Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp and illustrated by Sylvia Bi could be called “one of “those protest books.” And maybe that is the best way to start the review. However, it is more than that. It is about how we see ourselves and others see us. It is about learning to stand up for what is right and not the easy thing. It is about how the youth of a community/city can be a strong voice regardless of being “young.” There is found/finding family (one of the best (and sad) scenes is where Lotta tells us that not all families are able to be happy) and so much more. Yet it is presented for the middle school reader (aged at least 10 to adult, but the 10-15 probably best audience).
Overall, things are well done. We have hints of same-sex romance without overwhelmingly focusing on it. In fact, the way it is presented allows you to have them “just friends.” Granted, perhaps things are a bit idealistic, especially at the end, but that (SPOILER) happy ending is what is needed. Bi has boldly bright and detailed images that can be busy but are usually not overly crowded. They might not tell the story by themselves, but they do support the characters and theme.
Of course, it is a simple enough story with the newspaper telling the truth, the people that upsets, and the editor/creator being imprisoned because of it. It gets a bit complicated when the author brings in the princess of the community (based on Medieval Italian city-states), her special needs (it sounds not only is she naive, but perhaps a bit autistic) and how the princess and the apprentice to the editor start to see the real city, but it is never over-the-top complex. The extras at the end bring in the historical influences and more.
