Breaking Up: A Fashion High
Graphic Novel
by Aimee Friedman

    BREAKING UP by Aimee Friedman
    Illustrated by Christine Norrie
    Category:  Manga/Comics/Pop Fiction
    Age Recommendation:  Grades 9+
    Release Date:  1/1/07
    Publisher:  Graphix
    Reviewed by:  Randstostipher "tallnlankyrn" Nguyen
    Rating:  5 Stars


    Friends forever! That is exactly how Chloe Sacks feels about her tight group of girlfriends. Since what seems like
    forever, Chloe, Isabel, Erika, and Mackenzie have been inseparable. They did everything together, from sharing
    secrets to gossiping with one another. And when they start out their junior year together, Chloe is sure that it will be
    another great year for them all. But little does she know that as they enter their junior year, they may actually become
    distant.

    The new school year does not start off too well for the girls. Instead of having all of their classes together they only
    have one—Health, with the very weird Ms. Lamour. Not only are their schedules changing, but so are they.

    It seems like all Mackenzie can think about is getting “in” with the popular crowd, befriending Nicola Burnett, the
    girlfriend of Gabe, who Mackenzie is beginning to fall for. Isabel is having trouble with her very controlling parents,
    especially when she really wants to date soccer player Brad Richmond. Erika loves her boyfriend, Kyle, very much,
    but is beginning to question their relationship since all Kyle thinks about is pressuring her to take their relationship to
    the “next level.” And Chloe is beginning to have feelings for Adam Stevenson, who, unfortunately, around school is
    considered a loser, even by her own friends.

    A new year, new relationships, and a new perspective on how the girls begin to look at each other. It seems like the
    girls’ junior year isn’t turning out to be what they expected.

    Different from what Aimee Friedman normally writes, BREAKING UP: A FASHION HIGH GRAPHIC NOVEL,
    is a quick and easy read that will definitely pull the reader in from the very beginning. Aimee Friedman hits the target
    with high school angst in this graphic novel, with characters that are easy for the readers to relate to. The novel deals
    with real life issues from relationships to friends. It was like watching another episode of Degrassi. And the pictures,
    illustrated by Christine Norrie, were absolutely amazing.