Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp
Published by HarperCollins
Illustrator: Sylvia Bi
Age Group: Middle Grade
Format: Comic Book, Fiction
Genres and Categories: Fantasy, Action, Adventure, Alternative Universe, Cats, Coming of Age, Disabled and Neurodivergent, Diverse Representation, Mobility Aids, Neurodivergent, Physical Disabilities, Activism
My Rating:
Published on: 21st November 2023
Pages: 288
Disability Representation: Neurodivergent, crutch user, unknown disability.
Buy this Book! Amazon UK / Amazon US / Barnes & Noble / Blackwells / Bookshop.org US / Bookshop.org UK / Waterstones
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“In this vibrant story about the power of the printed word and the strength of found families, every page is bursting with life and detail.” —Ethan Aldridge, creator of the bestselling Estranged

“Fabulous!” —Dan Santat, award-winning author of A First Time for Everything

“Glorious! This empowering read is absolutely unforgettable.” —Ellen Oh, acclaimed author of Finding Junie Kim

Every secret is a story waiting to happen.

From New York Times bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and illustrator Sylvia Bi, this debut middle grade graphic novel celebrates the power that everyone—even those often overlooked—has to create change. In a vibrant city, two girls from very different walks of life join forces to fight censorship and protect the people they love.

Eleven-year-old Cinzia is a printer’s apprentice. She adores Mestra Aronne for taking her in—most guilds don’t have room for apprentices with a crippled leg—and she loves life in the raggedy workshop that smells of paper and printing, where secrets and stories are always circulating. So when Mestra Aronne is imprisoned for publishing accusations against the ruling family, Cinzia will do anything to prove that Mestra Aronne only told the truth.

Elena is the exact same age as Cinzia, but she’s forced to keep to her rooms and garden. To protect her, according to her mother. To protect the city, according to her uncle. Because Elena is not the charming, powerful noble her family wants her to be. According to them, she doesn’t communicate well. She’s too gullible and literal and struggles to understand other people.

After unexpectedly meeting face-to-face, the girls follow a trail of clues through their golden city, drawing supporters and learning more about their home and each other than they ever could have imagined. If one person—no matter how young—can change the course of history, just imagine what a whole flock of them could do.

Bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp and debut illustrator Sylvia Bi have crafted an indelible, vibrant story about finding and using your voice, perfect for fans of Lightfall, Tidesong, and The Prince and the Dressmaker.

This book was provided for free by the Publisher and the publishers in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read this book!

Content Warnings:

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As soon as I heard about Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp, I knew I had to read it. A graphic novel with disabled, neurodivergent and LGBTQIA+ representation by an author with lived experience? This is what I loved to see! Check out my full review as a part of repDISND 2024 below.

In the European-style city of Siannerra, Cinzia works as a printer’s apprentice. Her mentor, Mestra Aronne, writes and distributes avvisi, pamphlets with the latest news. When she distributes one that reports on the actions of the lord magistrate and reveals his secrets, Aronne and Cinzia draw his wrath. Cinzia manages to escape, but her Mestra is imprisoned.

Cinzia is determined to find proof to back up her Mestra’s words. Finding new and unlikely allies as she goes, the girls are up against the full might of the ruling family as they fight for truth and against censorship.

I was delighted to receive a copy of Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp to review, and it was everything I hoped it would be, and more. Illustrated beautifully by Sylvia Bi, Ink Girls is a graphic novel about friendship, being yourself and not allowing anyone to stop you from speaking the truth – including your own truth. In a time when so much censorship is happening, it is a topic that we should be ensuring the next generation understands what it means and what is at stake.

Nijkamp has created a wonderful story that does just that, and Bi brings her characters to life with her bold and colourful style. There is so much representation in Ink Girls, which comes hand in hand with telling a story about censorship. There is so much representation that I’m not quite sure how some readers managed to miss it. Cinzia is disabled and uses a mobility aid, Elena is neurodivergent, Aneeqah wears a headscarf suggesting she is a Muslim and I read Carlotta as non-binary, possibly trans based on their character design.

I was even more certain of Cartlotta’s identity when they explained to Cinzia that not every home is a home for some people. The two girls talk about building one’s own family and how Carlotta has built one for people like themselves. Found family is a common feature in many marginalised people’s lives, especially within the LGBTQIA+ community.

I was instantly drawn to Elena. I often say when talking about middle-grade books with disabled and neurodivergent representation that “I wish this had existed when I was younger” and for me, Elena particularly strikes a chord. I see a lot of her in myself. I hope seeing neurodiversity represented through her will help other girls learn about themselves and understand that there is nothing wrong with them.

It was thrilling to see such an active disabled character on the pages! A massive thank you to Bi for how joyously she portrays Cinzia’s disability. This is what young people need to see! To the reviewer who complained that the girl with the cane “didn’t do anything”; she was doing plenty, but your ableism prevented you from noticing.

I think it’s essential that Nijkamp included historical information at the end. Not just so that any interested children can learn more about our communities’ history, but so they know that if they identify with any of the characters, those feelings are valid and no one can take that away from them.

Ink Girls is a fabulous read for all ages, although please do keep in mind that this is designed for younger readers. There are plenty of comics and graphic novels aimed at adults that will probably suit your tastes a lot better, if you find this one too “easy”.

About Marieke Nijkamp

Marieke Nijkamp is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of novels, graphic novels, and comics, including This Is Where It Ends, At The End Of Everything, Critical Role: Vox Machina – Kith & Kin, Hawkeye: Kate Bishop and The Oracle Code. She edited the critically acclaimed anthology Unbroken: 13 Stories Starring Disabled Teens.
Marieke is a storyteller, dreamer, globe-trotter, and geek. Before pursuing her lifelong passion for writing, she majored in philosophy and medieval history. She loves to go on adventures, garden, roll dice, and daydream. She lives and writes in Small Town, The Netherlands.
Marieke is the founder of DiversifYA and was a founding sr. VP of We Need Diverse Books.

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Thanks for reading my book review for Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp! I can’t wait to read more graphic novels in this series, and I’m really excited for Nijkamp’s upcoming graphic novel Splinter & Ash, featuring a disabled protagonist!

This review is part of repDISND (formerly known as GeekDis) an annual event I run for the disabled and neurodivergent community to discuss representation. Follow the hashtag #repdisnd or follow me on social media for more!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of my reviews if you’re looking for some more book recommendations 🙂 You can also now sign up for my newsletter to get an email each month with a list of my new reviews!

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