STEPPING UP

In this graphic memoir, an Afro-Dominican American teen from New York City chronicles her high school experience at Phillips Academy Andover, a wealthy, predominately white and Asian institution.

Kiara is away from home for the first time, and she worries that “everyone else is clicking with each other.” She’s used to having lots of friends—maybe she’s not trying hard enough to fit in? She’s also “used to being around only Latino and Black people from growing up in Washington Heights” and feels like her status as someone on full financial aid makes her stand out. Kiara meets other Black and brown classmates and learns about SLAM, the school step team, though she has interests—like anime and learning Japanese—that don’t always align with theirs. Her friend Samara encourages her to audition for SLAM, and joining the group boosts her confidence. While Kiara becomes increasingly aware of troubling racial dynamics at Andover, from unfair disciplinary policies to microaggressions (“Most of these white kids really don’t think for one second about the hurtful crap leaving their mouths”), she attempts to rise above it all. Valdez’s graphic novel debut provides thoughtful glimpses into her attempts to settle into a new environment that wasn’t designed with her in mind. Readers will identify with the outsider perspective explored throughout the narrative. Tsai Santos’ color palette and illustration are reminiscent of cartoons from the early 2000s.

Shares a meaningful message of growth and self-discovery.