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Parents' Guide to

Positively Izzy: Emmie & Friends, Book 2

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 9+

Teen girls connect in emotional graphic novel.

Book Terri Libenson Family Life 2018
Positively Izzy: Emmie & Friends, Book 2 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 9+

Based on 3 parent reviews

LolaBelle2020
LolaBelle2020 Adult
August 31, 2020
age 13+

Be aware of references to "dirty magazines" and "xanax".

My 10 year old daughter checked this book out at the school library. I had to explain to my child what an "affair" is based on a reference that Izzy made at the beginning of the book. No big deal but then it piqued my interest and I decided to read the whole book. I'm glad I did. There are two other items included in the book that I do not feel are appropriate for my children who are currently 10 and 11 years old. 1) Izzy references her older sister sneaking out of the house to visit a friend that Izzy's mom doesn't approve of and "they sneak-read her dad's dirty magazines in the bathroom". 2) Izzy references her a conversation between her mom and aunt reminiscing and laughing about "when I told you I slipped a xanax in Mom's oatmeal and you believed me". I'm not interested in my child checking out this author's books from the library. I want to control the messaging and context when it comes to conversations with my children about porn and drugs. I don't need an author to plant these subjects in their "youth" book and make these important issues sound so nonchalant.
MagnoliaBean
MagnoliaBean Adult
January 20, 2019
age 7+

This is a good book!

I think this is a good book! I loved the twist at the end!
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

POSITIVELY IZZY follows two girls on an important day in middle school. Izzy is smart, talented, creative, and very disorganized -- everyone tells her she needs to learn how to focus. Izzy has worked hard on a solo skit for the talent show but gets grounded on show day because she forgot -- again -- to complete schoolwork. Meanwhile, Bri is known as "the Brain." She hates being reduced to a label, yet she's reluctant to go outside her comfort zone -- especially when her mother, the drama teacher, recruits her to help with the talent show. Both girls take huge risks that lead to new insights about themselves and their families.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (5 ):

In her second graphic novel, cartoonist Terri Libenson takes a fairly light plot and creates a thoughtful story about an emotionally turbulent -- and important -- day for two young teen girls. Libenson (creator of The Pajama Diaries strip) has a great feel for how middle school can turn relationships inside-out and upside-down in bewildering ways. She uses small glances, a few words, or a giggle to speak volumes about her characters' loneliness, irritation, hopes, and inner conflict.

As she did in Invisible Emmie (Emmie plays a role in this story as well), Libenson unspools each girl's story on parallel tracks but with different styles: comic-style panels for Bri, and short text with plentiful illustrations for Izzy. The references to "dirty magazines" and French kissing in Izzy's storyline are distractingly out of step with the tone of the overall book, unfortunately. It's a quick and easy read for parents, too, looking for help starting a conversation with their kids about how to stay close as their teens grow older.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the relationships between mothers and daughters in Positively Izzy. Do you share the same interests as your parents? How do you share time together and stay connected?

  • How do you think you're seen as school? Do you feel defined by a label? How do your parents feel they were labeled when they were younger?

  • Do you think Izzy was right to risk defying her mother?

Book Details

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