Booki Vivat | The Children’s Book Review | September 27, 2016
Booki Vivat’s Selfie with Frazzled
Frazzled is a story that I wrote and illustrated about Abbie Wu, a kid who is always freaking out. Abbie is just starting middle school and has to navigate a whole new world with its 8th grade nemeses, corrupt cafeteria system, and lunch room politics. And on top of all that, there’s the sudden pressure to figure out her “Thing!” At its core, this is the story of a hilariously quirky kid trying to figure out who she is, where she belongs, and how to survive the everyday disasters of growing up.
Each page is covered in doodles and drawings that take you right into her life, from emergency best friend meetings to underground lunch revolutions. You even get a glimpse into her intense love of pastries—a deep affection that we happen to share. I actually took this selfie (well, not a selfie technically… I’m bad at those) in one of my favorite local bakeries immediately after devouring a freshly baked chocolate croissant at an alarming pace…
Booki Vivat’s Shelfie
One of the saddest things about moving from California to New York was leaving behind all my books, so a priority when I first arrived was to build a new collection of books—oh, and get a job. Luckily I managed to do both by working at the Strand bookstore (my official employee badge is hanging in the corner), interning at a literary agency, and then landing at HarperCollins! Now my shelves are filled… and these are only the paperbacks!
On the top right shelf, I keep my collection of planners from over the years. They’re a bit unconventional—less for scheduling and more for creative expression and a visual record of my life. Each page is filled with doodles of my daily plans and emotions, often very dramatic. In fact, one of these dramatic doodles actually ended up becoming the inspiration for Frazzled!
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Frazzled: Everyday Disasters And Impending Doom
Written by Booki Vivat
Publisher’s Synopsis: Meet Abbie Wu. Abbie is in crisis—and not just because she’s starting middle school or because she’s stuck in a family that doesn’t quite get her or because everyone seems to have a Thing except her. Abbie Wu is always in crisis.
From debut author and professional doodler Booki Vivat, Frazzled dives right into the mind of this hilariously neurotic middle school girl as she tries to figure out who she is and where she belongs. Akin to Smile by Raina Telgemeier, Frazzled is heavily illustrated, embarrassingly honest, and sure to appeal to anyone in the middle of figuring out how to survive the everyday disasters of growing up.
Ages 8-12 | Publisher: HarperCollins | September 27, 2016 | ISBN-13: 978-0062398796
Available Here:
Book Trailer
About Booki Vivat
Booki Vivat has been doodling somewhat seriously since 2011 and not-so-seriously since childhood. She grew up in Southern California and graduated from the University of California, San Diego. She currently works in publishing and lives in Brooklyn, New York. This is her first novel.
Discover more books like “Frazzled,” by Booki Vivat, by checking out our reviews and articles tagged with Growing Up, Middle School, Self-discovery; and be sure to follow along with our Selfie and a Shelfie series.
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