Lucky Penny

Gr 9 Up—Penny, a young 20-something who describes herself as having a "weird tattoo and a smoking habit," is once again down on her luck. Recently both jobless and homeless, she moves into her best friend's storage unit, where her primary companion is a stray cat. Even though Penny concludes she is bad luck to those around her, she is tenacious about improving her situation—even if it means she must work in a laundromat for a precocious, sarcastic (and, later we learn, vengeful) preteen. More mature teens will especially enjoy this humorous slice-of-life comic done in noir shades. The artwork is simple, yet the facial expressions are lively. Penny's insecurities navigating a budding romance with the nerdy yet lovable Walter come across as authentic and comical (especially when she imagines scenarios inspired by clichéd romance novels). The situations Penny finds herself in are at times fantastical, but readers can relate to her reactions, which are a mixture of awkwardness and sincerity.