Friends with boys is black and white graphic novel about Maggie who is starting high school. On the way she passes a graveyard where she meets up with a ghost who she met when she was young. I love a ghost story, but this story is light on the ghosts. The art is very distinct, which I appreciate, and this is a clever coming of age story.

This book is similar to many graphic novels in that I feel there is too much text. Since this is a visual medium, I would think the images to carry most of the story. When the ghost is around the images are forefront, but in the school and with her friends, there is too much talking. I find the dialogue difficult to read.

Other than that, this is a fun story for fans of Faith Erin Hicks.

Maggie has just started 9th grade at public school, having been homeschooled K-8. It's a big adjustment and she's not sure she likes it--the only reason she's not still homeschooled is that her mom has recently left the family. Now Maggie is in a big school, interacting with people besides her three brothers, and she's slowly making a friend. But even with a friend things are complicated--her family has just gone through some major upheaval, her twin brothers aren't getting along like they used to, and she's finally learning what her other brother has gone through at school thanks to his "unconventional" ways (i.e., he does drama). And there's also the matter of the ghost who stalks Maggie for no obvious reason.

I liked it, but it doesn't strike me as anything special. The ghost part seems unnecessary, and too reminiscent of Anya's Ghost.