The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl is a perky and entertaining coming of age story featuring Alba, a one-of-a-kind, very funny 18-year-old girl from a small Australian town. Alba and the close-knit group of friends she grew up with have recently graduated high school and are about to embark on the next phase of their lives. Alba is uncertain what path she wants to pursue. The discoveries she makes about herself during the course of the story are reflected in the way she chooses to draw the comic book character she’s developed, Cinnamon Girl.
“. . . her [Cinnamon Girl’s] face materializes on my page, I can tell she’s not at all happy with me. She plants her hands on her hips, her solid thighs busting out of her star-spangled shorts, and I swear she’s glaring at me with contempt.”
Each chapter of this book opens with a one-page comic-style drawing, but The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl is not a comic book or graphic novel.
Alba’s observations throughout the book are often pleasantly tinged with comic book references. For example, when Alba becomes irate at an annoying stranger she thinks, “I’m visualizing myself soaring into the air with a backward tumble and punching Penny-Farthing Man in the neck.”
When asked what she wants to do with her life, Alba responds, “Me? I have no idea what powers I’ve got hiding underneath. Maybe something cool, like optic-blast eyeballs.”
And in another passage she thinks, “I’m already halfway down my bluestone path at a speed that would make Captain Marvel herself proud.”
Alba is funny! She’s a unique girl devoted to her collection of garden gnomes, and if she’s in a foul mood might wear her black dress decorated with pink skulls, a signal to her loved ones to beware. The story, told in Alba’s 1st person POV, offers lots of smile-inducing lines like these:
“This house looks like the place personality came to die.”
“I. . . kissed a boy partly out of curiosity, partly to make him stop talking.”
“I graciously decline to participate in a nudie dance-off.”
Bonus points for the small town Australian setting. Minus points for something I can’t specify because it’s too big of a spoiler. Suffice to say I was mildly disappointed in one major aspect of the plot. Overall, The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl was a pleasant read.
— Eve Messenger
Eve Messenger 
Some great one liners you quoted here, Eve and thank you for pointing out that it wasn’t a comic or graphic novel – I immediately assumed it was from the cover. Gosh, I’m intrigued as to the major plot line flaw…
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Me, too! I completely assumed from the front cover and title that this book would be some sort of graphic narrative. That’s why I wanted to warn anyone else who might have the same impression.
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This sounds fabulous! It is going on my TBR right now. Great review!
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If you’re in the mood for a quirky, fun read, Cinnamon Girl should fit the bill. I’m curious to see what you think of that major plot thread disappointment I mentioned in my review. . .
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This sounds quite good, and I love the quotes. I am beginning to regret that I’ve never had the occasion to say “I graciously decline to participate in a nudie dance-off.” I kind of feel like my life hasn’t been complete.
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Hahahaha! I can’t say it because. . . I didn’t decline. 😉 Juuuust kidding.
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This book sounds really cute! I’ve only read one of Keil’s other books – Life in Outer Space, I think it was called – and I really enjoyed it. That one was funny too, and I’m glad to hear that this one seems so as well. I’m curious to know what was that one aspect that you couldn’t specify but didn’t like, but I think I want to read this title…
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Without giving away any spoilers, I can’t think of a way, even subtly, to describe why I got a little frustrated with the plot. Hopefully, you’ll get a chance to read the book so we can chat! “Cute” is a really good way to describe Cinnamon Girl–nothing particularly profound or groundbreaking, but I enjoyed it. Now when I’m in the mood for a book like it I’ll know to pick up a copy of Life in Outer Space. Thanks for mentioning it. 🙂
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I hope so too! I think I’ve become more curious especially because there’s something spoilery that you didn’t like, haha. I’ll have to see if my library has a copy. 🙂
I’d recommend Life in Outer Space! In all honesty it’s not life-changing but I found it really cute, and I love how easy-to-read and funny the writing was.
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