December 21, 2018

Gr 3-6-Four stories follow the girls at Memorial Middle School as they deal with bullying, self-esteem, and more. In "The School Musical Meltdown," vocalist Kamilla is torn between her desire to shine in the spotlight and her self-consciousness about her weight. "The Middle School Mean Queens" sees Lilly befriend the coolest girls in school, only for them to turn on her. "The Runaround Rumor" centers on track star Allie, who becomes mired in gossip when, out of embarrassment, she lies to hide her new diabetes diagnosis. Finally, in "The First-Date Dilemma," Lucia feels out of place among her boy-obsessed friends. However, when she meets a guy who shares her love of reading and nature, she starts to reconsider her views. Sensitive and never preachy, this work focuses on the very real problems young teens face. Each tale ends with facts about the issue covered and an interview with the character. Complex, flawed characters learn through experience and the support of family and friends. The cast is diverse and realistically depicted, and the art is expressive, with a palette of pinks and purples. VERDICT With its mix of wisdom and fun, this title will be a hit with most middle grade readers.-Lara Goldstein, Orange County Public Libraries, NC

December 1, 2018
As the title indicates, Memorial Middle School is chock full of junior high drama. Kamilla is self-conscious about the weight that she's gained over the summer. Though she has a fantastic singing voice, she has become shy about just going to school, let alone performing in the new play. When she lands the leading role in the school musical after the girl who was cast must drop out, Kamilla reluctantly takes it on. Meanwhile, Lilly is torn between her desire to hang out with the popular mean girls and her wish to maintain her friendship with her nerdy Dungeons and Dragons-playing friend, Franny. In yet another plot thread, track enthusiast Allie discovers she has Type 1 diabetes and must learn how to manage her new diagnosis even as she tries to hide it from her friends. The collection ends with Lucia, who is anxious about attending the big party of the year until she meets her first crush, Adesh, and is forced to confront her social anxiety. With informative interludes between stories, each vignette provides insight into navigating the myriad challenges middle schoolers confront every day. Cho successfully showcases a diverse student body, normalizing a multicultural environment where all students share the same generational ups and downs. Kamilla is black, Lilly and Lucia are Latinx, and Allie is white; the secondary cast is diverse in race, ethnicity, and body type.An engaging graphic novel that entertains and educates. (Graphic novel. 8-12)

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January 1, 2019
Grades 4-7 From the author of the Power Pack series comes a book of comics vignettes that will help any preteen get ready for junior high and beyond. The short, thoughtful stories tackle many of the pitfalls of school, such as bullying, body acceptance, dating, living with diabetes, and more. Even though each story has its own focus, many different topics are discussed throughout the entire book. Featuring a diverse set of characters, Simonson's stories show readers how to work through difficult situations with friends and family while staying above all the drama. Illustrator Cho uses large panels with easy-to-read thought and speech bubbles to keep each story moving apace. The characters are incredibly expressive, and the coloring is muted and pleasing. Each story ends with inspirational quotes as well as facts and figures to help readers navigate the complexities of growing up. Comics fans getting ready to leave elementary school and who need guidance and advice will appreciate these empowering tales presented in a fun and engaging form.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)