-winning comic strip The Pajama Diaries. Terri empty-nests in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, Mike. She is the proud mom of two grown daughters and a poodle. You can find her online at terrilibenson.com.

Terri Libenson is the New York Times bestselling author of the Emmie & Friends series and the cartoonist of the (now retired) award-winning comic strip The Pajama Diaries. Terri empty-nests in Cleveland, Ohio, with her husband, Mike. She is the proud mom of two grown daughters and a poodle. You can find her online at terrilibenson.com.

Editorial Reviews

04/10/2020

Gr 4–6—Brianna's mom has a way of talking her into taking center stage, but when Brianna reluctantly agrees to have a Bat Mitzvah, she realizes that things have gone too far. Not only must she be in the spotlight but she also has to write and perform a speech and read passages in Hebrew, a language she doesn't know, in front of her friends and family. Her mom has gone into preparation overdrive, her parents are fighting constantly, and the whole school thinks that this will be the party of the year. Will Brianna survive the school year—including a change in social status and friend drama—while still managing not to embarrass herself at the big event? Libenson's newest installment in the "Emmie & Friends" series is a hybrid graphic novel that uses different illustration techniques to tell Brianna's story in alternating time lines. Chapters focusing on events from the prior eight months rely on a mixture of prose text and comic illustrations, while the "now" chapters, which depict the Bat Mitzvah celebration, are in a traditional sequential comic panel format. Readers will relate to Brianna's attempts to manage her stress load as well as her insecurity and flaws as she works to form and maintain friendships. VERDICT For middle grade graphic novel collections, especially where Libenson's previous works are popular.—Amanda Melilli, University of Nevada

School Library Journal