FALSE STARTS

A young athlete continues to come into her own in this latest in the series.

With best friends Ayesha and Angela by her side, Nansi’s dealing with the summer heat, which makes running track a challenge. Meanwhile, Ayesha’s managing stage fright while rehearsing for MacDude (a kid-friendly version of Macbeth). A rift emerges between the two girls when Nansi accidentally sends a goofy video of Ayesha to Nansi’s longtime track rival, Tania, who shares it more widely. Though Nansi’s clearly at fault, she’s quick to blame Tania and begins plotting her nemesis’ downfall. Dávila’s bright digital illustrations feature expressive cartoonish character designs that allows the cast to shine. The tale ranges from comically outlandish to narratively subtle; clever readers are clued into how one-sided Nansi and Tania’s rivalry may actually be. While Nansi has a lot to learn, she relies on a great support system—including her firm but loving Granny—and an unrelenting charisma that makes the lessons as clear as they are hilarious. Dubbed “the original storyteller” by her family, Nansi approaches life with an appealing dramatic flair; her machinations, frustrations, and eventual growth are earnest and true to life. Nansi, who’s Black and of Jamaican descent, heads up a diverse cast.

 Funny and smart, this series gets better as its lead grows wiser.