Truly Tyler

Truly Tyler | Realistic Fiction | Terri Libenson | No Awards | ages 9-13 |

“And in the end they discover… that their worlds aren’t so different after all.”

Middle school can be a tough time for many students with trying to fit with all the peer pressure, finding out who you are. For Tyler, school life becomes challenging trying to navigate being a basketball player, passionate about art, and having a friend that happens to be a girl. Everything is piling on him, and he becomes frustrated of all the pressure. Meanwhile, Emmie, Tyler’s friend who has a crush on him, is going crazy with the friendship. She still can’t believe what’s happening and to make Tyler like her, she tries to make changes in her life, including letting go of her friend. In the end, with a bit of communication, problems start to fade away, and they all realize status doesn’t matter, as long as you have friends you can count on for loyalty and a good laugh. 

This two hour graphic novel was a great story for students who are beginning middle school, or are simply in the pre teen age. So much is going on in this time of life and can be confusing for many. So much pressure is upon them which can make them feel alone. Truly Tyler in my opinion is a good book for students fourth grade through seventh race because the main character is a boy. I feel sometimes, as teachers (or at least I personally do this) pick the prettiest book covers and what appeals to us. Seeing a male character in books is something I don’t see often and perhaps students don’t either. And thought he book features a male character, the story and plot is neutral, and applicable for all. This graphic novel, features the students working on a graphic novel project. How can we not have our own students work on a graphic novel themselves? They spark creativity and ideas for writing. It’s a great way to practice writing without making it feel so formal and professional. Working on the theme of the story, we can talk with students about the importance of standing up for what they believe in, the dangers of peer pressure, and communication.