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Allergic

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A coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel featuring a girl with severe allergies who just wants to find the perfect pet!

At home, Maggie is the odd one out. Her parents are preoccupied with getting ready for a new baby, and her younger brothers are twins and always in their own world. Maggie loves animals and thinks a new puppy to call her own is the answer, but when she goes to select one on her birthday, she breaks out in hives and rashes. She's severely allergic to anything with fur!

Can Maggie outsmart her allergies and find the perfect pet? With illustrations by Michelle Mee Nutter, Megan Wagner Lloyd uses inspiration from her own experiences with allergies to tell a heartfelt story of family, friendship, and finding a place to belong.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published March 2, 2021

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About the author

Megan Wagner Lloyd

12 books169 followers
Megan Wagner Lloyd is the author of the bestselling graphic novel ALLERGIC (with Michelle Mee Nutter), the picture books FINDING WILD and FORT-BUILDING TIME (with Abigail Halpin), BUILDING BOOKS (with Brianne Farley), and PAPER MICE (with Phoebe Wahl), and and the upcoming kids' novel HAVEN: A SMALL CAT'S BIG ADVENTURE. You can find her online at meganwagnerlloyd.com and on Instagram @meganwagnerlloyd

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,010 reviews
Profile Image for Laura.
84 reviews67 followers
July 8, 2022
In Allergic, Maggie has a lot going on. Her family is expecting a new baby, and she is starting at a new school. On top of everything, she has just discovered she has some severe allergies.

I'm glad that this book exists for kids out there who are dealing with allergies, but this book is so much more. It focuses on the broader theme of big changes in life and how to deal with them.
I especially liked the mention of yoga and breathing techniques to help deal with big feelings.

Both my kids enjoyed this one as well. It's a fun read for the middle grade graphic novel readers out there.

Profile Image for Calista.
4,434 reviews31.3k followers
December 31, 2021
This is a book that my niece insisted I read. I believe she got it as a Christmas gift and she told me it was very good. She has asked if I read it daily since she finished it. So, I read it today.

My niece has good taste. This is a great little story about a girl who absolutely loves animals. The twist is that she finds out she is severely allergic to any animal with feathers and fur and she is heartbroken.

There is a lot going on in the book. Maggie is going to a new school and she has to make new friends and leave her old ones behind. Also, her mom is pregnant with a 4th sibling for her and she is overwhelmed by all the changes and what she can't have. She makes a new friend in a next door neighbor, but she seems to get everything she wants. This is about managing your emotions and learning to appreciate the things we have.

Maggie has some big fights with several people in this story. I know this is for kids, but reading it, I find it brings up feelings in me. I avoid conflict and I do not like disagreements, much less fights with people. It's interesting to see such a simply example of how this all works.

They deal with different kinds of allergies and people who have them. I think it's a great middle grade graphic novel for kids and a fun read. I feel for people allergic to animals or eggs. As a kid, they just put me down for 'allergic to everything' on my chart and told me not to change much about my life besides hypoallergenic pillows. Still, it never stopped me like this girl was stopped. I spent over 5 years getting weekly shots and they helped. Now, I rarely have allergies that do much.

Anyway, this brought up some good issues and I'm glad Niece had me read it.
Profile Image for Scottsdale Public Library.
3,348 reviews294 followers
Read
March 27, 2024
This is more than just a story of a 5th grader who finds our she is allergic to all animals with feathers or fur; themes of friendship, family dynamics, and change are carried throughout this full-color graphic novel. The characters are well developed and as a reader you get even more a sense of everyone's personality through the graphics. Great graphic novel for upper-elementary readers. ~Diana F.
Profile Image for Cherlynn | cherreading.
1,763 reviews980 followers
December 5, 2021
✨ "How could something that made me so happy make me so sick? It just wasn't right."

An enjoyable graphic novel about a girl who wants a furry friend to love her (because her twin brothers have each other and her parents are busy with their unborn baby) but is unfortunately allergic. I thought it was a rather heartwarming story about family and friendship.

However, I am quite uncomfortable with some of the irresponsible messages this book seems to be sending about pet care and ownership.

❌ The protagonist gets pets on a whim without prior research and her family seems to encourage this by letting her do as she pleases. After she is unable to get a dog due to her allergy (thank goodness her family is shown visiting an animal rescue and not a pet store), she goes on to get:

1. A fish, which dies
2. A lizard, that ends up being her brothers'
3. A hermit crab, which she does not like because it's not furry and doesn't 'move'

When the protagonist says she is going to get a tortoise, her mother replies, 'I love your enthusiasm, but we can't commit to caring for a pet for long.' Say what?! So a dog is somehow not a lifelong commitment? What about her unborn child?

❌ I am against the idea of class pets, particularly in a class of young children. Spots the guinea pig was shown as a lone animal in a small bar cage. Anyone with basic knowledge of guinea pigs would know that they are social creatures who must be housed in pairs or more. It is also irresponsible of the teacher to simply get a class pet without knowing the one of his students are allergic.

❌ Likewise, mice are highly social creatures that should be housed together. Females in particular are known to be become lonely and depressed if housed alone. The protagonist's mouse is not only female but pregnant without her knowledge.

❌ I am on the fence about buying animals from pet stores but in this instance, the pet store sells a pregnant mouse to a young child without any parental consent. The mouse ends up giving birth to 11 pups, and all 12 creatures are returned to the pet store after the protagonist's parents find out. All parties involved (parents included) are equally irresponsible but nothing was ever mentioned about the mice again. Way to reinforce the impression that pets are mere commodities that can be returned at your whim instead of a lifelong commitment that require time and money.

Please do proper research before writing about animals. Authors have a part in educating readers especially if your book is going to be published and distributed to thousands of readers across the globe.
Profile Image for Darla.
3,841 reviews848 followers
June 10, 2021
There are pets all around the neighborhood, but none at Maggie's house. Before her new baby brother or sister comes, she hopes to have a dog of her own. They go to pick out a puppy and discover that Maggie is allergic to anything with fur or feathers. Maybe there is a pet that doesn't have fur or feathers for Maggie? She makes a list with nine possibilities, but none are right for her. Now what? Kids with allergies, even food-related, will appreciate Maggie's story. Kids who don't have allergies will learn empathy for those who do. I loved the little details in this colorful graphic novel like the different yoga poses we see Maggie's mom doing and the calendar for counting down days to baby mouse separation. Hand this one to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Terri Libenson.
Profile Image for Rod Brown.
6,043 reviews229 followers
March 7, 2021
Already suffering anxiety about her mother's pregnancy, the feeling of being left out by the strong bond between her twin brothers, and the first day at a new school where she has no friends, 10-year-old Maggie Wilson is wrecked when she finds out how the universe just keeps piling it on: her big plan for a birthday puppy is a big no-go when she finds out she is extremely allergic to animal dander.

Lots of good information about allergies and how they can affect one's life is worked into the story in an entertaining manner. Maggie shows lots of personality and kept me engaged with the story even when the pacing got a little slow and the ending sort of petered out.

Side note: I was surprised at how distracting I found the variable size of the lettering. It grew or shrunk to fit the space assigned to it, sometimes giving us balloons on the same page with very large and very small text, something I would normally associate with trying to give different emotional values to the words, but here just meaning there was more free space available in the art, because the panels also varied randomly from very small to very large from page to page.
Profile Image for laurel [the suspected bibliophile].
1,626 reviews599 followers
August 7, 2023
This graphic novel has been checking out like hotcakes at my library, and I can see why!

The illustrations are cute, the storyline (about a girl facing lots of changes—new school, friends, new baby) is very relatable. Animal-obsessed Maggie has always wanted a dog, but when she goes to the shelter she's discovers she's very allergic to all animals with feathers and fur. Oh no!

There's more to the story than that, although I was kinda disappointed that in the end Maggie channeled her need to care for something into caring for her younger sister (she struggles with jealously over not being the center of someone's attention in her family, and having something that loves only her). I'm glad that it emphasized her relationships with her family and her love of family, but it just felt...weird? Especially when the younger brothers weren't shuttled to care for the new baby as much? I'm probably reading too much into this, but it brought up some feelings I had about my own family and how my brother and I were treated regarding caring for our youngest siblings.

I did like that Maggie found another animal type that worked out really well for her, and a way to feel herself.

And I loved how Maggie and her new bff Claire's relationship fluctuated and adapted.
Profile Image for Mary  BookHounds .
1,303 reviews1,968 followers
April 30, 2021
Maggie feels that everyone in her family is too busy to pay any attention to her since her family is expecting a new baby and her twin brothers only seem to communicate with themselves.  She decides that the family needs a dog which Maggie has planned to take sole custody of once she can get one on her birthday.  The big day arrives and Maggie finds the perfect dog but she ends up in hives and her eyes swollen shut.  After a visit to the doctor, anything with fur or feathers is ruled out as a pet.  

With this huge disappointment, Maggie is determined to find a pet that she can have.  This girl is resilient beyond her years and helps teach others how to act responsibly and work to find a solution to her problem. The graphics perfectly illustrate Maggie's frustration and how she works through it to find something that will work for her  I think this story will be a wonderful teaching moment on how to deal with disappointment.  
Profile Image for Hilda.
1,165 reviews258 followers
December 13, 2021
What a great book to read about allergies. It explains it so well. I’m honestly very impressed. It was explained by the doctors and nurses and it took it all the way from allergy to testing to medicine. It was so good.

This story follows Maggie. Maggie has always wanted a furry pet and on her 10th birthday and best day of her life tragedy strikes. She’s allergic. Not just a little. Full blown, full body, eyes closing allergic. So what does she do, what any kid would do. Tries and tries again to find the perfect pet. But it doesn’t quite work out and I loved all of that. What I didn’t appreciate was the emotional warfare she had with her “best” friend when she got upset at her. She’d lash out so much and make her friend cry. It was so upsetting. And her poor friend would take it every time. If I read it to my students I’ll definitely talk to them about using kind words and how actions have consequences. If you continue to be mean to a friend don’t be surprised when they don’t want to be your friend anymore.

It was still super cute. I really enjoyed her family and how her parents even with the baby coming were very aware of her anxiety. They kept working on breathing techniques. Honestly, it’s a very good book. Even with the whole emotional lashing out. I get it. And it’s the perfect platform to talk about why that’s not okay.
Profile Image for Afoma (Reading Middle Grade).
692 reviews397 followers
May 4, 2021
Allergic is a sweet, realistic depiction of what it’s like to suffer from allergies. This graphic novel features stunning illustrations, a lovable protagonist, and a rambunctious family. Among other things, readers will feel Maggie’s strong love for animals, the complex emotions of nurturing a friendship despite differences, and the struggle to find one’s place at home as a tween. I loved this one and would definitely recommend it.

Read my full review on my blog.

Many thanks to Scholastic for a free copy of this graphic novel.
Profile Image for The Nerd Daily.
720 reviews384 followers
January 11, 2021
Originally published on The Nerd Daily | Review by Mimi Koehler

Beautiful illustrations and a coming-of-age story that aptly elicits the fears of growing up band together can be found in Megan Wagner Lloyd and Michelle Mee Nutter’s graphic novel, Allergic. We follow Maggie, a young girl who wants nothing more than a dog for a pet, only to learn – on her birthday, no less – that she’s highly allergic to dog hair…and pretty much every other type of fur. Understandingly crushed, she is still determined to find a pet that she won’t be allergic to and thus, Maggie goes on the search of finding her perfect companion, with loads of mishaps and some unexpected obstacles thrown into the mix.

Read the FULL REVIEW on The Nerd Daily
Profile Image for TL .
1,976 reviews115 followers
March 21, 2023

Very glad I'm not allergic to animals.:( Felt bad for her.

This was interesting enough to finish but was just okay for me.. I could see some kids liking it though.

Liked the friendship between Maggie and Claire.


Happy that there's a book that'll help teach about animal allergies.

Fyi: sometimes the text made it a bit hard to follow the story and had me reading a panel again, stuff was too close together at times.
Profile Image for Mid-Continent Public Library.
591 reviews222 followers
Read
June 17, 2021
There are pets all around the neighborhood, but none at Maggie's house. Before her new baby brother or sister comes, she hopes to have a dog of her own. They go to pick out a puppy and discover that Maggie is allergic to anything with fur or feathers. Maybe there is a pet that doesn't have fur or feathers for Maggie? She makes a list with nine possibilities, but none are right for her. Now what? Kids with allergies, even food-related, will appreciate Maggie's story. Kids who don't have allergies will learn empathy for those who do. I loved the little details in this colorful graphic novel like the different yoga poses we see Maggie's mom doing and the calendar for counting down days to baby mouse separation. Hand this one to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Terri Libenson. *Review by Darla from Red Bridge*

Profile Image for Meredith Ann.
637 reviews12 followers
December 24, 2020
ARC courtesy of Edelweiss.

A really sweet graphic novel about Maggie, a young girl who is facing multiple changes all at once. As a kid who had allergies, I wish I had a book like this to help me better understand and explain why I should keep up with my shots. The interweaving of the changes works really nicely - even though Maggie's allergies are the main plot point, others are explored and given space too. This also is a recommended read for kids dealing with a new sibling on the way - another reason I wish this had been there when I was going through the same thing at that age! The art is colorful and realistic, really helping advance the plot along.
Profile Image for Bridget.
1,272 reviews84 followers
March 29, 2022
Poor Maggie, so incredibly desperate for a puppy, but when finally allowed to get one, she is severely allergic to it. She is taken for allergy testing and it turns out she is all horribly allergic to anything with feathers or fur. She is so sad. She feels so alone, a new baby is about to join their family, so her parents are occupied with that big family event, and her younger brothers are twins and spend all the time together. She's changed schools and left all her old friends behind. A puppy, or any furry pet would have been great company for her. Luckily there is a new friend just waiting to be discovered, someone she can be with, who shares her interests and who is great fun. But then her friend gets a puppy! Oh no!

Loved this incredibly cute graphic novel for middle school students. It'll warm your heart, tweek at your heartstrings and appeal to all the millions of Raina Telgemeier fans.
Profile Image for Ana LibrariAna.
407 reviews7 followers
May 28, 2021
A sweet, sweet graphic novel about a girl who REALLY wants a dog. Her parents are preoccupied with a baby-on-the-way, and her twin brothers have each other. The dog she is about o get for her tenth birthday will be just hers and will love her the most. On her birthday, the whole family goes to the dog shelter where she finds the perfect puppy but then breaks out in rashes and hives. She ends up being severely allergic to anything with fur...

A great story about allergies, starting a new school, baby on the way, friendship, pets, family dynamic and so much more. Great story, great illustrations, great characters, great message. A great book to read and have in libraries.
Profile Image for Katy O..
2,523 reviews714 followers
August 9, 2021
An absolutely perfect middle grade graphic novel about allergies, but also about going to a new school and getting a new baby sibling. This is going to be a hit in my elementary school and will resonate with so many kids. It will also be a great educational tool for helping kids understand why they or their friends have allergies, and the types of treatments available and precautions that must be taken. The MC (Maggie) is 10 years old and in 5th grade.
Profile Image for Maryalice.
418 reviews2 followers
March 4, 2021
With younger twin brothers and a new baby on the way, Maggie feels alone in her loving family. She's convinced her parents, who are preoccupied with baby names and other preparations, to let her adopt a puppy that will be her own. Maggie has been looking forward to her tenth birthday for a long time, since this is the day she gets her perfect pet. At the animal shelter, however, Maggie breaks out into a severe rash, and she learns that she's allergic to anything with fur. So much for her puppy. Devastated, but determined to find the perfect pet, Maggie begins research, as she works her way through allergy shots and makes a new friend. Told in colorful graphic panels, readers will enjoy Maggie's attempts at finding a perfect pet and will appreciate her frustration when things go awry with her new friend.

THOUGHTS: Readers with any allergies, but especially those allergic to pets, will felt represented in this cute graphic novel. A great addition to elementary and middle grade collections.
Profile Image for Tara Ethridge.
882 reviews29 followers
March 6, 2021
I've been waiting (not-so-patiently!) for this graphic novel to come out bc it is my favorite kind of graphic, as well as the favorite of most kids. Anything about growing up and struggles resonates so deeply, and this is amazing bc it deals with allergies in such a relatable way. Maggie can't wait to be ten so she can get her first puppy, but she realizes within minutes that she has a severe allergy to dogs and then all pets. And, so begins her Pet Quest to find a pet that works for her. Along the way, she makes a new friend, makes a big mistake and learns to deal with her allergy. An added bonus is that this book teaches others about kids with allergies and even getting allergy shots. The pictures are amazing and so is the story. I'm glad I grabbed this first to read bc I know it will never again be on our library shelf!
Profile Image for Anna.
83 reviews3 followers
February 1, 2021
This graphic novel is a great introduction for kids to learn about allergies in a story-based way. As someone who has been through it, I can say that the whole process of identifying and treating allergies is very accurate, and Maggie handles it about as well as any middle schooler might. I also loved that there was more to the story with changing friendships and family dynamics as well. Plus the illustration style is cute and vibrantly colored—there’s a lot to love!
Profile Image for Mary Thomas.
377 reviews11 followers
April 12, 2021
What a cute book! This is definitely a storyline that I haven’t seen in MG, and it’s great that it’s I. A visual format! This will be such a help to young folks who are learning of allergies or feeling anxious about shots and treatments for that. I love the representation of the multiracial family and normalizing having friends that aren’t in the MC’s same grade. This will most likely get a spot on my rising 6th grader summer reading list!
Profile Image for Steph.
4,841 reviews68 followers
January 23, 2021
Maggie has a lot going on! A new baby sibling on the way, a new school, & new friendships, too.

At least she can finally get a puppy... right?! 🐶🐾🤧

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd & Michelle Mee Nutter is a graphic novel kids of all ages will adore! Releases 03.02.21!
Profile Image for Sarah.
204 reviews22 followers
May 8, 2021
Read this with a 7 year old, and we both loved it. Written in a way that is informative, yet easy for kids to understand and connect with. So many lessons in this one; life, family, and friendships. It tugged at my heart strings quite a few times.
Profile Image for Hayden.
399 reviews
January 7, 2022
She is allergic to fur and feathers which breaks her but then she finds her love of ocean animals and it makes me cry how she finds her animals.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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