Svetlana Chmakova is back with another installment of the Berrybrook Middle School series, this time focusing on Felicity and her younger, high-achieving sister, Letty.
“Felicity especially, I felt, had an interesting story,” Chmakova told PW, “with her younger sister being in a rival club and being extremely capable and accomplished AND bratty about it. The pressure, both real and imagined, to succeed in 'All the Things,' as well as how different people respond to that pressure are among the bigger themes in Enemies.”
Chmakova is no stranger to that kind of pressure; the author spent fifteen years making comics before publishing her first book, the middle grade graphic novel Awkward, which sold over 250,000 copies. Now, Chmakova can think about other things, like what creatures to include in the second volume of The Weirn Books.
“I am thinking I should put a dragon in this one,” she told PW. “Should I put a dragon in this one?… I really want to. Maybe I will.”
This newsletter was produced in partnership with Yen Press
Svetlana Chmakova, author and illustrator of the Berrybrook Middle School series and The Weirn Books, Vol. 1: Be Wary of the Silent Woods, among other graphic novels and manga books, needs little introduction. Her fifth Berrybrook title, Enemies (JY/Yen Press, Sept.), returns to the world of the “art club kids,” with lots of humor, middle school friendship, and more than a few awkward moments. Chmakova chatted with PW about writing and illustrating for young readers and the ever-evolving world of graphic novels and manga.
What are some continued sources of inspiration for your work?
My childhood and the many unanswered questions about human behavior and life in general that I had back then—and still have now, a lot of the time. Also, a lot of coffee, sleepless nights staring at my screen, and my many, many, many varied and random interests.
Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova
Felicity’s sure she’s going to do something big. Exactly what is still a mystery, but she’ll figure it out. Her sister, Letty, teases Felicity that she never finishes stuff, but that’s just because Letty is so perfect. Still, life is good with plenty of friends—drawing with the art club and playing games with her buddies keep her busy. But when she decides to join a contest to show Letty that she CAN get things done, Felicity begins to wonder if friends becoming enemies is easier than she thought. Are they really enemies, though…? What does it even mean to be enemies? And…who is it that she needs the most on her side…?
Buy a CopyThe Wrong Family
Tune in to PW's exclusive interview with Svetlana Chmakova about her middle grade graphic novel series, The Weirn Books. The second installment in the series, Nightschool, publishes on June 16, 2022.
PW interviews JuYoun Lee at Yen Press
Read PW's interview with JuYoun Lee, deputy publisher at Yen Press, about Svetlana Chmakova’s 15-year journey from self-publishing webcomics to writing and illustrating best-selling graphic novels.
Read the Full ReviewBerrybrook Middle School series book trailer
Check out the adventures of the Berrybrook gang as they navigate the challenges of middle school together.
Learn how Nightschool became The Weirn Books
Get the scoop on the disparate creative influences and impulses behind Svetlana Chmakova's revisiting of the Nightschool series with the design of book 1 of The Weirn Books, Be Wary of The Silent Woods.
Read about the design behind The Weirn Books series
Check out The Beat's interview with Chmakova about manga, the Berrybrook series, and all the fun she had creating The Weirn Books, which the author calls "a fun supernatural/urban fantasy adventure!"
Win a copy of Enemies
Enter today for your chance to win a copy of Svetlana Chmakova's Enemies courtesy of Yen Press.
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Svetlana Chmakova was born and raised in Russia until the age of 16, when her family emigrated to Canada. She quickly made a name for herself with graphic novels such as Dramacon, Nightschool, the manga adaptation of James Patterson’s Witch & Wizard, and the webcomic Chasing Rainbows. Her Berrybrook Middle School series has captivated readers of all ages since the publication of its first volume, Awkward, in 2015 and has cemented her place as one of the most beloved creators in the world of middle grade graphic novels. For more information, visit https://svetlania.com/.
JY, the middle grade graphic novel division of Yen Press, LLC, was established in the fall of 2017. This imprint is a sign of the Yen Press commitment to actively growing the catalog of quality content targeting middle grade audiences while making that content easily identifiable for parents, booksellers, librarians, and educators. For more information, visit www.jyforkids.com.
