Vol. 2 What Makes You Happy
Vol. 3 Superheroes
Vol. 4 When the Past is a Present
by Jimmy Gownley
I don't remember why I initially picked up the first Amelia Rules book back in 2004, but I'm glad I did. And keeping up with the series has been a good thing. However, the books haven't checked out too much. Perhaps they are too young for the YA graphic novel area. 
Amelia is a 10 year old whose parents have divorced shortly before the start of the series. Moving with her mom to the suburbs from New York is a drastic change in her life. Amelia's aunt Tanner shares her house with Amelia and her mom. She meets up with some other kids and forms quick friendships. Reggie, Pajamaman and Rhonda make up her immediate clique. Rhonda likes Reggie. Amelia isn't sure about Reggie, but she still hangs out with him. Even when he dresses up as the superhero Captain Amazing and makes his other friends join his superhero group G.A.S.P. (the Gathering of Awesome Super Pals).
Gownley is very clever with these books. He discusses heavy topics in a humorous way and doesn't get too preachy. Topics covered in these volumes include divorce, terminal illnesses, and parents shipping out on military rotation. But there are many great comic interludes like "The Great Sneeze/Barf Incident" and ongoing Superhero Ninja rivalry.I'm reminded of the Peanuts strip while reading Amelia. Each child has a unique personality and voice. There are inside jokes that run throughout the series. And Gownley's art is reminiscent of Charles Schulz.
Every library should have this in their collection. Our copies haven't checked out much, but I've clued in a couple of our Children's staff into pimping them out. Hopefully they will get greater circulation. But if they don't, I might have to reclassify them into the Children's Graphic Novel area.
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