Bright and bold.
Lois Lane has ambitions, and next on her agenda is a “prestigious summer-before-college internship” in National City.
What Lo didn’t expect was having to room with Miki Mihara, former bestie, current enemy, and longtime “disruptor of Life Plans.” Nor did she anticipate witnessing Cat Grant, the brown-skinned company founder she admires, rudely supplanted by an aggressively hostile white man in a corporate takeover that aims to strip CatCo of its inclusive vision. Working under a “devil-adjacent boss” and with her hopes for the experience going down the drain, Lo’s discouraged. But when she and Miki uncover an unsavory story, they resolve to speak their truths no matter the repercussions this exposé might have. Both girls are cued Japanese American, and it’s implied that Lo is biracial. Kuhn packs in themes of identity and the experience of growing up as an Asian American woman as Lo wrestles with the impact of racial trauma and how negative events can resurface. Her Japanese mom actively encourages Lo to vocalize and process her emotions, and their supportive communication is thoughtfully presented. Ultimately, Lo, who pursued the internship because she found Cat inspiring, in turn inspires others as she grows. An energetic, passionate, diverse cast populates this fast-moving story that will draw readers in and sustain their interest to the end. Pecini's striking retro color palette of teals, pinks, limes, and oranges complemented with Jovellanos’ inky black linework perfectly embodies the vibes of Kuhn’s text.
Bright and bold. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: April 18, 2023
ISBN: 9781779507778
Page Count: 208
Publisher: DC Comics
Review Posted Online: June 21, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2023
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Flipping awesome.
After a wish goes wrong, a girl and her crush must figure out how to break a body-switching curse.
Chi-Chi Ekeh feels invisible. Like her previous crushes, hot varsity swimmer Flip Henderson—yet another rich white boy at her Texas boarding school—seems unaware of her existence. With only weeks until graduation, Nigerian American Chi-Chi’s friends Esther and Yesenia dare her to ask Flip to Senior Festival. But Flip accidentally shows her promposal video to the whole class—and immediately turns her down. Embarrassed, Chi-Chi flees, but her innocent remark—“I just wish Flip Henderson liked me”—has unexpected consequences. After falling and hitting her head, Chi-Chi wakes up in Flip’s body, and he in hers. Freaked out beyond belief and regularly switching bodies, Chi-Chi and Flip work with Esther and Yesenia to break the curse. Meanwhile, forced to see herself through someone else’s eyes, Chi-Chi must confront uncomfortable feelings. There’s much to love about this book. The fully realized and sympathetic characters, sincere and humorous development of friendships, and protagonist’s relatable and bittersweet emotional journey will keep readers engaged, eager to reach the resolution. Ukazu carefully balances tough topics like self-hatred, depression, and suicidal ideation with funny feel-good moments, deftly rendered in her characteristically expressive style. The dynamic and engaging illustrations bring to life a heartwarming story of self-love, acceptance, and true connection.
Flipping awesome. (author’s note) (Graphic fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Sept. 23, 2025
ISBN: 9781250179517
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: June 13, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2025
Will appeal to manga fans but raises questions around depictions of racialized material.
An illustrated reimagining of one of Shakespeare’s most memorable tragedies.
From the very beginning of this clever adaptation, effort is made to prioritize accessibility of both the manga form and the classic Shakespearean play: The frontmatter briefly highlights the reading direction of the panels, and characters are labeled when introduced, coming to life via a striking combination of early modern Venetian dress; quintessential manga hairdos and facial expressions; and pronounced linework. Like the rest of the series, this account of Othello remains faithful to the original. The black-and-white illustrations allow for Iago’s conniving manipulations to manifest visually as well as animating characters’ bigotry in impactful, distressing ways. However, there are shortcomings: Where the original text may use parentheticals and asides to progress the story, the occasional appearance of parentheses in speech bubbles are a distracting reminder that comics utilize storytelling tools that haven’t been fully adopted here. Likewise, panel after panel of Othello’s turn to violence and his enraged face obscured by shadow provide a poignant dramatic effect but seem to exacerbate prejudices inherent to both the play and medium. Not only is the titular character visually distinguished from other characters by his shading, hair, lips, and overall size, unfortunately neither Shakespeare nor the illustrator seem wholly prepared for a contemporary conversation regarding racial representation in one of literature’s most infamous depictions of othering.
Will appeal to manga fans but raises questions around depictions of racialized material. (adapter’s notes, character designs) (Graphic fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: May 25, 2021
ISBN: 978-1-947808-13-3
Page Count: 420
Publisher: Manga Classics
Review Posted Online: March 24, 2021
Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2021
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