Svetlana Chmakova facts for kids

Svetlana Chmakova (born October 7, 1979) is a talented comic book artist. She is from both Russia and Canada. Svetlana is famous for creating popular graphic novels like Dramacon, Nightschool, and Awkward. Her books are enjoyed by many readers, especially young people. She has also won several awards for her amazing work.

Early Life and Education

Svetlana Chmakova was born in Russia. She first discovered comics there when she found a book called ElfQuest. This happened at a book stand in Moscow.

When she was 16, Svetlana moved to Canada. She later studied animation at Sheridan College. She finished her studies in 2002. After college, she started sharing her manga stories online.

Svetlana is married and has a young child. Her husband helps manage her website.

Her Comic Books and Art

Svetlana Chmakova has created many popular comics and graphic novels. She is known for her unique drawing style. Her stories often feature relatable characters and fun adventures.

Dramacon

Dramacon was Svetlana's first full-length comic book. It tells the story of a teenage girl named Christie Leroux. Christie wants to be a comic book writer. The story follows her adventures at her very first anime convention.

At the convention, Christie goes with her artist boyfriend, Derek. But she soon finds herself interested in a mysterious cosplayer named Matt Green. This series was published by Tokyopop.

Other Early Works

Before Dramacon, Svetlana also created other comics. She made The Adventures of CG for CosmoGIRL! magazine. She also created webcomics called Chasing Rainbows and Night Silver. Her artwork has also appeared in other comic collections. These include Mangaka America and Flight.

Nightschool

In 2007, a new manga series by Svetlana was announced. It was called Nightschool. This series was published by Yen Press. It became another popular work by her.

The Berrybrook Middle School Series

Svetlana Chmakova is also well-known for her graphic novels set in Berrybrook Middle School. These books explore the lives of middle school students. They deal with themes like friendship, fitting in, and finding your voice.

• Awkward: This book was released in 2014. It tells the story of Peppi, a new student at Berrybrook Middle School. She tries to find her place between the art club and the science club.
• Brave: This is a sequel to Awkward. It came out in 2016. It follows another student, Jensen, as he tries to be brave and find his passion.
• Crush: Released in 2017, Crush is the third book in the series. It focuses on Jorge, a popular student who finds himself dealing with new feelings. This book won an award in 2019.
• Enemies: The newest book in the series, Enemies, was released in 2022. It continues to explore the lives of students at Berrybrook Middle School.

Awards and Recognition

Svetlana Chmakova's work has received many awards and positive reviews. Critics often praise her storytelling and art.

• Dramacon was nominated for an Eisner Award in 2007. This is a very important award in the comic book world.
• Nightschool won the Dragon Award for Kids Comics at the Shuster Awards in 2010.
• Awkward was named one of the Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2015 by School Library Journal. It was also listed as a Great Graphic Novel for Teens by YALSA. Many people believe it should be in every school library.
• Awkward also won the Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids' Comics. It won another Dragon Award for Kids Comics at the 2016 Shuster Awards. It was nominated for an Eisner Award too.
• Brave also received many good reviews. It was called a "surefire hit" by Good Comics for Kids. It was also named one of the Top 10 Graphic Novels of 2017 by School Library Journal.
• Her book The Weirn Books: Be Wary of the Silent Woods was nominated for a Joe Shuster Award in 2021.