Squished (Lloyd and Nutter)

Middle-grade graphic novel about eleven-year-old Avery Lee, one of seven children, as she navigates sibling conflicts (she really wants her own room, but instead her older brother gets his own room and her baby brother moves into the room she already shares with her sister), friendships (one of her best friends seems to be drifting away a bit), and family conflicts (there is the possibility they might move, which she really doesn't want to do). My 9-year-old niece brought this home from the book fair while we were visiting them, and I picked it up.

I really loved this book. I only had the one sibling, but I know a lot of people who have quite a few kids in their families, and this rang true to me in terms of both the good and the bad of having a large family. Avery is a realistic and sweet kid -- she gets into fights with her big brother where both of them are at fault and exchange harsh words (and apologize later), she loves art and wants her own room so that she can do her art without her younger siblings getting into it, she helps out her younger siblings and gets exasperated with them in equal measure.

Also, it's not made a big deal of (I don't think it's ever stated explicitly), but the Lees are Korean-American. And also the mom is in the process of becoming the major breadwinner (it's her job search that is driving the plot about the possible move) but it's also not a big deal, which I also loved.

I also read Allergic by the same authors because my niece happened to have that one around too, which I liked a lot as well but not as much as Squished, which I thought was richer both in story and art.