Allergic

by Janet Chan

Allergic by Megan Wagner Lloyd introduces us to Maggie as she is celebrating what she is certain will be the best day of her life- her 10^th birthday and the day she finally becomes a dog owner. She has looked forward to getting a dog because she wants something that is all hers. Her younger brothers have each other and her parents are distracted preparing for the arrival of a new baby. Unfortunately, Maggie experiences a sudden and severe allergic reaction at the animal shelter. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, 10-20% of people have an allergy to pets with fur [1].

Maggie endures the required allergy testing which reveals she has severe allergies and is advised to avoid anything with fur or feathers. The doctor gently walks her through an explanation of what causes allergies and the suggested treatment for them. Maggie is devastated to learn that she will not be able to have a dog in her house. After the initial shock and disappointment, she creates a list of animals without fur or feathers that could be pets. Sadly, none of the pets are the right ones for Maggie.

Combined with this disheartening experience, Maggie is also starting a new school as a result of rezoning and has no friends at her new school. The first day of school her new teacher reveals a surprise for the class- a pet guinea pig! Immediately, Maggie has a reaction to the animal, and it must be rehomed to a new class. The only bright spot in the day is when she meets her new next-door neighbor, Claire. Maggie and Claire become fast friends and spend lots of time at Claire’s house. Their friendship is tested when Claire gets a dog and Maggie can no longer come over. Along with navigating her feelings of frustration and anger, Maggie is also enduring allergy shot treatments.

Undeterred in her quest to have a pet, Maggie buys a pet mouse and hides it in her room. She tries everything to hide this from her parents but is eventually discovered and ratted out by her younger brothers. The birth of a new baby sister brings Maggie a new sense of self and she sees her role in the family differently- no longer an outsider that has no one. At the end of the book. Maggie eventually finds a way to love animals that will not impact her health … at the aquarium.

Lloyd creates a story to impart the difficulties of having allergies and how they can impact multiple aspects of your life in an easy-to-read format. The simple and colorful illustrations by Nutter are perfect for the pre-teen age group that this book is designed for. This book is a perfect read for a child newly diagnosed with allergies or friends and family of those with allergies.

1. Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. (2022). Pet allergy. https://aafa.org/allergies/types-of-allergies/pet-dog-cat-allergies

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Janet Chan, MLIS, AHIP, RN is a research and education librarian at the University of South Florida Health Libraries. Her research areas include bibliotherapy, graphic medicine, and digital health.