Review | Ink Girls

The Good

This book is a cross between realistic fiction and fantasy in the sense that there’s no magic or otherworldly content but the setting isn’t 100% realistic. It’s set in a reimagined Renaissance-style Italian village with a ruling family. It’s truly imaginative and there’s a fair amount of world building, which makes the story longer than your average middle grade graphic novel.

Besides the wonderfully imaginative and powerful storyline about speaking the truth despite censorship, I loved so many other narrative arcs in this book. First of which is the friendship that develops between Cinzia and the princess. The princess is misunderstood and underestimated because of her reclusive lifestyle (she seems to be on the spectrum) but she shines in her partnership with Cinzia to unravel the truth behind her Mestra’s arrest.

I also love the visuals and the diversity representation in this graphic novel. The main character has a weak leg and gets around with a walking stick, a visible disability that is rarely depicted in graphic novels. I especially loved that there’s no lecture addressing this fact–it just is the way Cinzia is and she still gets to be the star of her story. I see this book having major kid appeal, especially for fantasy lovers.

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None
• Violence: None
• Sexual content: None

Diversity

• Ethnic: Racially ambiguous characters, one character wears a head covering
• Sexual orientation: None

Recommended for ages: 9+

Good for kids who like:

• Graphic novels with substance
• Fantasy stories
• Stories about activism
• Books starring physically disabled kids
• Action/adventure stories