Truly Tyler by Terri Libenson

Published by Harper Collins

TRULY Tyler is the latest instalment of Terri Libenson’s middle grade fiction graphic novel series Emmie & Friends.

Each book focuses on one character that can be found popping up in other parts of the series, notably the protagonist of the first book in the series Invisible Emmie, and her best friend from Becoming Brianna the book previous to this one.

The messages of the books vary based on the character and their individual struggles and passions however in all of them there’s an overwhelming and warm message of the value of being yourself, learning who that is and embracing every flaw and quirk that comes with it. This latest book is no different, tackling identity in relation to friendships and hobbies.

The book is based around Tyler returning to school after the winter break excited primarily for two aspects of his day to day school life – basketball, which is nothing new, it’s how he met all of his closets friends; and his new love, art.

His basketball team don’t fully understand the passion he’s pouring into the comic book contest he’s working on with his new friend Emmie. This conflict between art and sport poses the question as to whether someon can enjoy both without sacrificing one for the other or even the friendships made through them.

Though this theme is not one that’s entirely new it’s one that I’m glad to see presented to a whole new generation, letting them know that personal identity is not defined by just one thing.

Part of the book is set from the perspective of Emmie, an interesting and easily likeable character who’s always got a sketchbook to hand for when inspiration strikes. She is developing crush on Tyler as they team up for their latest art class project.

The task is also a school competition that challenges them to create a compelling and creative story through the comic book medium, one that Emmie has some experience in, demonstrated by the change in art style in her sections to a more traditional panelled look.

While the two brainstorm and grow closer, Tyler is also preparing for an upcoming big basketball game and begins to find that to do one to the best of his ability some compromises must be made with the other.

This adds a layer of excitement to what is otherwise an extremely character-led story and keeps you reading and rooting for Tyler and Emmie to succeed in all their endeavours.

This is a heartwarming and important story about being truly yourself told in a style that can speak to 12- to 14-year-olds and the problems they may be facing without ever seeming like an adult trying to convey a higher moral message. Instead, the characters feel like peers that one could talk to or rely on. I would certainly recommend this and the rest of the series to young readers.