Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I grew up reading the Junie B. Jones books, though I didn’t really like Junie B., at least I was always fairly certain we would not get along if we met in real life. Despite that, I was fascinated by her antics and the way she got away with them. It was so far removed from what I was used to, I couldn’t look away even if I had zero desire to do or say many of the things she did. Plus, there were certainly iconic elements to the books that just stick with you.

I am a huge fan of children’s graphic novels and have LOVED this march of children’s authors from my own childhood having their works remade in graphic novel form. The BSC graphic novels immediately come to mind: I absolutely love them for allowing me to feel the nostalgia and witness progress at the same time. I was very excited to give a Junie B. Jones graphic novel a shot.

I think I may actually like updated graphic novel Junie B. more than I did the original back when I was a child myself. Maybe it’s the illustrations, but she feels more real and relatable. Sure, she may be yelling or doing some other thing that may have baffled or frustrated me, but it’s easy to see why she may feel that is the only solution through these pages. I find myself empathizing with this small child with such little experience and understanding of the world in a situation that wasn’t fully explained (at first), something so ordinary when we look back, but in those moments when we were just young children ourselves, were likely daunting if not completely terrifying. Add in overstimulation for many of us and, yeah, let’s scream. I’m with you there, and I’m a grown adult.

In general, the illustrations were my favorite part. I love this style so much, and it’s perfect for both kids and adults alike. It’s vibrant and eye-catching, detailed but just simple enough. The story, with help from the art, really helps capture the world through the eyes of a Kindergartener, the simplicity of decision-making and deciding whether people are worthy of your time and the awe and terror with all of the new things that are consistently thrown your way.

Junie B. is certainly still Junie B. though, all these years later. This version felt more relatable across so many scenes, but there were still elements I remember disliking as a child and still didn’t enjoy now. I didn’t understand how she could possibly do the things she did as a kid, and now, though I perfectly well understand the why, I still can’t help but feel panicked for the adults. Thus is the life of an adult who reads works for all ages I guess!

This is a great option for many young graphic novel lovers and for fans of the original books, though Junie B.’s antics are certainly not for everyone. 3.5/5 Stars.

Junie B. Jones remains one of the top ten series in my school library, and I am delighted to see a graphic novel adaptation that will introduce Junie to a whole new audience. Remaining true to Park's story, it portrays a child's anxieties, misconceptions, and adjustments starting the first day of kindergarten in a relatable yet hilarious way. The illustrations are bright and attractive. This is a must-have for libraries!

I haven't read a Junie B Jones book since elementary school. Shortly thereafter, my mother banned them from the house because she (an English major) didn't approve of Junie B's grammar. By limiting the narration, this graphic novel adaptation loses most of the bad grammar, but keeps all of the bad behavior. Bad behavior that feels more impossible than ever. Junie B's hatred of the Stupid Smelly Bus causes her to hide in her classroom at the end of the first day of school. She stays hidden and then goes on to wreak havoc across the school, But apart from one phone call, no one seems to be looking all that hard for her. As an educator, I was absolutely appalled by how easily Junie B evaded the grown-ups. I know this is an adaptation, but it doesn't work in the modern era. I think Junie B could work in the graphic format, but the first story needed to be reconceptualized. The writing is fine, the art and color are great, but the story makes this a flop.

This is a cute graphic novel. Great refresh for a classic series. The illustrations are fantastic. Very engaging. Fun story.

I grew up with Junie B.--she was the wild little kid I never got to be (goody two shoes over here) and honestly, probably the kid I would've hated in class. But! She is so creative and smart and unapologetically her. Because I adore her so much, I definitely was weary going into the GN adaptation. At first, I told myself the art style wasn't good and that it was too cartoon-y. Silly me, within 1/3 of the book, I was hooked as if I were once again in the first grade. I have re-fallen in love with Junie B., and I hope that this new adaptation will bring in a new group of JBJ fans!