Written and Illustrated by Jackie Morrow
Published by Image Comics
Jackie Morrow’s Supper Club is another one of those teen graphic novels that’s just filled with “the feels.”
There’s nothing earth-shaking or unrealistic about this girl bonding story—no mysteries to solve, no aliens, no magical elements. It’s literally just three girls—longtime friends—in their final year of high school before going off to college.
When the girls find they have not a single class together in their last year, the idea comes to form a club—their own club—Supper Club! The idea was that every Friday, they would all get together at one’s house and bring a dish they’ve made themselves. Sometimes they would even cook at their meetings.
It all works out well for a while but between band practice, exam studying, deaths in the family, gaming, and, well, boys, cracks quickly begin to develop.
I am not a girl, nor have I ever been a girl, but Jackie Morrow’s realistic and connecting writing almost makes me feel like I was at one point. Certainly, she makes her characters, each one with unique issues and real-world problems, relatable in ways many other writers fail with.
The art style is the usual manga style so popular in these teen and tween novels in recent years.
Is there a name for it yet?
I have no idea, but it’s an extremely versatile style with its recognizable tropes and shortcuts and ability to convey exaggerated emotions so easily.
Along with the story itself, we actually get at the back of the book some of the recipes the girls put together in their Supper Club gatherings!
As a 63-year-old male, who did not have a good high school experience, I’m hardly the target audience for an emotional graphic novel about the triumphs and heartaches of teenage female friendships.
That said, the fact that Supper Club made me tear up more than once can’t help but make me think it would work even better for 16-year-old girls.
Booksteve recommends.
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