Always Anthony by Terri Libenson
Always Anthony is the eighth book in the New York Times bestselling Emmie and Friends series by Terri Libenson. An eighth book suggests correctly that this series is extremely popular with readers aged 10+. These books just walk out under the arms of boys and girls alike, from libraries and shops, and requests for the next book is a most persistent everyday occurrence for the school librarian. Multiple copies need to be bought to supply the demand. Graphic novels turn reluctant readers into readers as they are popular and provide a pathway for those who have struggled with retrieving information from traditional novels. Instead of comprehending text only, a graphic book offers images, captions, dialogue bubbles as well as text for the reader to gain information about character and plot development.
Always Anthony is a warm and funny story about an unlikely Middle school friendship between Anthony (TPFW - too popular for words) and Leah the shy nerd. Anthony has to hide his academic struggles to keep up appearances and his status within the cool group and Leah struggles to be cool as she has always been seen as the super nerd. Hats off to Libenson who seems to really understand the dynamics of Middle School. The shrewd manoeuvring of Middle School teachers to facilitate and precipitate both new friendships and learning is astutely depicted. Mrs Winn, the class teacher, organises for a peer tutor for Anthony - none other than Leah! Awkward for both of them! Libenson portrays with warmth and humour the adults (both teachers and parents) in tween and teen's lives and their family relationships. The role of schools and parents in the guidance of vulnerable, gormless and difficult teenagers is wonderfully wrought. There are underlying issues and themes that are dealt with in a naturally fluid and accepting manner - not rammed down the reader's throat. Leah is a Jew; Anthony is a person of colour. There are a myriad of teenager anxieties and concerns that our two main protagonists and their friends experience. These might be visible as in blushing and in their thoughts or brief exclamations. Overall identification with these very common teenage problems through reading about characters like Anthony and Leah is very comforting for the teenage reader who commonly feels that everybody else except themselves has everything under control.
Structurally, Always Anthony is a very attractive, engaging graphic book. Muted, softer colours are used and there is considerable variety, excitement and freshness with the design of each new page. The font is large. Alternating chapters are narrated in first person by Anthony and Leah.
Important lessons about not judging people before you know them, standing up for others, being brave in the every day world and helpfulness are learnt along with many other lessons for life in this book.
Always Anthony is both moving and laugh out loud and on point with teen thinking and expression. Along with the other books in the Emmie and Friends series, it is highly recommended for the pleasure of the format, the cool accessibilty and the importance of the themes that are covered to help young people navigate the anxieties and delights of their 21st century lives.
Themes: Friends, Bullies, Middle school, Multiculturalism.
Wendy Jeffrey