Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Poignant, funny, relatable tale of allergy-stricken tween.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
ALLERGIC is the tale of Maggie, who's wanted a dog forever and finds the puppy of her dreams on her 10th birthday -- only to have her eyes swell and violent itching and sneezing set in when she's anywhere near him. Turns out this is the case with pretty much anything with fur or feathers -- a bitter, dream-killing pill for this animal-loving kid who now faces years of shots just to reduce the ill effects a bit. And that's not all: She's starting a new school where she knows no one, her family's expecting a new baby, and big changes are coming. When Claire moves in next door, she and Maggie are instant friends. But then Claire gets a dog and life gets complicated. Maggie's challenges lead to lots of heartache, but they're also a chance for her to learn and grow.
Is It Any Good?
With warmth, humor, and inclusion, Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter spin a lively, poignant tale of a dog-loving tween's dream foiled by pet dander -- and what happens next. Kids dealing with being Allergic -- or living with someone else's allergies -- will feel a strong connection with Maggie as she copes with the unwelcome discovery and its life-changing effects. Her experiences with allergy testing and shots, presented in a realistic but upbeat manner, may help demystify a scary subject for kids in a similar situation. Lots of love, support, and hard-earned wisdom here, as author Lloyd bases the story on her own childhood experiences as an allergic kid.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about allergies and other medical conditions with life-changing impacts -- how to manage them and have a great life. How does Maggie persevere and grow? How does reading stories like Allergic make it easier and less overwhelming for kids in similar situations?
Have you ever really looked forward to having something (like Maggie dreams of having a dog), only to have it seem within reach and then get taken away? What happened? How did you deal with it?
When something comes between you and your friend, do you try to fix it or just decide the friendship is over? What makes you feel that way? How can healthy communication help friends make up and move on?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Michelle Mee Nutter
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , STEM
- Character Strengths : Communication , Empathy , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphix
- Publication date : March 2, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 240
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate