Knots

by Colleen Frakes, Colleen Frakes (Illustrator)

Overview

In this semiautobiographical graphic novel from award-winning cartoonist Colleen Frakes, Norah must navigate not just her foiled dreams of blond hair but also the tangled mess her family has become. 

Norah is the good kid. Good at pleasing her parents and being a good sister. Good at school. Good at, well, almost everything.

So when Mom’s work brings her to a new town leaving Norah and Dad behind, no one thinks twice. After all, Norah’s a mature sixth grader who can take care of herself…right? But things spiral out of control after a botched home dye job goes wrong and being the good kid quickly gets a little…hairy.

Before long, one small tangle becomes a knot of epic proportions, and Norah soon realizes that the only way to untangle the mess she’s made is to find her voice and ask for help. 

Perfect for fans of Just Pretend and Crunch, Knots is sure to have readers laughing (and cringing) along with Norah’s antics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780063247178
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	09/03/2024
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Colleen Frakes is a Xeric and Ignatz award-winning cartoonist and a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies. She has made comics for Zest Books, Koyama Press, the Graphic Canon series, Mirage Studios (Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Dark Horse, and many others. She grew up all over Washington State but currently lives in Seattle with her spouse, daughter, and just one cat.

Colleen Frakes is a Xeric and Ignatz award-winning cartoonist and a graduate of the Center for Cartoon Studies. She has made comics for Zest Books, Koyama Press, the Graphic Canon series, Mirage Studios (Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Dark Horse, and many others. She grew up all over Washington State but currently lives in Seattle with her spouse, daughter, and just one cat.

Editorial Reviews

06/10/2024

In this endearing graphic novel, Frakes (Prison Island) utilizes flat, saturated colors, busy backdrops, and easy-to-follow paneling to chronicle one tween’s experience navigating the intense pressures of middle school and family life. Norah is a “prison brat,” someone whose family moves around a lot because of her parents’ prison guard jobs. Settling in Cheney, Wash., she starts sixth grade with new teacher Ms. Washines, a member of the Yakama tribe, who encourages students to share about their cultures and families. Following a classmate’s revelation that he is often responsible for his two younger siblings, authorities intervene. The incident stays with Norah, especially after her mother is transferred elsewhere, leaving Norah alone with her kind but overworked father. When Ms. Washines notices that Norah is struggling, Norah worries that the cops will come for her parents too, until a mild act of rebellion on Norah’s part soon opens communication between her and her father. Though the angst and turmoil Norah has been feeling don’t go away overnight, her parents work together to develop a solution, highlighting the way in which adult problems can impact children, while ensuring that repair and joy are always possible. Ages 8–12. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

Knots is the rare middle-grade graphic novel that features entertaining, nuanced writing that's thought-provoking but not moralistic—and the cartooning is perfeect, too. Nothing short of brilliant.” — Hope Larson, New York Times bestselling and Eisner Award-winning author

“In this endearing graphic novel, Frakes (Prison Island) utilizes flat, saturated colors, busy backdrops, and easy-to-follow paneling to chronicle one tween’s experience navigating the intense pressures of middle school and family life.” — Publishers Weekly

From the Publisher