Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Libby

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Screenwise Verdict

These graphic novels are the rare successful reboot: they take beloved-but-dated 1980s stories and make them genuinely readable for modern kids. The art is expressive and dynamic, the pacing is tighter than the originals, and the core themes—friendship, responsibility, entrepreneurship, empathy—still land.

The real win here is accessibility. Kids who would never pick up a 200-page chapter book will devour these, and the visual storytelling helps them process the heavier emotional content (divorce, death, chronic illness) without getting overwhelmed. The business angle is surprisingly educational—these girls run an actual operation with scheduling, client management, and conflict resolution.

Some conservative parents clutch pearls about 'mature themes,' but come on—we're talking about divorced parents and crushes, not anything remotely inappropriate. The series handles sensitive topics with care and age-appropriate depth. If anything, these books give kids language and frameworks for understanding their own complex family situations.

The main limitation is that these are still fundamentally 1980s stories in modern dress. Some attitudes and references feel dated, and the slice-of-life format won't appeal to kids who want fantasy or adventure. But for the right reader—especially the reluctant one who needs pictures to stay engaged—these are solid gold.

Age Fit

Best for ages 8-13, with the sweet spot around 9-11. The graphic novel format makes these accessible for younger or struggling readers who might bounce off the original novels, while the friendship drama and business storylines keep older elementary and middle schoolers engaged. High schoolers will age out unless they're nostalgic rereaders.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

These graphic novels capture the heart of the original series: girls running a business, navigating friendships, and handling responsibility. The stories model cooperation, problem-solving, and kindness while dealing with real middle-school issues like divorce, family conflict, and fitting in. The tone is warm and age-appropriate, with genuine emotional moments that don't feel preachy. Raina Telgemeier and Gale Galligan's adaptations modernize the pacing without losing the core wholesomeness.

Imaginative

72

The graphic novel format brings visual creativity to the original stories, with expressive artwork and dynamic layouts that make reading more engaging than the original text-only versions. However, the stories themselves are fairly straightforward slice-of-life narratives about babysitting and friendship drama—relatable but not particularly fantastical or world-building. They inspire entrepreneurial thinking (running a business!) but don't push boundaries in terms of creative exploration or imagination.

Safe

92

These are about as safe as books get for the target age range. The series tackles heavier topics like divorce, death of a parent, and diabetes, but handles them with care and age-appropriateness. No graphic content, violence, or inappropriate material. Some parents from conservative backgrounds flag 'adult themes' but these are really just normal tween life issues. The graphic novel format makes potentially sensitive topics more accessible without being shocking or traumatic.

Enriching

81

Strong showing for emotional intelligence and empathy-building. Readers see characters navigate complex social situations, handle business responsibilities, and care for younger kids. The diversity of characters (dealing with diabetes, divorce, blended families, moving) gives kids windows into different experiences. The entrepreneurial angle—running an actual business with scheduling, client management, and problem-solving—is genuinely educational. The graphic novel format also supports developing readers who might struggle with dense text.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Gateway drug for reluctant readers: the graphic novel format makes these way more accessible than the original text-heavy versions from the 80s
Entrepreneurship in action: these girls literally run a business with scheduling, client management, and problem-solving
Real emotional depth: divorce, death, chronic illness, and friendship drama handled with care and age-appropriate nuance
Diverse character experiences give kids windows into lives different from their own without feeling like an after-school special
Raina Telgemeier's art (books 1-4) is legitimately great—expressive, dynamic, and captures middle school awkwardness perfectly

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What to Watch For

Some parents flag 'mature themes' but really it's just normal tween stuff: divorced parents, crushes, family conflict, managing diabetes
The original stories are from the 1980s, so some cultural references and attitudes feel dated even with visual updates
If your kid is sensitive to stories about parental death or serious illness, books covering those topics might need a heads-up conversation first

Conversation Starters

"If you and your friends started a business, what would it be? How would you handle scheduling and clients like the BSC does?"
"Which character do you relate to most? Why do you think their friendship works even when they're so different?"
"How do you think the girls handle tough situations with the kids they babysit? What would you do differently?"
"Have you ever had to deal with a friend situation like [specific conflict from book]? How did you handle it?"

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