by 
Updated on May 13, 2023
Friends With Boys
Written by: Faith Erin Hicks
Art by: Faith Erin Hicks
“Friends With Boys” (Amazon, Kobo) is about Maggie, a 14-year-old girl who’s been home-schooled her whole life, and has spent most of her free time hanging out with her three older brothers. Maggie’s finally starting public high school, but has initial difficulties adjusting, not helped by her mother recently leaving her family for unexplained reasons. Maggie eventually makes friends, but finds herself with one other problem: she’s being haunted by a ghost.
Pre-teen and teenage readers will probably find the school and sibling dynamics of Maggie’s life interesting. One amusing part was where Maggie and her new friends go to a theater playing the classic movie “Alien.” Another bit I liked was a “Star Wars” joke. The book also makes some use of its small town Nova Scotia setting, in the backgrounds and smallish nature of the town, especially Maggie’s father’s job as a police officer.
The artwork is up to Hicks’ usual standards. The details of the town the characters live in, including the cemetery, are enjoyable to look at, along with the notes Maggie takes about her new school.
Faith Erin Hicks is known for her webcomic “The Adventures of Superhero Girl,” as well as work on other comics.
Photo by emiliefarrisphotos (Pixabay)
