CUB by Cynthia L. Copeland

“Raina Telgemeier fans will lap this up.”
— Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
A laugh-out-loud funny and empowering graphic memoir about growing up and finding your voice.

Twelve-year-old Cindy has just dipped a toe into seventh-grade drama—with its complicated friendships, bullies, and cute boys—when she earns an internship as a cub reporter at a local newspaper in the early 1970s. A (rare) young female reporter takes Cindy under her wing, and Cindy soon learns not only how to write a lede, but also how to respectfully question authority, how to assert herself in a world run by men, and—as the Watergate scandal unfolds—how brave reporting and writing can topple a corrupt world leader. Searching for her own scoops, Cindy doesn’t always get it right, on paper or in real life. But whether she’s writing features about ghost hunters, falling off her bicycle and into her first crush, or navigating shifting friendships, Cindy grows wiser and more confident through every awkward and hilarious mistake.

Review:

Cub is a graphic novel memoir that looks back on what it was like to grow up as a girl in the school year of 1972. We get to see Cindy battle friends, boys, opportunities, bullies, and general life. This graphic novel was such a delight. When Cindy’s 7^th grade English teacher suggests that she consider a career in writing, Cindy gets connected with a female reporter to show her the behind the scenes of being a journalist. Cindy finds this job extremely fascinating and gets excited at the prospect of seeing her name in print.

Not only is Cub about Cindy’s adventures as a writer, it also tackles the subject of friends. Cindy’s best friend is starting to become friends with a group of girls that has always been mean to the two of them. Now she is trying to figure out who her friends are while she is also navigating the middle school dating life as she has her first boyfriend. Then a new girl shows up and Cindy jumps on the chance to make a new friend.

I really excited for this graphic novel. I really hope that young readers will enjoy it as much as I did. I definitely think this is a really good graphic novel to read. It has some learning experiences but overall it is a very positive book.

About the Author:

Cynthia (“Cindy”) L. Copeland is the New York Times best-selling, award-winning author/illustrator of more than 25 books for adults and children. She has sold over a million books in seven languages and her books have been recommended by Oprah, Regis Philbin, Ann Landers, and the hosts of Good Morning America. In 2011, she became Coca-Cola's "spokesmom" for the company's Family Night program. Before her first book was published at age 29, Cindy worked as an editor and as a newspaper journalist. She’s a graduate of Smith College.

Cindy lives in rural New Hampshire with her family. She is represented by Dan Lazar at Writers House.

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