2021, Books
WISE Score
Amazon
Karen Brewer is the queen of big feelings and neighborhood 'witch' hunts in these vibrant, modern graphic novels.
4.8
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If your kid is in early elementary school, these books are basically gold. The 2021 graphic novel reboots by Katy Farina take the 80s charm of Ann M. Martin’s stories and make them feel completely current.
Karen Brewer isn't a perfect kid—she’s loud, she’s dramatic, and she’s often convinced her neighbor is a spell-casting crone—but that’s why kids love her. It’s safe, it’s high-quality, and it’s one of the few series that actually makes kids want to put down the iPad and read.
Perfect for the 6-to-9-year-old crowd. It’s the ideal 'bridge' series for kids who aren't quite ready for the more mature themes of the main Baby-Sitters Club.
It captures the chaotic but sweet reality of a 7-year-old navigating a blended family. While Karen can be 'spirited' (read: a bit of a brat), the focus on family bonds and childhood innocence is high.
Karen Brewer has a massive imagination, famously 'identifying' her neighbor as a witch. It encourages kids to see the magic (and sometimes the drama) in their own neighborhoods.
These are Scholastic graphic novels designed for early elementary students. No violence, no language, and any 'scary' elements are just a child's imagination. Extremely low-risk.
Excellent for helping kids understand divorce and step-family dynamics without it being a 'sad' book. It teaches empathy and how to handle big emotions.
If you have a kid who is constantly trying to swipe their older sibling's copies of The Baby-Sitters Club Graphic Novels, this series is the solution. It exists in that specific sweet spot for readers who are graduating from picture books but aren't quite ready for the middle-school drama of the main series.
While the original Ann M. Martin stories from the 80s and 90s can feel a bit dated to a modern seven-year-old, the 2021 graphic novel reboot feels current. The pacing is snappy, the colors are bright, and the emotional stakes are calibrated exactly for the "big feelings" stage of early childhood. It’s less about entrepreneurship and more about navigating the daily friction of being six years old.
One of the strongest elements here is how it handles divorce. It doesn't treat Karen’s family situation as a tragedy or a "problem" to be solved. Instead, it’s just her normal. She has two houses, two sets of toys, and two different family dynamics.
For kids living in similar situations, seeing Karen navigate "big house" and "little house" life with such matter-of-fact energy is incredibly validating. For kids who don't, it’s a low-stakes way to understand that families come in different shapes. It avoids the heavy-handed "after-school special" vibe that many books about divorce fall into, opting instead for a reality where the biggest concern is which house has the better roller skates.
You’ll see some chatter in reviews—especially on sites like Goodreads—about whether Karen is a "good" role model. Critics sometimes point to her being bossy, stubborn, or a bit of a fabulist (the whole "neighbor is a witch" thing).
But that’s exactly why the book works. Karen isn't a sanitized, perfect protagonist. She gets jealous of her brother, she throws tantrums when she breaks her wrist, and she lets her imagination run away with her. She’s a realistic six-year-old. When she messes up, the narrative doesn't necessarily punish her, but she usually feels the natural social consequences of her actions. It’s a great jumping-off point for a conversation about why she’s acting out without you having to "lecture" your kid.
With a 4.8 rating on Amazon, it’s clear this series is a hit with parents, and most of that comes down to the accessibility of the format. If you have a reluctant reader, the visual storytelling does a lot of the heavy lifting.
If your kid has already burned through every Dog Man or Narwhal and Jelly book and needs something with a bit more character depth but the same visual energy, this is the move.
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