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The Lemonade War: The Graphic Novel
The first book in the beloved Lemonade War series—a clever blend of humor, math wizardry, and business know-how—is now available in a full-color graphic novel.
Evan Treski is people smart. He’s good at talking to people, even grown-ups.
His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math smart—but not especially good at understanding people. She knows that feelings are her weakest subject.
With just five days left of summer vacation, Evan and Jessie launch an all-out war to see who can sell the most lemonade before school starts. As the battleground heats up, there really is no telling who will win—and, even more important, if their fight will ever end.
Jacqueline Davies's bestselling The Lemonade War is brought to life in vivid color by illustrator Karen De la VegaPerfect for reluctant and emerging readers; high interest, low reading levelTeaches basic business and math concept
Evan Treski is people smart. He’s good at talking to people, even grown-ups.
His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math smart—but not especially good at understanding people. She knows that feelings are her weakest subject.
With just five days left of summer vacation, Evan and Jessie launch an all-out war to see who can sell the most lemonade before school starts. As the battleground heats up, there really is no telling who will win—and, even more important, if their fight will ever end.
Jacqueline Davies's bestselling The Lemonade War is brought to life in vivid color by illustrator Karen De la VegaPerfect for reluctant and emerging readers; high interest, low reading levelTeaches basic business and math concept
208 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
231 people are currently reading
3810 people want to read
About the author
Jacqueline Davies
53 books269 followersJacqueline Davies is the author of both novels and picture books. She lives in Needham, Massachusetts with her three children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 27, 2025
This is a Middle Grade Graphic Novel. There are parts of this book that I liked, but there are parts I found boring. I found the characters in this book to be a little too childish. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
May 12, 2025
I have a deep love for the original chapter book edition of this title, and seeing it in graphic novel form is such a joy! I love the nonfiction elements about finances, sales, and all things business, and I think this was an excellent adaption - keeping the important points while adding awesome illustrations to the story.
Read
February 20, 2026yoo this book killed in fifth grade
edit: ok damn maybe fourth AND fifth graders can enjoy this
edit: ok damn maybe fourth AND fifth graders can enjoy this
March 6, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the digital copy of this book!
I am a big fan of graphic novel adaptations of nostalgic novels from my past, and this adaptation of The Lemonade War is a great addition to the genre. This version does a great job of preserving the key moments in the novel while adding a successful graphic element.
The tension between the siblings is well-depicted in the book's images. We get an especially clear view of Jessie's struggles with social norms, understanding her brother, and making friends. I do think that some stories--like Scott's--could be more clearly developed for the end to pay off more fully. The business contest at the end doesn't feel much explored at all yet.
There are many direct learning moments here--watching Evan and Jessie work out math problems visually was great for showing contemporary ways that math is being taught and helping children to visualize the way that math works in different brains. I like the way that each chapter is set up with a definition of a word that ties to that chapter's themes.
Both my 7 year old and 10 year old enjoyed reading this graphic novel and zipped through it in only a couple of hours. My 7 year old gives it 5 stars, while the 10 year old was more like a 3.75!
I am a big fan of graphic novel adaptations of nostalgic novels from my past, and this adaptation of The Lemonade War is a great addition to the genre. This version does a great job of preserving the key moments in the novel while adding a successful graphic element.
The tension between the siblings is well-depicted in the book's images. We get an especially clear view of Jessie's struggles with social norms, understanding her brother, and making friends. I do think that some stories--like Scott's--could be more clearly developed for the end to pay off more fully. The business contest at the end doesn't feel much explored at all yet.
There are many direct learning moments here--watching Evan and Jessie work out math problems visually was great for showing contemporary ways that math is being taught and helping children to visualize the way that math works in different brains. I like the way that each chapter is set up with a definition of a word that ties to that chapter's themes.
Both my 7 year old and 10 year old enjoyed reading this graphic novel and zipped through it in only a couple of hours. My 7 year old gives it 5 stars, while the 10 year old was more like a 3.75!
January 11, 2025
i loved these books growing up so reading the graphic novel was fun!
thank you netgalley!!!
thank you netgalley!!!
May 26, 2025
Never read the original chapter book, but this was a good one!
January 24, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
As someone who never read the chapter book this graphic novel is adapted from, I really found it adorable. I think the story is one that kids will be able to relate to, with characters that leap off the page. The art was spectacular and totally captured the feeling of a PBS cartoon. I loved Jessie and Evan, their struggle was relatable as a gifted sibling of a gifted sibling. I found the font easy to read and the use of vocabulary words as chapter introductions to be a great tool for teachers or even the interested reader.
Overall, this was a charming read. I’m sure it will do amazing in the market when it releases, even better in schools (a potential sell out in Book Fairs).
As someone who never read the chapter book this graphic novel is adapted from, I really found it adorable. I think the story is one that kids will be able to relate to, with characters that leap off the page. The art was spectacular and totally captured the feeling of a PBS cartoon. I loved Jessie and Evan, their struggle was relatable as a gifted sibling of a gifted sibling. I found the font easy to read and the use of vocabulary words as chapter introductions to be a great tool for teachers or even the interested reader.
Overall, this was a charming read. I’m sure it will do amazing in the market when it releases, even better in schools (a potential sell out in Book Fairs).
April 7, 2025
I have heard about the Lemonade War book, and when I saw it was a graphic novel--I thought how fun! This book was an educational book that also told a story with a good meaning behind it. Each chapter has a definition and it explains something that happens in the chapter. I thought that very cleaver. The main characters had a conflict and learned lessons while solving the problem. I feel that this book will be helpful when I am teaching vocabulary to my students and it will also help with math language skills. The illustrations in this book were good and clear. This is definitely easy to read informative, but fun book to read.
August 17, 2025
My thanks to Goodreads and Clarion Books for an advanced copy of this graphic novel adaptation of the award-winning middle readers book, the first in a series, about lemons, family, and capitalism.
As a person who has been reading almost all my life, it is hard as an Uncle to watch my nephews not having any interest at all in books. Even when I know the subject is of interest to them, they look at books as a burden, much preferring to spend their time on their Ipads. I have found that graphic novels are a inroads with them. Words on a page can't compete with colors and art, and as a big fan of sequential art storytelling, ie superheroes and other comic stories, I am happy to supply them. The biggest problem is finding books that will further their interest. Superheoes might make them look for cartoons or movies. Decent stories that catch their interest, that is tough sometimes. Thankfully publishers are finally getting on board the graphic novel train, and adapting some of the modern classics for children. The familiar combined with stories that really speak to kids, helps a lot. Especially when the stories are this good. The Lemonade War: The Graphic Novel is written by Jacqueline Davies and adapted and illustrated by Karen De La Vega and tells of a family is currently coming up lemons, and what the siblings might have to do to make it all better.
Evan and Jessie are brother and sister, but different in many ways. Evan might not have school smarts, but he can talk to people, a natural salesman in many ways. Jessie is good at math, bad at people, but can design a sales plan that makes up for her deficiencies. A lemonade stand has led to difficulties between the two, a rift that seems to be getting worse, even as both try to stop it. With only a few days before school the two decide to compete to see who sells the most lemonade. As things escalate things sour between the two, and soon it might be too late to go back to how things used to be.
A good story about lemons, family and capitalism. The story is a popular one, I know this for I have sold quite a lot in my time at the bookstore. The characters are well drawn and very interesting, which valid points of contention between the two. The book is a middle reader ae level, but I leave that to readers to decided if it is age appropriate or not. I liked th art, bright shiny, with a lemon shine on the pages. This is the first in a series, so I am glad the my nephew both enjoyed it, as I have more to offer them. My youngest nephew read it twice, but I think he was getting ideas for his own small business. Lots of fun, and a good way to get kids interesting in either graphic novels, or to get them reading anything. I know I am always looking for ideas.
As a person who has been reading almost all my life, it is hard as an Uncle to watch my nephews not having any interest at all in books. Even when I know the subject is of interest to them, they look at books as a burden, much preferring to spend their time on their Ipads. I have found that graphic novels are a inroads with them. Words on a page can't compete with colors and art, and as a big fan of sequential art storytelling, ie superheroes and other comic stories, I am happy to supply them. The biggest problem is finding books that will further their interest. Superheoes might make them look for cartoons or movies. Decent stories that catch their interest, that is tough sometimes. Thankfully publishers are finally getting on board the graphic novel train, and adapting some of the modern classics for children. The familiar combined with stories that really speak to kids, helps a lot. Especially when the stories are this good. The Lemonade War: The Graphic Novel is written by Jacqueline Davies and adapted and illustrated by Karen De La Vega and tells of a family is currently coming up lemons, and what the siblings might have to do to make it all better.
Evan and Jessie are brother and sister, but different in many ways. Evan might not have school smarts, but he can talk to people, a natural salesman in many ways. Jessie is good at math, bad at people, but can design a sales plan that makes up for her deficiencies. A lemonade stand has led to difficulties between the two, a rift that seems to be getting worse, even as both try to stop it. With only a few days before school the two decide to compete to see who sells the most lemonade. As things escalate things sour between the two, and soon it might be too late to go back to how things used to be.
A good story about lemons, family and capitalism. The story is a popular one, I know this for I have sold quite a lot in my time at the bookstore. The characters are well drawn and very interesting, which valid points of contention between the two. The book is a middle reader ae level, but I leave that to readers to decided if it is age appropriate or not. I liked th art, bright shiny, with a lemon shine on the pages. This is the first in a series, so I am glad the my nephew both enjoyed it, as I have more to offer them. My youngest nephew read it twice, but I think he was getting ideas for his own small business. Lots of fun, and a good way to get kids interesting in either graphic novels, or to get them reading anything. I know I am always looking for ideas.
April 24, 2025
Evan and Jessie Treski are siblings who live with their divorced mom. They are close but are very different in personalities and intellect. Evan is outgoing and makes friends easily, but he also has difficulty academically, especially in math. Jessie is younger and she has more difficulty making friends, even being targeted by some mean girls. However, she is extremely intelligent, especially in math. In fact, she is so far advanced that she will be skipping a grade and going into the same 4th grade class as Evan! This horrifies Evan because he knows that he will be ridiculed and classified by his friends and classmates as a “dummy”.
It's the last 5 days of summer until school starts after Labor Day. Since it is so hot with temps climbing up near 100 degrees, Evan decides to make some money by selling lemonade. Maybe he will sell enough lemonade to buy that coveted iPhone! He finds Jessie being pesky and annoying and calls her a baby. Jessie proves that she is no baby and in fact she is very savvy and sets up her own lemonade stand along with Evan’s crush Megan who is new to the neighborhood. Jessie’s business acumen allows her to outpace Evan’s lemonade sales. They make a bet as to who could sell more lemonade before the Labor Day fireworks. The Lemonade War is on!
The sibling rivalry is authentic which is very normal for kids at this age to compete and battle. What makes this story endearing is that they also have each other. While witnessing their parents’ arguments pre-divorce, Evan and Jessie make a spit vow with each other to never, ever argue in front of their mother. They keep their promise and know they have each other’s back in the long run.
I never read the original Lemonade War books. However, I really enjoyed this graphic novel format with the illustrations, dialogue, story, color and fonts. The educational benefit in this story is Jessie’s awesome business plan, cost/benefit analysis, and her ability to calculate her profit margin. Impressive! I hope there will be more in this graphic novel series so that I can enjoy more adventures with Evan and Jessie.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
It's the last 5 days of summer until school starts after Labor Day. Since it is so hot with temps climbing up near 100 degrees, Evan decides to make some money by selling lemonade. Maybe he will sell enough lemonade to buy that coveted iPhone! He finds Jessie being pesky and annoying and calls her a baby. Jessie proves that she is no baby and in fact she is very savvy and sets up her own lemonade stand along with Evan’s crush Megan who is new to the neighborhood. Jessie’s business acumen allows her to outpace Evan’s lemonade sales. They make a bet as to who could sell more lemonade before the Labor Day fireworks. The Lemonade War is on!
The sibling rivalry is authentic which is very normal for kids at this age to compete and battle. What makes this story endearing is that they also have each other. While witnessing their parents’ arguments pre-divorce, Evan and Jessie make a spit vow with each other to never, ever argue in front of their mother. They keep their promise and know they have each other’s back in the long run.
I never read the original Lemonade War books. However, I really enjoyed this graphic novel format with the illustrations, dialogue, story, color and fonts. The educational benefit in this story is Jessie’s awesome business plan, cost/benefit analysis, and her ability to calculate her profit margin. Impressive! I hope there will be more in this graphic novel series so that I can enjoy more adventures with Evan and Jessie.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.
May 5, 2025
This graphic novel version of Davies’s 2007 contemporary classic will introduce a whole new generation of kids to the end-of-summer battle between Evan Treski and his younger sister Jessie. Jessie’s super smart, but socially awkward while Evan makes friends easily but struggles with academics. Although the two have always been close, Jessie’s unexpected promotion into 4th grade means they’ll be in the same class this year and as the book opens, Evan’s feeling angry. When he decides to try his hand at selling lemonade, Jessie wants to help, but Evan shuts her out and the battle is on. The two agree to a contest to see who can run the most profitable lemonade stand over a five day period but as the competition heats up, dirty tricks and harsh words threaten their bond. As in the original, the book includes definitions of business lingo and graphics that explain math concepts, but in the graphic novel format, these are seamlessly incorporated into the visual storytelling. Karen De la Vega’s characters have a loose limbed charm and her close-ups on faces help convey the deep emotions that the siblings experience as their former alliance threatens to implode. Jesse and Evan share a strong family resemblance, with their pale skin, wavy, messy reddish brown hair and green eyes, which makes their contrasting personalities all the more compelling. The appearance of angry bats (when Evan gets ready to blow his top), a purple imp (when Jessie ignores a nagging feeling), and a plummeting Evan-faced bird (when Jessie decides to push him away) take full advantage of the graphic novel format and add new dimension to the original story. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...
May 31, 2025
Jaqueline Davies's popular novel The Lemonade Wars has been adapted into a graphic novel illustrated by Karen De La Vega. This adaptation stays true to the story while adding visual graphics that will appeal to both existing fans of the book and new readers.
The Lemonade Wars is about siblings Evan and Jessie, who become embroiled in an intense competition to see who can sell the most lemonade. There's an underlying sibling rivalry that starts when Jessie, who is in 2nd grade, skips a grade and ends up in her brother's fourth-grade class. This rivalry quickly escalates into a full-blown lemonade stand war, where they bet on who can make more money As the story progresses, the siblings learn about the highs and lows of running a lemonade stand business and how far they will go to win the competition.
Having previously read The Lemonade War novel, I was particularly pleased to see that the graphic novel version not only captured the key elements of the story but also significantly enhanced its visual appeal. Jessie and Evan are drawn in detail including facial expressions that show a range of emotions. Jessie, in particular, often expresses frustration when she struggles to understand why Evan is upset with her, and the artwork does an excellent job of conveying these feelings, allowing readers to truly empathize with her.
The Lemonade War graphic novel is a well-executed adaptation that retains the heart and humor of Jacqueline Davies' original while offering a fresh visual perspective. It will appeal to both fans of the original book and readers who enjoy graphic novels.
This review first appeared on YA Book Central here: https://yabookscentral.com/the-lemona...
The Lemonade Wars is about siblings Evan and Jessie, who become embroiled in an intense competition to see who can sell the most lemonade. There's an underlying sibling rivalry that starts when Jessie, who is in 2nd grade, skips a grade and ends up in her brother's fourth-grade class. This rivalry quickly escalates into a full-blown lemonade stand war, where they bet on who can make more money As the story progresses, the siblings learn about the highs and lows of running a lemonade stand business and how far they will go to win the competition.
Having previously read The Lemonade War novel, I was particularly pleased to see that the graphic novel version not only captured the key elements of the story but also significantly enhanced its visual appeal. Jessie and Evan are drawn in detail including facial expressions that show a range of emotions. Jessie, in particular, often expresses frustration when she struggles to understand why Evan is upset with her, and the artwork does an excellent job of conveying these feelings, allowing readers to truly empathize with her.
The Lemonade War graphic novel is a well-executed adaptation that retains the heart and humor of Jacqueline Davies' original while offering a fresh visual perspective. It will appeal to both fans of the original book and readers who enjoy graphic novels.
This review first appeared on YA Book Central here: https://yabookscentral.com/the-lemona...
February 7, 2025
** ARC review**
I was so excited to see that there is a graphic novel adaptation of The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, as it is a loved book in my middle-grade library. It beautifully captures the nuances of sibling dynamics and the challenges of navigating friendships.
The story centers on Evan and Jessie, two siblings whose contrasting personalities often lead to friction. Evan, the socially adept one, excels in navigating the world of peers, while Jessie's sharp intellect is sometimes hampered by social awkwardness. The graphic novel skillfully portrays their struggles to understand each other, offering readers a relatable glimpse into the complexities of family relationships.
Beyond sibling rivalry, the book also explores the delicate landscape of friendships. Evan's interactions with Scott, in particular, offer a candid look at how we sometimes maintain connections even when they don't feel entirely genuine. This portrayal provides a valuable opportunity for young readers to reflect on their own relationships and consider what truly constitutes a positive friendship.
The artwork is a definite highlight. The captivating colors and dynamic illustrations bring the story to life, while the thoughtful inclusion of vocabulary definitions at the beginning of each chapter subtly enhances readers' language skills. Even more impressive is the way the illustrations convey the characters' emotions, allowing readers to connect with them on a deeper level, even if they haven't personally experienced the same feelings. This graphic novel is not only a delightful read but also a rich source of valuable life lessons.
I was so excited to see that there is a graphic novel adaptation of The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies, as it is a loved book in my middle-grade library. It beautifully captures the nuances of sibling dynamics and the challenges of navigating friendships.
The story centers on Evan and Jessie, two siblings whose contrasting personalities often lead to friction. Evan, the socially adept one, excels in navigating the world of peers, while Jessie's sharp intellect is sometimes hampered by social awkwardness. The graphic novel skillfully portrays their struggles to understand each other, offering readers a relatable glimpse into the complexities of family relationships.
Beyond sibling rivalry, the book also explores the delicate landscape of friendships. Evan's interactions with Scott, in particular, offer a candid look at how we sometimes maintain connections even when they don't feel entirely genuine. This portrayal provides a valuable opportunity for young readers to reflect on their own relationships and consider what truly constitutes a positive friendship.
The artwork is a definite highlight. The captivating colors and dynamic illustrations bring the story to life, while the thoughtful inclusion of vocabulary definitions at the beginning of each chapter subtly enhances readers' language skills. Even more impressive is the way the illustrations convey the characters' emotions, allowing readers to connect with them on a deeper level, even if they haven't personally experienced the same feelings. This graphic novel is not only a delightful read but also a rich source of valuable life lessons.
January 19, 2025
Hmm.. Well having read the lemonade war in its original form I’m not sure if this did the job of capturing the fun and allure of the original.
Because of the nature of a graphic novel the “choppy” clipped prose by way of dialogue just doesn’t work for me and comes off boring. One thing that the original did was take business concepts and made it fun for the younger reader. This unfortunately comes off as “school work” that is trying to be fun.
The illustrations are fine but in all honestly having the one black character be drawn with “demonic” red eyes even if it’s trying to convey a random movie line, comes off horribly. Also if it’s going to be redone for 2025 maybe updating the book to a current average price for a lemonade stand would
Be appropriate so the kids can connect with it as 50¢ isn’t cutting it any longer
I still gave it four ⭐️ as I think many will love the nostalgia of the beloved series in a new form.
I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Harper Collins through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
Because of the nature of a graphic novel the “choppy” clipped prose by way of dialogue just doesn’t work for me and comes off boring. One thing that the original did was take business concepts and made it fun for the younger reader. This unfortunately comes off as “school work” that is trying to be fun.
The illustrations are fine but in all honestly having the one black character be drawn with “demonic” red eyes even if it’s trying to convey a random movie line, comes off horribly. Also if it’s going to be redone for 2025 maybe updating the book to a current average price for a lemonade stand would
Be appropriate so the kids can connect with it as 50¢ isn’t cutting it any longer
I still gave it four ⭐️ as I think many will love the nostalgia of the beloved series in a new form.
I am thankful to have gotten an eARC for free from Harper Collins through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
January 24, 2025
For this and other book reviews, visit www.bargain-sleuth.com
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had not read The Lemonade War as a child, but one of my children was assigned it when they were the right age. They lost their copy of the book, so I ran around town looking for a copy so they could finish their assignment. Then, since I bought the book, I read it and really liked the lessons being taught. The “new” math that I had a hard time understanding, basic business concepts, an empathy for others, and encouraging fundraising for a cause that meant something to them.
This graphic novel adaptation of the classic book does a really good job of highlighting Evan and Jessie’s strengths and skills in brightly colored panels and easy to understand illustrations and text. You can feel Evan’s frustration with his little sister, and you can see Jessie’s lack of understanding of people’s feelings.
I think this adaptation makes the concepts taught in the book more accessible for those who are reluctant readers, or those who prefer to learn visually. This is a valuable graphic novel for those who want to teach kids some lessons without beating them over the head with them. Kids won’t even realize they’re being taught something because the book is just that engaging and relatable.
Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I had not read The Lemonade War as a child, but one of my children was assigned it when they were the right age. They lost their copy of the book, so I ran around town looking for a copy so they could finish their assignment. Then, since I bought the book, I read it and really liked the lessons being taught. The “new” math that I had a hard time understanding, basic business concepts, an empathy for others, and encouraging fundraising for a cause that meant something to them.
This graphic novel adaptation of the classic book does a really good job of highlighting Evan and Jessie’s strengths and skills in brightly colored panels and easy to understand illustrations and text. You can feel Evan’s frustration with his little sister, and you can see Jessie’s lack of understanding of people’s feelings.
I think this adaptation makes the concepts taught in the book more accessible for those who are reluctant readers, or those who prefer to learn visually. This is a valuable graphic novel for those who want to teach kids some lessons without beating them over the head with them. Kids won’t even realize they’re being taught something because the book is just that engaging and relatable.
Highly recommend! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
April 5, 2025
3.75 stars
As a reader who was completely unfamiliar with the source material for this graphic novel, I had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, what I got was pretty solid, and I think many audiences will agree.
Young siblings, Evan and Jessie, have different perspectives on the same issues. While the two seem to have some typical sibling-related challenges, these are definitely exacerbated by Jessie's academic prowess (though she's younger than her brother) and Evan's social savvy (which Jessie lacks both because of her age and her entertaining awkwardness and drive). The siblings get into the titular lemonade war to best each other and to prove much more than good sales skills to themselves and the broader community. There's also a surprising amount of math and basic business/economic terminology here, which adds a didactic quality to the entertaining narrative.
Anyone who has ever had sibling challenges and/or who has had a hard time fitting in for any reason will be able to relate to some aspect of these characters. They'll learn life and academic lessons in the process. I'll be suggesting this one to students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
As a reader who was completely unfamiliar with the source material for this graphic novel, I had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, what I got was pretty solid, and I think many audiences will agree.
Young siblings, Evan and Jessie, have different perspectives on the same issues. While the two seem to have some typical sibling-related challenges, these are definitely exacerbated by Jessie's academic prowess (though she's younger than her brother) and Evan's social savvy (which Jessie lacks both because of her age and her entertaining awkwardness and drive). The siblings get into the titular lemonade war to best each other and to prove much more than good sales skills to themselves and the broader community. There's also a surprising amount of math and basic business/economic terminology here, which adds a didactic quality to the entertaining narrative.
Anyone who has ever had sibling challenges and/or who has had a hard time fitting in for any reason will be able to relate to some aspect of these characters. They'll learn life and academic lessons in the process. I'll be suggesting this one to students.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Clarion Books for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
June 26, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Harpercollins Children's Books for an ARC for an honest review.
Growing up, I never read the book series. I was even surprised to find out the latest book in the series was released in 2022.
Now, onto the graphic novel. The illustrations were eye-catching, detailed, and appealing. The text wasn't too lengthy. I think sometimes graphic novels struggle with fitting the text into limited space. The story (narrative) was easy to understand and follow. I enjoyed how many math skills are woven into the story, and the visuals can help young readers grasp the concepts.
The only downside was the pacing (some chapters were just 4 pages long). I'm not sure if the novel chapters were this short as well, but this is common in graphic novels. It’s about deciding what to keep and what to cut. If there's a continuation, I hope we get to learn more about the other friends. For example, I would like to see Scott Spencer apologize for his actions. I felt the ending was rushed, but as I said, hopefully they adapt the rest of the novels to continue showcasing the siblings' shenanigans and further developing the characters.
As a librarian, I would add this novel to our collection because it revives the series and offers new readers a fresh opportunity to discover it.
Growing up, I never read the book series. I was even surprised to find out the latest book in the series was released in 2022.
Now, onto the graphic novel. The illustrations were eye-catching, detailed, and appealing. The text wasn't too lengthy. I think sometimes graphic novels struggle with fitting the text into limited space. The story (narrative) was easy to understand and follow. I enjoyed how many math skills are woven into the story, and the visuals can help young readers grasp the concepts.
The only downside was the pacing (some chapters were just 4 pages long). I'm not sure if the novel chapters were this short as well, but this is common in graphic novels. It’s about deciding what to keep and what to cut. If there's a continuation, I hope we get to learn more about the other friends. For example, I would like to see Scott Spencer apologize for his actions. I felt the ending was rushed, but as I said, hopefully they adapt the rest of the novels to continue showcasing the siblings' shenanigans and further developing the characters.
As a librarian, I would add this novel to our collection because it revives the series and offers new readers a fresh opportunity to discover it.
February 9, 2025
*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*
Having not read the original I am not able to comment on how much this adaptation loses as a graphic novel, but I can say this is a really good book. The story is something younger readers can all relate to at some point, even if it is not about a sibling. The lessons here about communicating honestly and not letting your emotions get the better of you are ones that I hope anyone who reads this takes to heart. I understood both Evan and Jessie's point of view with regard to their frustrations about the other and thought those parts were the best done throughout the book. I saw this is part of a series and knowing that the next book solves the mystery from this one has made me very excited to read it. As far as a graphic novel this book is excellent. The illustrations are well done and bring the story to life and there is not too much on a page to be visually overwhelming to readers. I highly highly recommend this for elementary classroom and school libraries!
Having not read the original I am not able to comment on how much this adaptation loses as a graphic novel, but I can say this is a really good book. The story is something younger readers can all relate to at some point, even if it is not about a sibling. The lessons here about communicating honestly and not letting your emotions get the better of you are ones that I hope anyone who reads this takes to heart. I understood both Evan and Jessie's point of view with regard to their frustrations about the other and thought those parts were the best done throughout the book. I saw this is part of a series and knowing that the next book solves the mystery from this one has made me very excited to read it. As far as a graphic novel this book is excellent. The illustrations are well done and bring the story to life and there is not too much on a page to be visually overwhelming to readers. I highly highly recommend this for elementary classroom and school libraries!
June 8, 2025
This week I read the Graphic Novel The Lemonade War By: Jacqueline Davies @jacquelinedaviesbook_ I felt like this was a full circle moment for me. I read the chapter book, The Lemonade War for the first time back in July 2017 when I was a reading teacher. It was one of the first books I posted about on IG. (look at the second picture for my first post pic.)
Who knew that eight years later I would be recommending this book to my own grandchildren. Thank you @jacquelinedaviesbook_ @clarionbooks and @harpercollins for this new Graphic Novel of The Lemonade War. It is so nice to have so many different options for readers. I have one grandson who prefers to read novels and another who prefers to read graphic novels. It is great to have this wonderful story in both formats so both boys can enjoy this story.
This book about sibling rivalry and running a small business is a great lesson for children. The illustrations by Karen De La Vega are wonderful. The expressions on the character faces bring them to life.
Who knew that eight years later I would be recommending this book to my own grandchildren. Thank you @jacquelinedaviesbook_ @clarionbooks and @harpercollins for this new Graphic Novel of The Lemonade War. It is so nice to have so many different options for readers. I have one grandson who prefers to read novels and another who prefers to read graphic novels. It is great to have this wonderful story in both formats so both boys can enjoy this story.
This book about sibling rivalry and running a small business is a great lesson for children. The illustrations by Karen De La Vega are wonderful. The expressions on the character faces bring them to life.
May 5, 2025
With graphic novels reaching new heights in classrooms, it's no surprise that Jacqueline Davis' Lemonade War is now a graphic novel. This story is a fantastic one, with so many connections to content areas for teachers. I used to read it during an economics unit with third graders. Now, as a graphic novel, it will reach even more readers, hooking them into the series. I do hope that this is just the first graphic novel of the series!
The illustrations do a fantastic job conveying both Jessie and Evan's emotions as they navigate the last days of summer vacation. Evan's summer is ruined (his words) by the news that his little sister is skipping a grade, and due to class sizes, she'll be in his class come fall. This sets off a storm of frustration, leading to the actions in which the story is titled. Both Evan and Jessie learn some hard lessons along the way, and ultimately find themselves more ready for a new school year than they could have imagined!
The illustrations do a fantastic job conveying both Jessie and Evan's emotions as they navigate the last days of summer vacation. Evan's summer is ruined (his words) by the news that his little sister is skipping a grade, and due to class sizes, she'll be in his class come fall. This sets off a storm of frustration, leading to the actions in which the story is titled. Both Evan and Jessie learn some hard lessons along the way, and ultimately find themselves more ready for a new school year than they could have imagined!
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August 13, 2025Many readers will remember THE LEMONADE WARS published in 2007. There is now a graphic novel adaptation of the same book. This is sure to inspire a whole new group of fans.
When Evan learns that his little sister Jessie will be skipping a grade next year, he is furious. That means they will be in the same grade, and thanks to it being a small school, even the same classroom. How will he survive? Jessie has already been helping him with his math, and everyone knows he is the slowest reader in the 4th grade. What a way to ruin the remains of a perfectly good summer!
Fueled by his anger to show Jessie she is no better than him, he launches a lemonade stand war. Whoever gets $100 in sales wins. What follows is five days of scheming, high-jinks, and sabotage. Both Evan and Jessie must deal with their fair share of problems as they attempt to outdo each other.
Fans of the original LEMONADE WARS will love this colorful version of a classic.
When Evan learns that his little sister Jessie will be skipping a grade next year, he is furious. That means they will be in the same grade, and thanks to it being a small school, even the same classroom. How will he survive? Jessie has already been helping him with his math, and everyone knows he is the slowest reader in the 4th grade. What a way to ruin the remains of a perfectly good summer!
Fueled by his anger to show Jessie she is no better than him, he launches a lemonade stand war. Whoever gets $100 in sales wins. What follows is five days of scheming, high-jinks, and sabotage. Both Evan and Jessie must deal with their fair share of problems as they attempt to outdo each other.
Fans of the original LEMONADE WARS will love this colorful version of a classic.
January 31, 2025
I was excited to read a digital ARC of this graphic novel via NetGalley. The graphics are nice and boldly colored. I wasn’t familiar with this story going in, though it sounds like the book upon which it’s based has some traction. I liked how the book teased out different elements of a business plan modeling how to maximize profits. I did not like the tense sibling rivalry and overall negative tone of the book. This book feels very true to human nature but also carries a lot of cringe in its moments of miscommunication and sabotage. I did feel very deeply for brainiac Jessie who just wants to make friends and not be shamed for her academic success. I certainly feel for the difficulty of Evan’s position, but it just makes the book all the more painful to read. I think this book effectively conveys the social difficulties of awkwardly navigating adolescence.
February 19, 2025
I’ve never read the original book, but I know it’s quite popular. When I got a chance to read the new graphic novel, I jumped at it. It has a good ending after a lot of ups and downs between a big brother and his sister. A friendly competition that definitely has its unfriendly moments! And one “friend” that I hope they get their revenge on in later books. If you have a sibling you’ll be able to related to these two. Sometimes you love them, sometimes you don’t. But when you combine your strengths, sometimes you find out just how great you are together. Highly recommend this book for kids, it was a fun read.
I received an advance copy of this book for free, and am leaving an honest review of my own volition.
I received an advance copy of this book for free, and am leaving an honest review of my own volition.
March 23, 2025
I never read the original, but as a fan (and author) of graphic novel, this book hit home. I have a sister one year younger than me and there was a competitive spirit amongst us (probably would have had a similar reaction to the main character if she skipped into my grade). Good incorporation of math / business aspects for younger readers - though I'm sure some will skip through it, not wanting their reading entertainment to feel like work. One too many flashbacks for me, would prefer to stay in the action a bit more. But the color change during the flashbacks was a nice touch. Overall, the art was clean and simple, with a color palette that left me with a 'summer' feeling. A pretty good book!
(thanks for netgalley for the arc)
(thanks for netgalley for the arc)
April 30, 2025
“The Lemonade War” is a graphic novel with a colourful and pretty art style.
The story follows siblings Jessie and Evan, who get into a fight that turns into a competition to see who can sell the most lemonade — it’s a Lemonade War.
Along the way, young readers can pick up some simple business tips, like marketing and saving money.
The book is entertaining enough and easy to follow, but it felt more suited for younger readers than I expected. I was expecting a middle grade novel, but this graphic novel seems to be aimed at a slightly younger audience.
Overall, it's an okay read, especially for kids just starting out with graphic novels and learning basic money concepts.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The story follows siblings Jessie and Evan, who get into a fight that turns into a competition to see who can sell the most lemonade — it’s a Lemonade War.
Along the way, young readers can pick up some simple business tips, like marketing and saving money.
The book is entertaining enough and easy to follow, but it felt more suited for younger readers than I expected. I was expecting a middle grade novel, but this graphic novel seems to be aimed at a slightly younger audience.
Overall, it's an okay read, especially for kids just starting out with graphic novels and learning basic money concepts.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 18, 2025
i have to say, though, that if this book does one thing well is incorporating different financial concepts in a way that's accessible to all readers, which i think is a good opportunity for kids to start learning about money in an easy way.
i also believe it deals with problems children this age might be dealing with but don't know how to articulate so, in that sense, it is a good book to help them deal with newer emotions.
i don't really know what prompted me to request this book on NG. i guess i thought the cover was cute or something, and it is, but i also know this book is not for me. it is, ultimately, a children's graphic novel, and that's what it delivers. a nice, funny book for children to enjoy. would i recommend it to someone in my inner circle, no, but simply because i don't have any young kids in my family. however, it is not a bad graphic novel, just not for me.
i also didn't know this was an already published book prior to its graphic novel publication, which in hindsight is my fault, but had i known that, maybe i would've not requested this one and let someone else enjoy it before its publication.
thank you NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me the opportunity to review this earc.
i also believe it deals with problems children this age might be dealing with but don't know how to articulate so, in that sense, it is a good book to help them deal with newer emotions.
i don't really know what prompted me to request this book on NG. i guess i thought the cover was cute or something, and it is, but i also know this book is not for me. it is, ultimately, a children's graphic novel, and that's what it delivers. a nice, funny book for children to enjoy. would i recommend it to someone in my inner circle, no, but simply because i don't have any young kids in my family. however, it is not a bad graphic novel, just not for me.
i also didn't know this was an already published book prior to its graphic novel publication, which in hindsight is my fault, but had i known that, maybe i would've not requested this one and let someone else enjoy it before its publication.
thank you NetGalley, and HarperCollins Children's Books for giving me the opportunity to review this earc.
June 28, 2025
The graphic novel adaptation of the classic THE LEMONADE WAR follows a competition between a brother/sister duo that stems from hurt feelings and frustration with each other. They each set up their own lemonade stands with the goal of being the top earner. Inclusion of entrepreneurial terms relevant to the story foreshadow events and ensure that readers understand the business practices the siblings are trying to leverage in their battle. The sibling rivalry component will be relatable to readers, and the economic content gives a different twist to the realistic fiction content.
February 2, 2026
the art is so good, the explaining about business is kinda good. the storyline is kinda good, somebody in the reviews said the character is kinda childish, of course, its story about kids, duh. i found them unique and really draw how some people are book math and the other are people smart.
but i found evan kinda stupid how he took jessie's money and then brought it to his friend's house???? boys are so ducking stupid, cuz how tf do you think bringjping a lot of money???? why don't u just take it and put it on ur room or smth??? boys are stupid, ew.
but i found evan kinda stupid how he took jessie's money and then brought it to his friend's house???? boys are so ducking stupid, cuz how tf do you think bringjping a lot of money???? why don't u just take it and put it on ur room or smth??? boys are stupid, ew.
January 7, 2025
I was granted an Advanced Reader Copy through NetGalley from HarperCollins Children's Books.
This was a great adaptation of a classic book for kids. Moving it into the graphic novel world will open it up to so many more readers.
The story follows siblings Evan and Jessie as they have a battle of the lemonade stands. It does a great job of incorporating financial concepts in a way that's accessible to all readers.
This was a great adaptation of a classic book for kids. Moving it into the graphic novel world will open it up to so many more readers.
The story follows siblings Evan and Jessie as they have a battle of the lemonade stands. It does a great job of incorporating financial concepts in a way that's accessible to all readers.
January 13, 2025
I loved The Lemonade War when I was growing up, and this graphic novel does a great job of updating the original! The dynamics between our 2 siblings are fantastic, and it is great to see each of their skills highlighted in different ways. I also love the fun ways that math was incorporated throughout the book!
Thanks to NetGalley, Jacqueline Davies, and HarperCollins Children's for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!
Thanks to NetGalley, Jacqueline Davies, and HarperCollins Children's for the chance to read and review. My opinions are my own!
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