Film Nerds

A middle grade graphic novel debut by a New Yorker cartoonist following two best friends who share a passion for DIY filmmaking until the move to middle school sparks growing differences between them.

Best friends Ami and Ivy couldn’t be more different: Ami is quiet and loves to daydream, while Ivy is loud and in constant motion. What they do share is a love of filmmaking, and spending their free time working on a sci-fi epic about a space mission following Earth’s destruction by a giant asteroid.

But lately the girls are faced with something even scarier than asteroids: sixth grade. At their new school, students are divided into different teams that might as well be different planets, and Ami and Ivy get separated. Ivy quickly finds new friends, while Ami struggles to adapt, and is too embarrassed to tell Ivy how alone she feels.

When the sixth grade talent show is announced, Ami is certain entering their film will show everyone how cool they are. The only problem? Ivy says she doesn't want anyone to see it. But Ami is sure everyone will love Ivy's over-the-top performance, and then everything will turn around for Ami socially. What could possibly go wrong?

This hilarious and bittersweet graphic novel, punctuated with storyboard excerpts from the girls’ film project, boldly explores the complicated but wondrous galaxies of friendship, artmaking, and growing up.