One Year at Ellsmere

May 1, 2020
Two roommates become friends at a prestigious boarding school. Juniper, who goes by Jun, leaves her public school after winning a scholarship to the elite Ellsmere Academy. After scaring away her roommate, Cassie, during their first meeting, Jun later redeems herself when she stands up to Emily, queen bee and bully, for calling Cassie an orphan. Jun's confrontation with Emily is the beginning of their rivalry, each vying to be the best student for her own reasons. Jun's sarcasm and wit serve her well when dealing with Emily, but as the school year goes on, the bullying gets more and more severe. Driven by her desire to become a doctor, Jun finds her life at Ellsmere is constantly at risk due to Emily's scheming. All the while Jun and Cassie's friendship blossoms as the two get to know each other. A fantastical element involving the Ellsmere family and the dark forest next to the academy is woven into the story but lacks development. Fans of Hicks' visually appealing artwork in Rainbow Rowell's Pumpkinheads (2019) will enjoy the familiar art style and bold lines. Characters are expressive and cleanly drawn, complementing the straightforward text and accessible storytelling. Jun is illustrated with beige skin, dark hair, and dark eyes while her roommate, Cassie, has pale skin, light-brown hair, and green eyes. Several pages of notes on the illustrations are appended. Kindness and friendship prevail in this charming story. (Graphic fiction. 11-15)

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May 25, 2020
Juniper (“Jun”) is the first and only scholarship student at the prestigious Ellsmere Academy for Girls, a castle turned boarding school founded for girls to study science and literature. With thrift store clothes, a $10 haircut, and a single mother, Jun finds that her initial hesitation about attending alongside rich kids morphs into a close friendship with her roommate, Cassie, and an engaging rivalry with mean-girl Emily. Both outcasts, Jun and Cassie bond over Emily’s cruel treatment and investigate the history of Ellsmere’s forest, where the founder’s sons disappeared nearly two centuries ago. Jun’s rivalry with Emily comes to a head as Emily threatens Jun’s last connection to her late father and perfectly captures Hicks’s (Pumpkinheads) primary strength: clear character motivations, in which readers feel invested, that create dramatic situations. Panels are broken out to capitalize on specific moments, creating a variety of impactful emotional beats: sardonic retorts, profound loneliness, smug satisfaction, and doe-eyed vulnerability. Previously published in black-and-white, this edition sports updated line art and solid color work by Shelli Paroline that subtly enhances Hicks’s original art. Ages 10–14.

May 22, 2020

Gr 5-8-Hicks presents a newly redrawn remake of her graphic novel The War at Ellsmere. Juniper, an intelligent new scholarship student at an upper-class boarding school, faces prejudice and bullying from star student Emily. Fortunately, Juniper has forged a friendship with her lonely but kind roommate, Cassie, who proves herself an invaluable ally when Juniper is framed for plagiarism, saving the day with the assistance of a legendary creature roaming nearby woods. The final act is fueled by that dose of magical realism, but our protagonist's reflection on her previous anger and resentment is what resonates most. The new art is an improvement, with crisper lines and tighter, more detailed styling than the former edition; however, it still retains the cartoonish charm of the original. Despite the high school setting, the narrative will appeal most to middle school readers. VERDICT While libraries that already own The War at Ellsmere need not repurchase, collections that don't have it should consider it, especially where the "Lumberjanes" series is popular.-Tammy Ivins, Univ. of North Carolina at Wilmington

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2020
Originally published as The War at Ellsmere in 2008 (by SLG Publishing) and now back in print with revamped art, this graphic novel stars Juniper, the first scholarship student at a prestigious boarding school for girls. Her friendship with her roommate and her conflicts with a rival both bring up issues of economic privilege, adding depth to a generally breezy (and generally realistic, though fantasy elements lurk in the school forest) read. Hicks's varied panel sizes control pacing effectively, while her muted palette gives the castle-like school an archaic feel. Back matter details Hicks's process of re-inking the book for this new edition.

(Copyright 2020 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)