These all-ages color stories about a girl and her group of friends are funny and touching with enough bite to keep them from being too kiddy. Amelia's parents have just gotten divorced, and she and her mom have moved in with her Aunt Tanner. Like many kids, she sees herself as the only normal one, surrounded by crazy friends and relatives. She hangs out with a varied group of misfits-some of who really are weird, like Pajamaman, a kid who never speaks or changes out of his sleepwear-to avoid thinking about the trauma she's facing at home. Many of the stories are linked, connected by short monologues in which Amelia explains more about her situation, the characters, or how she feels. These kids are real-that means that sometimes they're evil, greedy, and self-centered. Sometimes they don't understand or see things that are obvious to us, and when they do notice, it's the biggest thing in the world to them. That vision is an eye-opener for the reader, and Jimmy Gownley is a genius at capturing their perspective. These kids are realistic while still being sympathetic and even funny.

Superheroes takes place during the summer after fourth grade. Reggie sees himself as a superhero, adventuring with his sidekick Miracletanner. Rhonda envisions herself as Rapunzel, rescued by Reggie. Amelia dreams herself as a glowing fairy, pursued by an unknown menace that turns out to be the possibility of her family moving away from her friends. The cast expands its focus to include more kids, Reggie's enemies (the ninjas), and a group of kids who self-publish a magazine.

JIMMY GOWNLEY developed a love of comics at an early age when his mother read Peanuts collections to him. By the age of 15, he was self-publishing his first book, Shades of Gray Comics and Stories; the series ran 16 issues and enjoyed cult success. He followed this with Amelia Rules!, which became a critical and fan favorite. Gownley lives in Harrisburg, PA, with his wife, Karen, and twin daughters Stella and Anna.