Squish #2: Brave New Pond (2012) - Plot & Excerpts
I don't know how they got the idea for a graphic novel series about an amoeba named Squish and his adventures at school, but Jennifer and Matthew Holm put their considerable talents together to create a fun-filled but issue-driven story here. Squish sets off for school--the pond--with his friend Pod, but he tells himself that this year is going to be different. There are all sorts of interesting characters here: Peggy the Paramecium who seems to have a crush on Squish, the athletic Algae Brothers who run the school and enjoy bullying others, even Principal Planaria. The gist of the story involves Squish finding it almost impossible to stand up to the Algae Brothers until they send him off to bother Pod. Finally, Squish realizes just what he's made of, and does the right thing. One aspect of this graphic novel that I really enjoyed was the use of arrows with asides that add the author's observations to the story. Plus, the informational facts included in the story are a boon to science teachers. This one is plenty of fun. Second book in the Babymouse spin-off Squish series. Squish is growing on me - he is an amoeba middle schooler obsessed with comic books and fitting in. His way of dealing with peer pressure and right and wrong are, like Babymouse, admirable in the end. Love, love, love his paramecium friend Peggy and her sunny world of unicorns and rainbows. His amoeba friend Pod is wearing a little thin. Yes, he's brilliant and trying to save the world from global warming, but he's not a very good friend.As with book one, Squish: Super Amoeba - the green color scheme is not as appealing to me as PINK, and the science is refreshing to me, but may be too much or too boring for the target audience. The second book in the series involves a cool (or are they?) gang of algae and Squish's desire to start the new school year off in a better way: sit with the cool kids for lunch, get chosen to play kickball at recess, etc.BTW, I'm totally on Team Paramecium!
What do You think about Squish #2: Brave New Pond (2012)?
Just received two copies for our library; students are eagerly waiting to read this one!
—Tanya
