Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

 

Roller Girl

by Victoria Jamieson

Texas Bluebonnet List

Summary:

        Roller Girl is about twelve-year-old Astrid in the summer before she enters junior high. She and her longtime best friend, Nicole, attend a local roller derby game, which sparks a desire in Astrid to be a roller girl, and she signs up for the roller derby kid's camp taking place that summer. The only issue is, Nicole doesn't want to participate. The novel centers around Astrid finding her lack of roller derby skills devastating and the unraveling of her friendship. 

Justification:

        Girls love reading about other girls in sports. While the girl in sports genre is growing, there still isn't nearly enough representation. This is a great one for girl athletes in general, but obviously those in roller derby especially. Sports aside, there is a lot of discovery in this novel. Astrid learns what it is like to be new, how to struggle, and when you need to put in the work to get where you want to go (and when to take a break). 

Illustrations:

        The art style is adorable and adds to the childlike nature of Astrid. She is a young 12, still disgusted by boys and girly things in the way that some young girls are. I loved the amount of detail in the panels, especially regarding the hair of each character. Everyone's hair was perfectly designed to match their personality in a very endearing way.

Setting:

        The main setting of this novel is the roller rink. Though the rink itself doesn't have a lot of memorable detail, it allows the brightness of the characters to shine. It functions in the way it should without much else to say about it, which is perfect for this sort of novel. Another setting I particularly liked was the gas station store that Astrid stops at on her way home from practice. The store starts out as a strange place but as she gets more and more familiar with it, the design shifts to one that feels more homey. 

Characters:

        The characters in this novel are adorable and realistic. My favorite relationship in the novel was that of Astrid and her best friend, Nicole. Throughout the novel they argue, they make up, but they don't necessarily go right back to where they were. The reader gets the idea that though there isn't bad blood between them, they likely won't be attached at the hip anymore, or maybe not even casual friends, and that is okay. Especially as a kid, sometimes friendships just fall apart due to maturing and losing interest in the same things. 

Jamieson, V. (2020). Roller girl. Dial Books for Young Readers. 

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy by Faith Erin Hicks

 

Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

by Faith Erin Hicks

YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers

Summary:

        Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy is, essentially, exactly what the title says, with some fun self-discovery plot points thrown in, too. Alix, the star hockey player on her team, asks the calm and cool-headed drama geek, Ezra, for help with anger management. Alix learns how to stand up for herself while not giving in to violence, while romance develops between her and Ezra.

Justification:

        This is sure to be a crowd pleaser on any middle or high school campus. The bright cover looks a lot like the romances circulating on the ever-popular BookTok accounts, while still being school-appropriate, unlike many of the titles popular on social media. While being a romance, this one also promotes social-emotional learning in the format of a fun read. 

Reader Response:
        While I didn't love this one nearly as much as the other graphic novels I have reviewed, I still found it to be a solid read for the demographic. The art style opts for a more neutral color scheme, using only whites and blues. Though I personally prefer a wider color palette, the art was very detailed and well done, and it contributed to the plot in a significant way. This art style also gives it a more mature feel than the elementary or middle grade graphic novels, which have a cutesy and colorful style. One aspect of this novel I enjoyed was how it explored sexuality. Ezra is known as gay around school, but he actually likes all genders, which leaves Alix shocked when she finds out that he likes her. The lack of labels for Ezra was very empowering to read about, and I think it could benefit students who are still exploring their sexuality, too. 

Hicks, F. E. (2023). Hockey girl loves drama boy. First Second, an imprint of Roaring Brook Press. 

Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega and Rose Bousamra

 

Frizzy

written by Claribel A. Ortega and illustrated by Rose Bousamra

Pura Belpre Award

Summary:

        Frizzy tells the story of a young Dominican American girl named Marlene, whose mother forces her to straighten her curly hair every week. Marlene hates having straight hair and doesn't feel like herself, so she hatches a plan to get away with keeping her curls. In the end, it is through family that she is able to learn to take care of her hair and convince her mother that her curly hair is what makes her feel most herself.

Justification:

        This is a wonderful book for children to read. Children with curly hair will identify with Marlene, but any child can relate to the feeling of insecurity she felt, regardless of hair type. The book is a Pura Belpre winner and a fantastic book for a diverse student body.

Illustrations:

        The art style in this graphic novel is pink-hued, colorful, and vibrant. I loved the imaginative panels where Marlene was pretending to be a superhero. The art style did a good job of depicting the different hairstyles, and even different stages of Marlene's curly hair. 

Plot:

        Though the plot is fairly low-stakes, I could see students getting really invested in Marlene's problem and eager to find out how she solves it. Being unhappy with your appearance is something that most children can relate to, so I can see this being a highly circulated book. The plot takes us to multiple different locations in Marlene's life, all of them full of detail and life.

Characters:

        The characters in this novel are just adorable. Marlene and her best friend have such a supportive friendship. They set a great example for young readers everywhere. Even when her friend didn't quite understand the hair vision Marlene was going for, she supported her through it. Marlene's mom, though she was the instigator for Marlene's insecurity, was very caring, supportive, and understanding once Marlene finally opened up to her. 

Ortega, C., & Bousamra, R. (2023). Frizzy. First Second. 

Mexikid by Pedro Martin

 

Mexikid

by Pedro Martin

Newbery Honor Book

Summary:

        Mexikid is a charming graphic memoir telling the story of Pedro and his large, Mexican family as they embark on a road trip in the 70s to bring back their abuelito from Mexico. Along the way, Pedro learns more about his family and his identity as a Mexican American.

Justification:

        This is a wonderful graphic novel to include in a library's collection because it is a colorful, fun tale that is filled with adventure, discovery, and family. It received the Newbery Honor Award and the Pura Belpre Illustration Award. This book teaches students how to embrace their identity, whether American or not, which is something all students can benefit from.

Illustrations:

        The illustrations in this novel are colorful, vibrant, and filled with personality. The coloration of the novel feels very stylized to Mexican culture, which is fascinating to see. The art style also has a 70s retro flair, providing a lot of visual interest.

Plot:

        There is a reason this book is known for being funny. The interactions between Pedro and his family are hilarious at times. The way Pedro sees the world is also humorous. Between the funny moments are pockets of reality and themes like identity, culture, and acceptance. From seeing Pedro and his family prepare for the road trip to seeing them arrive in Mexico, this book is an adventure all the way through. 

Characters:

        The characters in this novel are larger than life! Pedro and his siblings are so funny, and remind me a lot of interactions I have had with my siblings. I also loved how Pedro was into stereotypically "nerdy" things, like Star Wars and comic books. Though he gets teased by his siblings about his affinity for action figures, he doesn't let it stop him from enjoying what he loves, which is a great example to set for the children who might be reading the book. 

Martin, P. (2023). Mexikid. Dial Books for Young Readers. 

Camp Prodigy by Caroline Palmer

 

Camp Prodigy

by Caroline Palmer

LGBTQIA+

Summary:

        Camp Prodigy follows a young viola student named Nate who attends a life-changing concert and decides to get serious about being a musician. Nate's parents send him to a music-based summer camp where Nate learns more about their gender identity, music, friendship, and what true success looks like.

Justification:

        This is a fantastic graphic novel to include in a library's collection. Graphic novels are only gaining popularity, so seeking diverse books is wise. This one features diversity regarding gender, family structures, and includes characters who are POC. The plot delicately handles many themes that are beneficial for young kids, and manages to discuss them in an easily understandable but still nuanced way. 

Illustrations:

        The art style in this graphic novel is colorful, fun, and exciting! The way the art conveyed character expressions reminded me of the typical manga style. It was really interesting to see in a graphic novel, and the illustrations even made me laugh at times. This graphic novel relies a lot on visual storytelling through the art, which increases students' ability to understand context clues. 

Characters:

        The characters in this book are delightfully real. The sibling relationship between Nate and their brother is charming. The book perfectly depicts the awkwardness of asking an older sibling for advice and the grins and teasing that usually come next. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Nate and Eli. They helped each other through anxiety, practicing, imposter syndrome, and even got annoyed with each other, too, just like real friends do. I loved that both Nate and Eli identified as nonbinary and that Eli was able to give advice to Nate on coming out and being bold.

Setting:

        The camp setting of this novel is so fun and evokes the feeling of summertime. The camp setting felt very authentic. There were multiple panels that showed the kids doing typical camp activities, like tie-dyeing, playing cards, and making crafts with beads. 

Palmer, C. (2024). Camp prodigy. Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 

El Deafo by Cece Bell

 

El Deafo
by Cece Bell
Graphic Novel

Summary:
        El Deafo is a children’s graphic memoir of the author’s experiences growing up deaf in the 70s. She hates being different and struggles to make friends because she is trying so hard to fit in to the hearing world. It isn’t until she embraces being deaf that she makes genuine friendships, which teaches her that being herself is the best way to be.

Justification:
        This is a great graphic novel to include in a library collection. Graphic novels are a format that kids are turning to more and more frequently, so having a collection that features diverse characters is crucial. This novel features disability representation, which helps students develop empathy and learn how to put themselves into the shoes of others. 

Illustrations:
        Cece Bell’s illustrations are colorful, fun, and full of personality. All of the people in the novel are depicted as cartoon bunnies rather than people, which effectively makes them look more similar to each other, and highlights the other differences between the characters, like personality and disability. One aspect of the illustrations that I enjoyed is how Bell visually depicted the moments where the main character either could not hear or could not make out what the other person in the scene was saying. Frequently, speech bubbles were completely empty or full of undiscernible gibberish. This allows the reader to experience, even just for a moment, what it might be like living as a deaf person. 

Style and language:
        Bell’s use of language creates an extremely engaging novel. Appropriate for all elementary grades, the language is easily understood. An important aspect of the style and language is how visual the novel is, and how much of the tone and style is depicted through visual context clues, such as facial expressions, speech bubbles, and setting.

Characterization:
        The characters in this novel are very realistic and there are many personalities to appeal to different kids. The main character, Cece, is one that many kids could relate to, whether disabled or not. Though her deafness is at the heart of many of her struggles, she also struggles with things that every kid might: crushes, friendships, and grades. The other characters in the novel learn how to be a good friend to Cece, which means being receptive to what she needs and listening to how they can alter their approach. 

Bell, C., & Tubert, S. (2023). El Deafo. Listening Library.