As any middle schooler knows, navigating new friendships can be difficult. But these graphic novels prove that sharing hobbies and extracurricular activities is a sure way to bring like-minded people together.
As any middle schooler knows, navigating new friendships can be difficult. But these graphic novels prove that sharing hobbies and extracurricular activities is a sure way to bring like-minded people together.
Garrigan, Gale. freestyle. An illustration. By Gail Garrigan. 272p. Scholastic/graphics. October 2022. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9781338045819. pap. $12.99. ISBN 9781338045802.
Grade 5 up– Garrigan is already a comics sensation thanks to his emotionally nuanced and endlessly entertaining work in the graphic adaptation of Anne M. Martin’s The Babysitter’s Club, but the same goes for the first original graphic novel. Brings joyful energy. A commitment to portraying the joys and very specific struggles of adolescence shines through in this story about breakdancing, bad grades, and a yo-yo master. The main story is that of Corey, a so-so student who is part of an excellent dance team. His dancing dreams were put on hold when his poor grades became apparent, and he was paired and tutored with his classmate Sunnah, who was quiet and unnoticed. At first he resists, but when he discovers that she has her own hobby, yo-yoing, he begins to take an interest in her passion as well. Galligan’s cartoon-influenced character emotions and brightly colored urban cosmic visuals as the story progresses through family expectations, middle school social interactions, and issues of doing what one likes and doing one’s best. The language means that each moment resonates without dragging the story along.In dancing or yo-yoing, it doesn’t matter if someone is constantly in motion. Garrigan’s diverse cast includes Corey, coded as Filipino, and Sunnah, who wears a hijab, portraying a mixed-gender group of friends freed from romantic entanglements as a breath of fresh air. verdict A visually dynamic and emotionally complex tale of finding a sense of self while navigating relationships and expectations.Emilia Packard
Langeland, Deirdre. cool code. An illustration. By Sarah Mai. 224p. HarperCollins/Clarion. November 2022. Tr $24.99. ISBN 9780358549321. pap. $13.99. ISBN 9780358549314.
Grades 5-8– Homeschooler Zoey isn’t thrilled that her parents’ new time-consuming job project has forced her to attend Hawthorne Middle School. I used my talent to develop Cool Code. This app is an app that escapes middle school pitfalls and quickly becomes popular. Unfortunately, the app is far from perfect, but with the help of new friends Daniel (who has brown skin and curly dark hair) and Morgan (who has a Chinese surname), Zoe has it and yourself, success. The artwork is vibrant and features expressive characters, including CC, the candid pink llama avatar from the Cool Code app. Zoe (light-skinned and brown-haired) is a likable character, not always self-assured, but clearly able to make friends on her own, but readers can still relate to her anxieties. Students at Hawthorne Middle School are diverse in appearance, often confused when Zoey tests different versions of her program, but generally cooperative.verdict A humorous quest to decipher middle school societal norms for those craving a more anthropomorphic despicable llama in their lives.Amanda Merrill
