BEST FRIEND, WORST BULLY

YouTube artist and content creator Yu follows up her graphic memoir Lost & Found (2024) with a tale of friendship angst.

Since leaving her native China for Canada last year, Mei has acclimated to her new school, improved her English, and, most importantly, made a best friend, Maggie. She’s excited to start a new school year—until she learns that Maggie is moving. She commiserates with Maggie’s other BFF, Sophie, who agrees that they should be each other’s new best friends. Sophie initially seems like the perfect pal; she’s supportive and fun, and she defends Mei against the cool but mean girls in their class. When those girls offer to let Sophie hang out with them if she rejects Mei, however, Sophie accepts and begins using Mei’s vulnerabilities as fodder; Mei’s artwork, her appearance, and even her mother’s accent all come under attack. As the bullying escalates, Mei draws on her inclusive spirit and her passion for art to uncover what true friendship should look like and to demand the changes she needs. Yu captures her childhood heartache and joy with distinctive manga-style art, using varied panel shapes and occasional full-page artwork to infuse the story with action and drama. Sparkles, saturated colors, and a sweet cat sidekick all add visual appeal, though the uplifting message at the center of this friendship story will be the true draw for any young reader.

The ups and downs of friendship, depicted with real flair.