Mixed Feelings by Shadi Amini, illustrated by Shadia Amin (Graphix, 240 pages, grades 3-7). Based on the author’s life, this story follows sixth-grader Sara through her first year of middle school. There are the usual ups and downs: losing a best friend, discovering the joys of drama club, and dealing with physical changes, especially, in Sara’s case, new hair on her arms and legs that her mom won’t let her shave. One issue not shared by many of her peers is Sara’s mixed cultural identity. Her mom is Colombian and speaks Spanish, while her dad is Iranian and insists that she attend Farsi school, where the other students bully her for not being Persian enough. As the year goes on, Sara learns to embrace her dual heritage and stand up for who she is, which also allows her to see others around her with more empathy and eventually reconnect with her former best friend. Readers can look forward to the sequel, Mixed Signals, which will be available in October.

Seems hard to believe that there’s space on the shelves for another graphic novel about starting middle school, not fitting in, and ultimately learning to embrace who you really are, yet they keep coming, and, to be fair, readers keep loving them. This one is charming and does a nice job of addressing issues kids with mixed heritages may encounter. I liked how the book used different color fonts to show different languages (Spanish and Farsi), and there was a fun amount of 1990’s nostalgia woven into the story and illustrations.

Shy Cat and the Stuff-the-Bus Challenge by Dian Day and Amanda White (Second Story Press, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Mila and Kit are best friends, sharing a love of drawing, cats, and filmmaking, When Kit has a meltdown at school over a rusty, expired can of vegetables someone has brought in for the food drive, Mila starts noticing that Kit spends a lot of time thinking and talking about food. Her mom gently explains that she suspects that Kit and his mother are food insecure, and that Kit’s behavior stems from anxiety over whether they will have enough to eat. Mom tries to provide as many snacks and meals as she can for Kit and his mother without being too obvious about what she’s doing, and Mila’s mama, who lives in another part of town, gives her some advice about advocating for those who are food insecure. Kit is thrilled when he and his mom secure a community garden plot, but both he and Mila notice the unfairness that there aren’t enough plots for everyone who wants one. By the end of the story, Mila has learned enough about Kit’s situation to grant him some slack if he sometimes seems more interested in the snacks at her house than the fun they have together. Includes information about the Hungry Stories Team, a group that uses various creative outlets to share information about food insecurity.

This graphic novel provides important information about food insecurity for elementary readers with a story that’s both sobering and fun (the kids’ cat comics are sprinkled throughout, and there’s a subplot about a cranky neighbor who is eventually won over by a stray cat). At times, the message overwhelmed the story a bit, but it’s sure to open up kids’ eyes to what may be going on with some of their classmates and neighbors.

The Inbetweens by Faith Erin Hicks (First Second, 240 pages, grades 5-8). Twins Ash and Sloan are heading off to a summer animation course at the local art school, determined to pursue a dream they’ve shared since experiencing Disney’s World of Animation as kids. They’re excited to meet the celebrity teachers and other teens who love art and animation as much as they do. But as the weeks go by, things start to go wrong. Douglas Frye, a Disney animator and one of the teachers, turns out to favor the boys over the girls and almost shuts down Ash’s dreams completely. Meanwhile, Sloan is starting to question if animation is really the right path for her, not wanting to risk losing her love of art by turning it into a career. They decide to team up with two of their new friends for the final project, and it helps all four kids reconnect with the spark that brought them there originally and to create a film that they are all proud of.

While kids as young as third or fourth grade may enjoy this graphic novel, it really hits the sweet spot for middle schoolers. The teen characters have plenty of angst, but also plenty of heart, and ultimately each one uses the summer experience to discover his or her true passions. There’s plenty about animation and drawing woven into the story that young artists will enjoy and perhaps learn from as well.