By Cynthia from Washington

The Shiniest Jewel - Gorgeous, funny and will just break your heart.

Marian Henley, the creator of the cartoon Maxine, is set to release a graphic memoir in September about her odyssey to adopt a child from Russia at the age of 50. I loved every moment of the story. I laughed, and I cried–for Henley captured the emotions of her journey so very well and conveyed them honestly to the reader. This is one of the most beautiful memoirs and effective graphic novels out there and would be great for discussions regarding the pros and cons of stepping outside of the social norms i.e., defying the culturally set age limits for certain milestones in life. Another aspect of this book is that it is a graphic novel and for readers who are not familiar with this popular outlet, The Shiniest Jewel would be an excellent starting point.

Filed under: Reader Submitted Stories • THE SHINIEST JEWEL Advance Reviews