Striking artwork coupled with a lively story will inspire readers to break free from gendered expectations.
A teenage girl embarks on a dynamic journey of self-discovery in the 1990s feminist punk scene.
Seventeen-year-old Valerie Simmons feels trapped in her suburban neighborhood with her traditional parents; ballet class is the only place she can escape the otherwise stifling expectations thrust upon her. But now, even ballet adds pressure; a strict instructor insists she lose weight in order to keep performing. Driven to extreme measures, Valerie resorts to smoking to suppress her appetite, inducing vomiting, and refusing to eat. During this crisis of self, Valerie befriends Kat, a free-spirited girl who introduces her to a new community of people and ideas in the local punk scene. Inspired by this environment of freedom and self-expression, the two young White women start a band with Rudie, a self-described SHARP (Skinhead Against Racial Prejudice) who is Black. As Valerie’s band takes off, she develops healthier habits and better self-esteem and embarks on a liberating journey to discover what womanhood means to her. A riot spurred by racial tension occurs in the beginning, but the subject of race is not explored further. A muted color scheme of tender pinks, purples, and blues works to create a nostalgic, lively atmosphere throughout. The juxtaposition of figures and backgrounds on the page deftly takes advantage of negative space, making full use of the comic format to tell this rousing tale.
Striking artwork coupled with a lively story will inspire readers to break free from gendered expectations. (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 8, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-62010-776-8
Page Count: 184
Publisher: Oni Press
Review Posted Online: July 13, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2020
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters.
When star hockey player Alec Barczewski’s estranged childhood friend, Dani Collins, moves to town, they end up in a mutually beneficial fake-dating relationship that reignites old feelings.
Following her parents’ divorce, Dani and her mom move in with Dani’s hockey legend grandfather in Southview, Minnesota, where she spent a month every summer as a child and where her friendship with Alec grew. Between visits, the two were pen pals, but they eventually fell out of touch. Despite some tensions over their loss of friendship, the high school seniors reconnect. Desperate to get off Harvard’s waitlist, Dani needs another extracurricular activity, while Alec—whose reputation took a hit when a photo of him holding a bong appeared on social media—is eager to improve his tarnished image for NHL scouts. The pair strike a deal: They’ll fake date, making Alec look like a stable guy whose academically gifted girlfriend is related to hockey royalty, and in exchange, he’ll get Dani a team manager position that will catch the eye of Harvard’s admissions officers. Eventually, complicated feelings about their past, stressful family relationships, and their brewing romance boil over. Romance fans will love the deliciously tension-filled scenes between Alec and Dani, who are believable friends with heavy demands weighing on them. They feel like real teenagers, and readers will enjoy rooting for them as the well-paced story unfolds. Main characters present white.
A compelling romance inhabited by complex and appealing characters. (Romance. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 30, 2025
ISBN: 9781665921268
Page Count: 448
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Aug. 2, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 2025
A winning game of feelingsball.
A former football star, who never thought she’d play again after she came out as transgender, steps back onto the field for one last season to help her team win state.
Grace Woodhouse used to know where she belonged. She had Division I schools lined up to recruit her, but that was before what happened during playoffs last year, before she came out as trans, and before she quit the team. Although her single father and new friend group support her, Grace feels lost as her senior year begins. When one of her old teammates asks her to help him with his technique, she quickly realizes that he and the other captains are hoping for more than her expertise from the sidelines—they want her to rejoin the team. Grace can’t resist the opportunity to play again, but her return draws unwanted national attention that makes her question her future and who she wants to be. Flashback chapters written in the second-person present tense bring Grace’s past to life, which helps maintain momentum and makes her emotional journey feel more immersive. A heartfelt, goofy, and diverse cast of secondary characters surround Grace, who’s white, as she navigates self-doubt, friendship, complicated feelings for her ex-girlfriend, and what she wants to do after graduation. Overall, this coming-of-age sports narrative is honest, gentle, and hopeful.
A winning game of feelingsball. (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: May 13, 2025
ISBN: 9781646145027
Page Count: 344
Publisher: Levine Querido
Review Posted Online: March 8, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 1, 2025
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