I picked this up because I really like the art, but that's pretty much all I enjoyed.
I just didn't understand the stories, and trust me, I've read some convoluted things in my life, but these all seem like inside jokes or personal stories "you just had to be there" to really make heads or tails of.

It's a shame, too, because there are some pretty adorable illustrations In here. ( )

Boy, did I not get this. Not at all. I felt like the last kid on the playground after teams had been chosen for kickball. This graphic short story collection is so far over my head that I don't feel qualified to rate it on content, but the drawings are great. ( )

Megan Kelso's graphic novel, The Squirrel Mother, is a beautifully drawn collection of short stories that have a great intellectual depth. Most of the stories only last a few pages, but Kelso is precise with her words and pictures and able to quickly convey her ideas and questions. She gives us stories about a mother leaving her child, learning the waltz, reading neighbors through Halloween candy, and dealing with a crazy aunt, among the many stories. She tackles heavy issues with a delicate touch, much like her art. There's a brief interlude for a piece about Alexander Hamilton that delves heavily into political history, but again, it's filled with depth. All her stories feature unique perspectives that go against the grain. This is a great graphic novel that is a quick read, but contains ideas that will linger in your thoughts. ( )

The Squirrel Mother by Megan Kelso is a graphic novel that is told in short stories or panels that give a snapshot into the lives of various girls of approximately the same age. The majority of the sections are about five to six pages with simplistic drawings that are humorous while also melancholic. Such "short stories" range from a girl learning how to dance to another adolescent girl who sadistically cleans her room. Another story is of a girl who judges her neighbors on the music that they play on Halloween. The concluding section is about the founding fathers in which Kelso mixes historical truths with modern-day romance. Overall, the collection is quite interesting, enduring, and spunky.

As other reviewers have stated, I very much enjoyed the short sections that depicted various girl and their "coming-of-age" moments. Each story was completely unique while also connecting to the overall theme of the book. If the graphic novel was comprised of only these stories, I would surely have given it four stars. However, the final section was a bit odd. Kelso's art was perfect, as is typical of her, but the storyline was a bit too bizarre for me. Had that section been left out, it would have been worthy of four stars!

www.iamliteraryaddicted.blogspot.com ( )

I enjoyed some of these short stories greatly, but just did not get into the stories focusing on American history. The stories focusing on real life events were much more enjoyable. ( )