I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the ALLERGIC by Megan Wagner Lloyd & Michelle Mee Nutter Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Title: ALLERGIC
Author: Megan Wagner Lloyd & Michelle Mee Nutter
Pub. Date: March 2, 2021
Publisher: Graphix
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook
Pages: 240
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org
Synopsis:
A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!
At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with getting ready for a new baby, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world. Maggie loves animals and thinks a new puppy to call her own is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She’s severely allergic to anything with fur!
Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet? With illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, Megan Wagner Lloyd uses inspiration from her own experiences with allergies to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, and finding a place to belong.
Praise for ALLERGIC:
“Maggie’s inventiveness as she overcomes these trials is showcased through Lloyd’s captivating narrative and Nutter’s bright and dynamic illustrations. The story provides insight into the lives of those with allergies and the accommodations needed to avoid serious episodes … A heartachingly enjoyable tale of resilience.” — KIRKUS REVIEWS, starred review
“Readers will root for this realistic and relatable fifth grader, who’s capable of kindness well as envy and self-doubt. Lloyd folds in information about allergy tests, anaphylaxis, EpiPens, and other facts that Maggie and her friend Sebastian, who also has allergies, recite to each other. Layouts rely on three to four large panels per page, creating a smooth visual flow; Nutter’s muted, uncluttered art has a cozy feel … Maggie makes new pals here—she’ll find even more friends in elementary and middle school libraries, where readers will easily identify with her trials and accomplishments.” – SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL
“A fun and entertaining story.” — BLEEDING COOL
“The perfect graphic novel for kids of all ages.” — FROLIC
“Allergic is the sweetest story you’ll read all year. A touching chronicle of a young girl’s severe allergies woven into a meaningful journey of friendship, family, and self-discovery.” — Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of Invisible Emmie
From a person who grew up with allergies, I truly appreciate Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter for trying to show how they can impact every aspect of your life. I also enjoyed how they showed the differences between food allergies and in this case animal allergies. I thought that the illustrations showed a clear picture of life for a fifth grader the trials of starting school somewhere new, making friends, and feeling like the whole world caved in on you when you found out you could not get a dog for your birthday. It was very realistic in terms of the emotions and actions of the characters.
A couple of things about this book were a little off though. One, I was not particularly fond of how the book told a story about a girl who hid things from her parents and there were no consequences discussed or it even being mentioned that it was wrong of Maggie to do that. Second, the story did not seem to flow well as there seemed to be rabbit trails every few pages. Third, I am unsure how many kids would choose to read a book about a girl who loses her opportunity to have a dog.
Overall, the graphics were well done, the characters were believable 5th-6th graders, and it was easy to understand. I give this book 3.5 (rounded up to 4).
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
About Megan: 
MEGAN WAGNER LLOYD is the author of several picture books, including Paper Mice, Building Books, Finding Wild, and A Fort-Building Time. She lives in the Washington DC area. Visit her online at meganwagnerlloyd.com.
Website | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon
About Michelle:
MICHELLE MEE NUTTER graduated with a BFA in Illustration from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design. Her work has been recognized by the Society of Illustrators, 3×3 Illustration, Creative Quarterly, and more. Michelle lives in Boston. Visit her online at michellemee.com.
Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads
Giveaway Details:
3 winners will win a finished copy of ALLERGIC, US Only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway https://widget-prime.rafflecopter.com/launch.js
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
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2/11/2021 |
Excerpt |
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2/12/2021 |
Review |
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2/13/2021 |
Review |
Week Two:
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2/14/2021 |
Review |
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2/15/2021 |
Review |
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2/16/2021 |
Review |
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2/17/2021 |
Review |
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2/18/2021 |
Review |
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2/19/2021 |
Excerpt |
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2/20/2021 |
Review |
Week Three:
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2/21/2021 |
Review |
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2/22/2021 |
Excerpt |
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2/23/2021 |
Review |
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2/24/2021 |
Excerpt |
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2/25/2021 |
Excerpt |
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2/26/2021 |
Review |
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2/27/2021 |
Review |
Week Four:
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2/28/2021 |
Excerpt |
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3/1/2021 |
Review |
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3/2/2021 |
Review |
CATCH MEGAN WAGNER LLOYD AND MICHELLE MEE NUTTER ON THE VIRTUAL ALLERGIC TOUR! Click on the photos for the Bookstore Events pages.
March 2, 2021 5:00 pm (PST) Launch event hosted by Green Apple Books In conversation with Raina Telgemeier (GUTS)
March 4, 2021 7:00 pm (EST) Hosted by An Unlikely Story In conversation with Jeff Kinney (DIARY OF A WIMPY KID)
March 10, 2021 4:00 pm (PST) Hosted by The Reading Bug In conversation with Varian Johnson and Shannon Wright (TWINS)
