Reel Life by Kane Lynch (Graphix, 240 pages, grades 4-7). Galen’s upset when his friend Kyle pulls away from him, but their mutual friend Luna explains that Kyle’s going through a tough divorce and a custody battle with his parents. Galen doesn’t really get it until his own dad announces that he’s leaving Galen’s mom and has a new girlfriend, Jasmine. Galen and Luna use their movie making skills to try to understand not only what’s going on with Galen’s family, but also Luna’s constantly bickering parents. As the kids navigate these difficult relationships, they learn the importance of love, support, and communication. As they wrap up their movie, Galen declares, “It’s OUR story. We get to choose how it ends.”

There’s a lot to love about this graphic novel, including the artwork that resembles an animated film, but especially the underlying upbeat tone that shows kids’ resilience in the face of changing families and friendships. Galen is a kind kid who doesn’t shy away from difficult emotions, is willing to give the new people in his life a chance, but is still–for the most part–able to figure out how to take care of himself.

On Guard!: a Marshall Middle School graphic novel by Cassidy Wasserman (Random House Graphic, 256 pages, grades 4-7). Grace isn’t excited about starting seventh grade after her best friend Ava dumped her at the end of sixth grade and her parents got divorced over the summer. Due to a custody agreement, she’s forced to spend every other week with her self-absorbed mother who makes no effort to understand her daughter. When Grace sneaks into the gym at lunchtime to avoid the cafeteria, she discovers the fencing team practicing there. Although she’s fascinated, she’s sure she’s too much of a klutz to try it. After trying and failing at several other clubs, she finally reluctantly signs up for fencing. To her surprise, she finds out that she has a talent for it and that the team is a surprisingly good source of friendship and support. Using the lessons she learns through fencing, Grace slowly begins to learn how to stand up to her mother and advocate for herself with both of her parents.

I’m hoping the subtitle of this book indicates that there will be other Marshall Middle School graphic novels, as this is sure to be popular with fans of authors like Raina Telgemeier, Kayla Miller, and Maria Scrivan, as well as a good choice for those who enjoyed another fencing graphic novel, Duel. Grace’s struggles with her mother are heartbreaking but ring true, and I like how fencing subtly teachers her skills that she can use in her real life.