Skim

Skim is a graphic novel by Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by Jillian Tamaki. It was published in 2008 and has received praise for exploring themes like identity, growing up, and LGBTQ+ representation. The story revolves around a teenage girl named Kimberly Keiko Cameron, who goes by Skim. She's Japanese-Canadian and is dealing with the challenges of high school in the early 1990s. These challenges include issues like mental health, her cultural background, and her feelings about her sexuality.

The novel dives into Skim's thoughts and feelings, making her a character readers can relate to. Skim is trying to figure out where she belongs and who she is in the world. The drawings in the book, done by Jillian Tamaki, are expressive and bring the characters and the setting to life.

Skim is also known for its portrayal of LGBTQ+ themes. Skim has a romantic relationship with a girl named Lisa, and the book explores what it's like to realize you have feelings for someone of the same sex and come to terms with it.

The novel has won awards and is praised for addressing essential themes like the challenges of growing up, understanding who you are, dealing with mental health, being from a different culture, and exploring spirituality. Mariko Tamaki's storytelling and Jillian Tamaki's art make Skim a significant work in graphic novels.

Detailed information:

• Author: Mariko Tamaki
• Illustrator: Jillian Tamaki
• Format: 143 pages, Paperback
• Published: February 28, 2008