Film Nerds - by Sofia Warren (Hardcover)

About the Book

"Two best friends share a passion for DIY filmmaking until the move to middle school sparks growing differences between them"--

Book Synopsis

A graphic novel debut by a New Yorker cartoonist following two best friends who share a passion for DIY filmmaking until the move to middle school sparks growing differences between them.

Perfect for "fans of authors of genre standouts like Raina Telgemeier, Kayla Miller, and Jennifer L. Holm. Thoughtful, heartfelt, and oh-so-relatable." (Kirkus Reviews)

Best friends Ami and Ivy couldn't be more different: Ami is quiet and loves to daydream, while Ivy is loud and in constant motion. What they do share is a love of filmmaking, and spending their free time working on a sci-fi epic about a space mission following Earth's destruction by a giant asteroid.

But lately the girls are faced with something even scarier than asteroids: sixth grade. At their new school, students are divided into different teams that might as well be different planets, and Ami and Ivy get separated. Ivy quickly finds new friends, while Ami struggles to adapt, and is too embarrassed to tell Ivy how alone she feels.

When the sixth grade talent show is announced, Ami is certain entering their film will show everyone how cool they are. The only problem? Ivy says she doesn't want anyone to see it. But Ami is sure everyone will love Ivy's over-the-top performance, and then everything will turn around for Ami socially. What could possibly go wrong?

This hilarious and bittersweet graphic novel, punctuated with storyboard excerpts from the girls' film project, boldly explores the complicated but wondrous galaxies of friendship, artmaking, and growing up.

Review Quotes

★ "Give this to every middle schooler. This graphic novel masterfully captures the preteen experience and offers reassurance to readers navigating one of life's most ­confusing and chaotic stages. --School Library Journal, starred review

"Cartoonist Warren's evocative young readers' debut captures all the discomfiture of early adolescence and how social stumbles can turn into large roadblocks. With its keen and gently configured lens focused on social trials and a personal health challenge plus a visually stylish and pleasantly familiar artistic style, this work will feel welcoming to fans of authors of genre standouts like Raina Telgemeier, Kayla Miller, and Jennifer L. Holm. Thoughtful, heartfelt, and oh-so-relatable." --Kirkus Reviews

"Perceptive renderings of friendship drama capture the anxieties of early adolescence through the eyes of an introverted middle schooler in this heartwarming graphic novel series launch from Warren . . . A charming send-up to creativity and belonging." --Publishers Weekly

"Warren's debut graphic novel captures the emotional logic of early adolescence with remarkable specificity, from Ami's blushing embarrassment and self-consciousness to her tendency to withdraw rather than ask for help. . . This empathetic exploration of anxiety, communication, and finding the courage to be honest offers an insightful addition to graphic novel collections." --Booklist

About the Author

Sofia Warren has been a contributing cartoonist at The New Yorker since 2017. She is the author of the graphic memoir for adults Radical: My Year With a Socialist Senator, and her work has been published in MoMA Magazine, Catapult, Narrative Magazine, and the books Send Help! and Notes from the Bathroom Line. Film Nerds is her middle grade graphic novel debut.