Really enjoyed this book. The layout of it makes the whole thing even more fantastic. It was enjoyable for me and my niece (11yr old) who was reading it with me (or to me, depending on which way you look at it). It's the type of book that has been structured well and has great content as well.
Certainly one that I will be recommending.

The colors are vibrant and Cici is a flawed, yet captivating character. She reminds me a bit of Harriet the Spy.

Cici's dream is to become a novelist. She journals her thoughts and ideas, and constantly people watches, much to the chagrin of her friends xx and axx. Cici doesn't see it as being nosy; she figures that you need to understand what's inside of people in order to write about them. But when she starts digging further into people's lives and expecting her friends to lie to her mother to cover up her "investigations", they let her know that they've had enough. Can Cici learn to be a good friend and an attentive writer?

Originally published in France under the French title Les carnets de Cerise (2012), this is Cici's first English translation and includes two stories. In the first story (title), Cici discovers an older man walking through the forest every Sunday, covered in paint and lugging cans of paint back and forth. In Hector's Journal, she tries to get to the bottom of a mystery involving an older woman who takes the same library book out every week. Both times, Cici goes after her subject with gusto, but is often insensitive to her friends and mother. It isn't until her writer friend (name) steps in to have a heart to heart with Cici that she finally understands that she's been using people, and starts taking others into consideration. Kids will recognize themselves and their friends in Cici, especially as she goes through the frustration of disagreeing with Mom and falling out with friends.

The graphic novel is a mix of graphic storytelling and journaling, with doodles, scrapbook pieces, comments, and notes throughout the book. The art is realistic with a soft touch, and Cici has a very fun and eclectic style that will appeal to middle graders. She complains about her friends (especially name) throughout the book, and with seeming good reason: the character is in a perpetual bad mood and Cici herself can be exasperating. In short, kids will identify with or see their friends in these characters, and dive into Cici's adventures - and maybe start journaling on their own.

In my neverending quest to create programs that I can booktalk with, Cici's Journal is a nice fit with a writer's program I want to test out. Put this one with your Dork Diaries, Amelia's Notebooks, Wimpy Kid books, My Dumb Diaries, Kate the Great, Origami Yodas, and Popularity Papers.

I thought I would enjoy this because it was told from the perspective of a young girl that wants to be a writer, but I just couldn't get into it. HOWEVER, I know that my students would absolutely love it and definitely look forward to being able to offer it to them.

This is fantastic. Such a fun story that students will love. I love the characters.

Cici's Journal was such a fun read. It's a perfect mix of graphic novel and journal style, and the illustrations were awesome. This is definitely a good choice for school aged children, particularly those with an interest in being a writer.

This is a wonderful story about Cici, a girl who wants to be an author one day, and in order to hone her skills of observation she solves little mysteries that happen in her hometown. Her friend Mrs. Flores has told Cici to start writing a journal.

The pictures of both stories in this book are very detailed and colourful. The stories are easy to follow and they end happily for all people involved.

Cici loves to read novels, comics, and science magazines. She would like to be a writer. Mrs. Forbes, Cici's former teacher, is now a local author. Mrs. Forbes begins to mentor Cici with meet-ups and suggested writing exercises to fuel Cici's burgeoning interest.

Mrs. Forbes recommends that Cici start with a personal diary or journal. She is encouraged to observe people, imagine their lives, guess their innermost feelings, then create an adventure for them. First, however, one must conduct an investigation.

Mrs. Forbes explains that a writer must gather the facts, conduct interviews, then search for clues trying to find a lead, perhaps, something unexpected. Cici, with the help of friends and cohorts Erica and Lena, become sleuths. Cici records her observations in her journal, draws picture clues, lists the character traits of her two friends and discusses the spin she will concoct to get Mom's approval to conduct her queries. The tome consists of two tales. Every Sunday, an old man disappears into the woods with his parrot Captain Flint. He carries two heavy paint cans. Later, he returns covered in paint. In the second tale, an old lady visits the local library every week requesting the same book. Why doesn't she just buy the book? Cici will look for clues to discover the real person inside each of these characters.

Through the use of journal entries, drawings and newspaper clippings, alternating with a comic book presentation of Cici's interaction with her mom, Mrs. Forbes and friends Erica and Lena, the reader will catch a glimpse of the power of observation and the tricks involved in storytelling. Author Chamblain touches upon the importance of maintaining friendships and being truthful and forthright to parents and teachers.

"Cici's Journal: The Adventures of a Writer-In-Training" was a most enjoyable read. Author Joris Chamblain and illustrator Aurelie Neyret have created a magical learning experience for middle school readers and budding writers.

Thank you First Second Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review "Cici's Journal".

Cici's Journal is an awesome kids' comic with an actual and interesting content! There's a high demand for comics like this, truly. The comic consists of two mystery stories and then there's the basic plot behind that's mostly Cici's life. Cici wants to be a writer and loves solving mysteries. In the first mystery she tries to solve who is this old man covered in paint and in the next one she tries to understand why this old lady keeps getting the same book from library every time. Both of the mysteries are interesting, well constructed and believable. The cases fit Cici well and everything is very credible without being childish or naive. This comic works for adults too actually. The solutions aren't predictable, which makes this so good. I just wish the journal would've had a better explanation, since we don't really see her writing to it. I liked the journal parts though, since we got more info about Cici and her situation along with her friends through it instead of Cici just explaining stuff.

The art is beautiful with candy-like colors. The line art is thin and precise making this clear and vibrant. The colors and the shading work perfectly and the panels are funky and creative. The journal parts cut the story well dividing the content. This was a good call, since kids need a breather so that reading doesn't feel so heavy. It's great that there are POC characters too and all in all this is such a great comic. I think I need to get this to my library the second this is out!

A touching story of friendship and kindness through the eyes of a young writer in the making. Fans of Harriet the Spy and diary format novels will enjoy Cici's adventures.

A charming middle grade graphic novel that centres on the mystery-solving adventures of Cici and her friends. I really enjoyed the inventiveness of the mysteries, including how unexpected the resolutions were, as well as the focus on themes of friendship and family. The colourful art is engaging and fun, and the depiction of Cici's journal is interspersed with traditional graphic novel panels. This is a translation of a 2012 French graphic novel.

Cici vuole diventare una scrittrice, e sa bene che per realizzare il suo sogno è necessario moltissimo lavoro - scrivere, scrivere, scrivere e studiare le persone, scoprire le loro storie e imparare chi si cela sotto il viso di ogni giorno.

E così le sue giornate sono piene di corse in bicicletta, chiacchiere con le sue amiche, appunti nel suo diario e... un mistero da risolvere: dove va lo strano vecchio che ogni fine settimana esce dal bosco con secchi di vernice vuoti?

Nonostante la sua fervente immaginazione Cici non riesce a capire - quindi, non resta che lanciarsi in un'investigazione con tutti i crismi, che porterà alla scoperta di un luogo veramente magico.

Deliziosa graphic novel intermezzata dalle pagine fitte di foto, macchie, appunti e disegni del diario di Cici, ha testi accessibili ma brillanti, personaggi a cui ci si affeziona senza neanche accorgersene e tavole assolutamente meravigliose.

Un gioiellino!

An absolutely fantastic graphic novel with beautiful art and important and emotional stories at their heart. I LOVED the Zoo story line and the second mystery was just as enlightening! I honestly can't wait to read more about Cici's adventures. We certainly need more comics like this that focus on people rather than blind action/explosions!

This was a charming and fun read. It's highly appealing to school-age students since journals/diaries are all the rage right now. It's the perfect amount of Harriet the Spy meets Amelia's Notebooks. It was enjoyable and I loved how each story wrapped up with a happy ending for the 'mysterious' people Cici sleuthed on.

A fun coming of age story for girls (and boys). With a beautiful art style. I especially love the color scheme.

This was so flipping cute and just the kind of book I would have loved to read at that age. Cici dreams of becoming a writer when she grows up, so her Mom gets her a journal to write in. Cici then begins watching and taking notes on the grown ups around her in hopes that she'll discover a secret or two. When she sees a man disappear into the woods she gets more than she bargained for.