FINISH LINES

On the cusp of college admissions season, pressure swamps a high school junior’s carefully planned life.

High achiever Miranda obsesses over grades, activities, and applications until stress pushes her to take two of her mom’s pain pills. Her alarmed parents, who are both in recovery, make her pull back from her packed schedule despite her Ivy League dreams. When her hypercompetitive mom injures her back playing roller derby, Miranda uses her newfound free time to step in as her grandfather’s partner for the grueling 260-mile Texas Water Safari canoe race, hoping the experience will help her “write the most amazing college essay.” On the river, punishing heat and portages as well as hallucinations test both paddlers as Miranda slowly learns that finishing with pride matters more than winning. Rounded linework, subtle textures, and a limited, cool-toned palette create a playful, character-driven visual style that sometimes extends beyond traditional panels. Miranda’s own sketches add to the graphic novel’s humor and heart. Miranda and her family present white. Miranda’s diverse friend group is introduced in detail, but these characters receive little development. The story’s early chapters juggle school, family, and friendships before the second half shifts entirely to the race, making the story feel unbalanced. The river sequences deliver the book’s strongest emotional and narrative momentum, ultimately carrying the story to a satisfying, affirming finish.

A refreshing reminder that growth comes from the journey, not just the outcome.