Reviewer: Liz Geist
Published: 2023
Author: Megan Wagner Lloyd | Illustrator: Michelle Mee Nutter
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel / Contemporary Fiction
Audience: Grades 4–6
Number of Stars: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Goodreads Link: Squished
Content Warnings: None (Relatable family stress and sibling conflict).
Publisher’s Summary
Eleven-year-old Avery Lee loves her life in Maryland, but she is tired of feeling squished! As one of seven siblings, her house is noisy, chaotic, and completely lacking in privacy. All Avery wants is her own room—a sanctuary where she can be alone and focus on her art.
When her grumpy older brother Theo gets his own room while Avery has to share with even more siblings, she hatches a plan to earn enough money to build a room in the basement. Between navigating shifting friendships and working on her art entry for the town fair, Avery finds out her family might be moving across the country to Oregon. Now, the prospect of finally getting her own space comes at the cost of leaving everything—and everyone—she knows behind.
Review
Imagine being the oldest girl out of seven children in a family of nine, plus a dog and a cat! Squished follows Avery Lee, an artistic, kind, and responsible graduating fifth grader. Avery faces challenges one would expect from a large family in a relatively small house: sharing a room, having little privacy, and playing a major role in helping raise her younger siblings.
Avery comes up with the idea of making money to build herself a room in the basement, an idea that brings its own set of troubles. Meanwhile, Avery’s mother lands a job in Oregon, meaning the family must move across the country just as middle school begins. The only silver lining is that Avery will finally get her own room and some much-needed peace and quiet. Avery eventually accepts the move, turning her fears into hope and excitement.
Overall, I really enjoyed Squished. The illustrations are gorgeous and colorful, while the dialogue is relatable to everyday life. Avery’s emotional swings are realistic for an 11-year-old. As the middle child of three kids, I knew exactly what Avery was feeling at certain points! I would recommend this book for upper elementary or early middle-grade readers who enjoy stories about independence and family dynamics.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Visual Arts (Interior Design & Mapping):
- Activity Idea: Avery dreams of her own room. Have students draw a “Bird’s Eye View” floor plan of their dream bedroom or creative studio. What items would they include to represent their personality?
- ELA (Conflict Resolution): * Activity Idea: Identify a specific conflict between Avery and her siblings (like sharing a room with Pearl and Max). Have students write a “Sibling Contract” that uses compromise to solve the problem fairly for both sides.
- Social Studies (Human Migration & Economics):
- Activity Idea: Discuss why families move. In the book, it’s for a job. Research the cost of living or the distance between Maryland and Oregon ($approx. 2,800 miles$). What would it feel like to leave your “Hickory Valley” behind?
- Math (Budgeting): * Activity Idea: Avery tries to earn money for her basement room. Create a simple math project where students have to “save up” for a big purchase by doing chores or jobs. How many “Max-sitting” sessions would it take to reach her goal?
