About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is navigating the messy transition to middle school or struggling with the pressure to fit in by casting others aside. Imogene has grown up in the eccentric, tight-knit world of the Renaissance Faire, but entering public school for the first time feels like a quest she is not prepared for. As she tries to navigate social hierarchies, she faces the painful realization that sometimes we hurt the people we love just to feel accepted by the cool crowd. It is a deeply authentic look at the shame of betrayal and the courage required to make a sincere apology. This graphic novel is perfect for ages 8 to 12, offering a mirror for children who feel different and a window into the importance of staying true to ones own values even when it is social suicide.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
1. DISTRESS: There is a pivotal scene where Impy, desperate for approval, contributes to the public humiliation of a peer. This scene is emotionally heavy and captures the visceral sting of social betrayal and peer-inflicted shame. 2. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss the difference between an excuse and an apology. Impy's realization that she acted like the villain in someone else's story is a profound moment that may prompt kids to ask about times they have felt like the bully or the victim.
Ideal Reader
A 10-year-old who is starting a new school or who has recently experienced a falling out with friends and needs to see that mistakes can be repaired with honesty.
Parent Prep
Read the chapters covering Impy's betrayal of her friend (around the middle of the book) to help guide the conversation about peer pressure and social consequences. Seeing Impy treat her loving, eccentric parents and younger brother with embarrassment and cruelty as she tries to appear cool.
Age Experience
Younger readers will focus on the fun Renaissance Faire setting and the slapstick humor, while older readers (11-12) will deeply resonate with the crushing social stakes and the nuanced exploration of self-image.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many school stories, Jamieson doesn't let her protagonist off the hook easily: she forces Impy to sit with her guilt and do the actual work of apologizing.
Read plot summary
Eleven-year-old Imogene (Impy) has spent her life being homeschooled within the community of a Renaissance Faire. When she decides to attend public middle school, she sets out to prove her bravery like a true knight. However, the social terrain is treacherous. To impress a group of popular girls, Impy begins to distance herself from her younger brother and eventually participates in the cruel humiliation of a fellow student. The story follows her journey from the high of popularity to the crushing weight of guilt and her eventual path toward accountability and self-acceptance.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Impy starts to feel embarrassed by her family's small apartment and her dad's job. Why do you think she feels this way even though she loved her life before middle school?
2
At one point, Impy wonders if she is a knight or a dragon. What does she mean by that, and what choice does she make that makes her feel like a dragon?
3
When Impy tries to apologize, it doesn't go perfectly right away. Why is it important to apologize even if the person isn't ready to forgive you?
4
The Renaissance Faire has very clear rules for how squires should act. How are those rules different from the 'rules' Impy finds in the middle school cafeteria?
