Graphic novels

Try these out on reluctant readers

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Framed by Karina Evans and Andrea Bell (HarperAlley, 176 pages, grades 3-7). Tobey’s been in a bad mood for a while now, lashing out at everyone, even her best friend Kate. When her art teacher assigns the class to paint something important to them, Tobey tries, then angrily tosses her paper in the trash. She winds up in detention with two other kids, Layla and Reed. At the end of detention, the art teacher appears and accuses Tobey of having trashed the rest of the class’s paintings and tells her that she’s calling in Tobey’s parents for a meeting with the principal. Layla and Reed offer to help Tobey prove her innocence, and the three of them spend the afternoon sneaking around the school, trying to figure out who framed Tobey. Ultimately, they fail, and Tobey winds up in the principal’s office at the end of the day. There, she confronts her parents about having overheard them discussing a divorce, and the family has a much-needed conversation about what’s going on. Layla and Reed wait for Tobey at the end of the meeting, she tells them about her family, and the three of them manage to crack the case of the art room drama. By the end of the story, Tobey’s still facing some family uncertainties but she’s doing so with the help of her friends Kate, Layla, and Reed.

This is a fun graphic novel mystery as well as a heartwarming friendship and family story. It’s also a quick read that will appeal to reluctant readers. There aren’t enough graphic novel mysteries, and I hope we’ll get another one featuring Tobey and her friends.

Rumor Has It (The Luckies book 1) by Sarah Mlynowski and Christina Soontornvat, illustrated by Madi Wong (Scholastic, 192 pages, grades 4-8). Leela and Annie are 15-year-olds who alternate chapters that tell the story of their blended family starting life together in a new home. Leela and her younger sister Mia lost their dad to cancer, while Annie and her brothers Alex and Aiden have a mom who left the family for Hollywood. Their parents are now engaged to each other, and they’re moving into the mansion that Leela’s mom grew up in and that she recently inherited. Annie’s excited to be settling down after moving a lot in her earlier years, while Leela’s sad to be leaving New York City and the memories she has there of her dad. When Annie impulsively volunteers their new house for a big school fundraiser, all kinds of drama ensues with friends, crushes, and old family secrets coming to light. While the new family works things out and seems to be back on track by the end of the book, there are just enough loose ends and one big cliffhanger to have readers eagerly awaiting book 2.

This is book 1 in a series that’s part of Scholastic’s new NEXT imprint which seems to be designed to encourage graphic novel readers to try nongraphic books. With short chapters, high interest topics, and plenty of illustrations, this would be a good suggestion for fans of Soontornvat’s The Tryout or the Raina Telgemeier books. Book 1 of another NEXT series, Rival High, was released at the same time.

Nonfiction from two favorite authors

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Mind vs. Machine: The Chess Match That Changed the World by Steve Sheinkin and Maurice Ashley, illustrated by Thien Pham (Roaring Brook Press, 240 pages, grades 5-10). In 1997, Garry Kasparov, world chess champion for over a decade, played a series of six games against Deep Blue, an IBM supercomputer. Grandmaster Maurice Ashley was one of the commentators on the games, and he has co-authored this graphic novel with award-winning nonfiction author Sheinkin. At the time, it was shocking to think of a machine beating a human, and the games were so close that readers have to keep going almost until the end to learn the outcome. The last few pages look at how the world has changed in the nearly 30 years since that game, and how chess players today accept that AI can routinely beat them. Includes notes from both authors about their collaboration.

This book could hardly be timelier, and the graphic novel format makes it a fairly easy and exciting read. I liked that the conclusion neither glorified nor demonized AI, just looked at some of the issues and possibilities that are raised as technology continues to grow exponentially. Because of this, it would make a great classroom or book club read that would engender a lot of discussion.

The Wild Season: The Remarkable True Story of a Rabbit Rescue by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Jamey Christoph (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, grades 3-6). When four domesticated rabbits were spotted in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Heights Park in the spring of 2023, neighbors rallied to try to rescue the bunnies before they became a hawk or coyote’s dinner. Led by professional rabbit rescuer Jessica Peters, the team soon included a kids’ club dedicated to the search, a local dog walker and her neighbors, and a teen animal lover who became known as a bunny whisperer when she caught three of the animals. Scientific information about wild versus domesticated animals in general and rabbits in particular is expertly woven into the narrative that’s divided into seven sections, each one introduced with a quote from a classic children’s book that features rabbits. Happily, all four rabbits are rescued and rehomed, although that process is not straightforward and shows some of the difficulties animal shelters face. Includes an author’s note, bibliography, and endnotes.

This heartwarming story celebrates animal lovers, neighborhood communities, and kind, determined people in general. it’s another book that would make an excellent book club selection for elementary kids or a classroom read-aloud. Dashka Slater always impresses me with her abilities to tell all kinds of nonfiction stories in a way that is fascinating and accessible. The text was greatly enhanced by Jamey Christoph’s illustrations, and I believe a grave injustice was committed by not including his name on the cover.

How different brains work

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Brainbow by Maya Henderson (Little, Brown Ink., 248 pages, grades 3-7). Rosie’s hoping middle school will be easier if she follows in her best friend Harper’s footsteps. They both try out for the school’s math league, but only Harper makes it. The teacher agrees to let Rosie be the team manager, but almost immediately there’s trouble when Rosie speaks up about the kids using the “wrong” colors for the letters on their team t-shirts. When a new friend named Yara explains to Rosie about a condition she has called synesthesia, Rosie realizes that she has it, too, explaining why she seems letters and numbers as having their own distinct colors, and why she likes creating art when she listens to music. As Rosie and Yara become closer, Harper feels jealous and starts being mean to Rosie. When Harper steals the math league money and lets Rosie take the fall, Rosie has had enough and stands up to her former best friend. By the end, she’s realized where her true talents–and friendships–lie and has decided to leave the math league to hang out with Yara at art club. Includes additional information about synesthesia and an author’s note telling about her own experience with it.

Since approximately 4% of the population has some form of synesthesia (as I learned from this book), readers may discover they have this condition or know someone else who does. Maya Henderson does a great job of showing Rosie’s perceptions through the illustrations, and the information about synesthesia is effortlessly woven into the plot. It’s also a fun middle school friendship story with a particularly terrible ex best friend.

Feeling Like an ADHD Alien by Pina Varnel (Rocky Pond Books, 336 pages, grades 5-10). Kiki has always longed to be “normal,” but she struggles all the time with things that others seem to find easy, like being on time, getting things done, and regulating her emotions. After one particularly difficult interaction with one of her best friends, she starts to consider that she may have ADHD. It’s tough talking to her mother about it, but after initially resisting the idea, Mom sets up an appointment for an evaluation. Kiki gets an ADHD diagnosis, a prescription for medication, and ongoing support to help her with coping strategies. Although it’s hard for her to let go of the idea that she’ll one day be “normal,” getting a diagnosis and treatment helps her to live the life she’s always wanted for herself. Includes several pages of coping strategies for different symptoms of ADHD and a list of resources.

This is a great resource for any tween or teen wondering if they may have ADHD or adjusting to an ADHD diagnosis. The first five chapters deal with different aspects of ADHD like executive functioning and working memory, showing how Kiki struggles with these in her daily life and going into some details about how her brain works differently than others’. The last two chapters are about her getting her diagnosis and what her life is like afterwards. One of her friends also has ADHD, but her symptoms present differently. She opts not to take medication, and their discussion is helpful in helping kids decide which route is best for them. Although there’s not much of a story, the information is presented in a way that’s easy to absorb and will be helpful to many.

Exposures: A Story About Life with OCD and the Power of Facing Your Fears by Lily Williams (First Second, 352 pages, grades 5-8). 12-year-old Peyton’s life is increasingly dictated by her fears, which she deals with by counting, picking at her scalp, and avoiding things like the color red and the number 13. When her twin sister’s ballet accomplishments mean some changes to the family’s schedule, Peyton has a huge panic attack. Her concerned parents get her an appointment with a therapist who diagnoses Peyton with obsessive compulsive disorder and begins exposure therapy to help her face her fears. Peyton learns that she’ll never be “cured” of her OCD, but that with intensive (and sometimes extremely difficult) therapy, she can learn to lessen her anxiety around the things that scare her and be able to live her life freer of their control. By the end of the story, readers can see evidence that her hard work has paid off: she’s considering trying out for the ski team (which she avoided because the uniforms were red), she has a closer relationship with her sister and parents, and she’s able to get through the school day without being overwhelmed by anxiety. Includes an author’s note about her own OCD, which wasn’t diagnosed until she was an adult, and how this inspired her to create this book.

Peyton’s story is so compelling I read the whole thing in a day. It really shows the thought processes of a person with OCD and the extremely hard and sometimes scary work that’s necessary to go through exposure therapy. The illustrations are especially effective, using different colors to show flashbacks and portraying Peyton’s anxiety attacks with the color red, and her fearful thoughts filling the page. This is an excellent example of a book being both a mirror and a window that will help both kids who have OCD and those who know someone who suffers from it.

Ghosts and monsters

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Don’t Be Scared by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Shadia Amin (First Second, 208 pages, grades 4-7). The best part of Riz’s day is after-school film club, where he meets Amy and Max, two other film afficionados who, like Riz, are first-generation Americans, and whose parents would prefer that they become doctors or lawyers instead of filmmakers. Riz’s widowed dad, who immigrated from Pakistan, dreams of Riz going to med school and pushes him to focus more on his math and science classes. When Riz, Amy, and Max decide to make a film about the local Hollister Manor mansion before it’s razed, they embark on a ghost hunt, assisted by a local librarian with family connections to the place. Riz’s dad starts sharing Pakistani ghost stories with Riz and slowly begins to understand his son’s passion. When the three kids are able to capture the ghosts on film, it changes the way their parents see them and saves the old mansion from demolition. Includes an author’s note about ghost stories and an illustrator’s step-by-step guide to the cover design process.

Kids will love this creepy graphic novel that mixes up ghosts with family interactions and the struggles of being a child of immigrants. The ending felt a little rushed but also satisfying, tying up loose ends for Riz and his dad, librarian Miss Templeton, and the two ghostly children at the haunted house.

The Hospital for Mythological Creatures by Cathy Evans, illustrated by Ed J. Brown (Cicada Books, 48 pages, grades K-4). On Wednesday morning, a call comes in that there’s been a car crash on Shangri-La Boulevard. An ambulance rushes to the scene, where paramedics find Daisy with an arm injury, and her mom, Lisa, in need of stitches for a cut on her forehead. The other driver, elderly Mr. Von Thunderhoof, is pale and dizzy. All three are transferred to the hospital, where readers are introduced to all kinds of personnel and technology. There are x-rays, MRIs, blood and urine tests, and a new heart valve for Mr. Von Thunderhoof. By the time Daisy’s other mom picks her and Lisa up, readers have learned a lot about a busy hospital and the many ways patients are helped there all day long. Includes glossaries of hospital departments and medical terms.

What a fun way to learn about the hospital! The illustrations portray an amazing array of mythological creatures (my favorite was Vlad, the vampire, performing the blood test, and the one I found the creepiest was Phillip, the young gnome with a penchant for sticking things in his ears and nose). Sensitive readers may get a little spooked by the various creatures; on the other end of the spectrum, those who love mythological creatures may wish for a guide identifying the many unique ones portrayed here. This would make a good companion to Lisa Brown’s The Hospital Book.

Let’s hear it for the boys

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martín (Dial Books, 320 pages, grades 5-8). In this sequel to the Newbery Honor book Mexikid, we get a look at Pedro’s family closer to home. All the siblings are expected to help make ends meet by getting up early on Saturdays to pick strawberries. Pedro would rather stay home and watch cartoons, so when his oldest brother finds another job that their father approves of, Pedro decides he needs to find an alternative career path to get him out of the fields. He begins a hilarious stint as the trombonist in a couple of bands, one at school and one directed by the local priest who signs them up for a memorable concert in a prison. The same priest convinces their dad that the kids need to find other things to do as summer approaches, and Pedro and two of his brothers get a chance to go to camp. A few days of “normal kid” life convinces Pedro that it’s not all it’s cracked up to be and makes him appreciate his family more than ever. Includes an epilogue that tells what all the kids in the family ended up doing (spoiler alert: they’ve all had interesting and successful careers) and a collection of photos from Pedro’s childhood.

I don’t usually review sequels, but I couldn’t resist the chance to find out what the family from Mexikid would get up to next. There are enough school and family hijinks to satisfy any Wimpy Kid fan, with Pedro constantly poking fun at himself and his schemes. But there are a lot of more serious storylines about immigration, including his father’s brutal stories about being an undocumented worker in his youth, the police raids on the family farm to round up the undocumented workers that help the family, and Pedro’s trip to the prison where the Mexican kids are targets of racist guards, and Pedro finds himself scanning the crowd of prisoners for familiar faces. This feels like it may be the last of the Mexikid books, but I hope Pedro Martín will continue to find a way to share his talents as an artist and a writer for kids.

Absent by Rex Ogle, illustrated by LJ-Baptiste (Norton Young Readers, 304 pages, grades 5-8). Manny is a poet and lyricist who would rather be skateboarding than in school and isn’t afraid to tell his teachers that. Calvin is an artist and cartoonist who can’t get to school on time because of all his commitments at home. Liam wants to be a doctor who sometimes misses classes when he’s hiding from the bullies who trigger his panic attacks. The three boys wind up in detention together and tell their stories through poetry (Manny), comics (Calvin), and journal entries (Liam). Although they come from different backgrounds and have different interests, somehow a friendship grows during their three-week detention, and each one comes away from their punishment with new friends and new tools to help them cope with life at home and at school.

Told in three different formats, this book zips along quickly, with funny and sometimes heartbreaking stories unfolding that include poverty, incarcerated parents, and bullying. Each boy is incredibly resilient in his own way, and each has at least one adult who believes in him and encourages his talents. I was wiping away a few tears by the time detention ended and a friendship had been born that left each boy in a heading in a more positive direction.

The secret lives of middle school girls

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Raise the Bar by Fernanda Frick H. (Dial Books, 352 pages, grades 5-8). For as long as she can remember, Samantha has loved to lift heavy things. Now she trains daily at her gym in Chile, inspired by her hero, Eva Dos Santos, the first Latin American woman to win a weightlifting Olympic gold medal. Sam’s parents don’t support her dreams, but her older brother helps her try out for the elite High Performance Center, where kids from all over Latin America train for events like the Pan American Games and the Olympics. When Sam is accepted to train with Dos Santos, her parents grudgingly allow her to go. At the center, she pushes herself as hard as she can, not allowing herself to become a full part of the friendly camaraderie of other athletes. A disastrous performance at an important event results in an injury and a period of soul-searching that gives Sam a new perspective, making her a more supportive teammate and allowing her to reconcile with her family. Although she doesn’t get the Pan American gold medal she’s dreamed about, Sam is well on her way to becoming a champion by the end of the story.

Middle school readers will love reading about Sam’s experiences, as well as the subplots involving various other athletes. Her ambition and passion, as well as her setbacks, will ring true for many teens and tweens, and her comeback story is sure to inspire.

Middle School Monsters by Robin Easter (Little Brown Ink, 224 pages, grades 4-7). “In movies, the monster is usually the one terrorizing the humans. In middle school, it’s the other way around,” Jamie tells the reader on the second page. She hints that she’s really a werewolf, and that she has to hide her identity to fit in at her new school. A group of girls befriend her on the first day, warning her to stay away from weird girl Vera. But Jamie finds she likes Vera, who may or may not be a vampire, and the two secretly become friends, writing a story together about werewolf Scout and vampire Raven. Vera introduces Jamie to her online friends who have similar interests. But when Jamie’s new friends bully Vera, Jamie stands by silently, and when their Scout and Raven story falls into the wrong hands, she disavows any connection to it. Understandably, Vera pushes her away, and Jamie has to decide which is more important: fitting in or true friendship?

Ah yes, the age-old middle school dilemma, told here with a fun twist about who is a monster and who is not. Readers will be rooting for Jamie to embrace her true self, and I’m happy to spoil it by saying she decides to go with her werewolf persona. There were parts of the story that could have been more fleshed out, and kids may be disappointed that there aren’t real monsters in the book, but they will also connect with the middle school drama and the importance of finding real friends.

Dance Team Drama (Detective Baby book 1) by Meg Cabot, illustrated by Amelia Allore (HarperAlley, 176 pages, grades 3-7). Jenny has a superpower that only her best friend Vesper knows about: she can understand and speak baby talk. After the money she raised for the new dance team uniforms disappears, Jenny’s desperate enough to offer her services as a babysitter. Her first job introduces her to a crackerjack baby detective named Rosie with twin sidekicks Timmy and Tippy Tupperman who communicate via baby monitor. Unbeknownst to their grown-ups, they’re just wrapping up a case, tracking down a missing cat. They’re able to coerce Jenny into helping them return the cat and collecting the reward. Jenny’s ready to pack it in after that adventure, but Rosie convinces her that she knows what happened to Jenny’s lost money. Sure enough, she manages to crack the case which involves not only Vesper, but Jenny’s brother, her crush, and her nemesis from the cheerleading squad. We’re sure to see more from this crew in book 2, Cheerleader Challenge, coming out next spring.

And on a lighter note, here’s a quick and fun mystery from beloved middle grade and YA author Meg Cabot, featuring a heroine with an unusual ability and three very clever babies. The manga-style pink and purple illustrations will draw readers right in, and they’ll have some good laughs following Jenny and the Detective Babies as they crack their first case.

New series for Dog Man fans

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Speed Reader by Matthew Cody, illustrated by Zack Giallongo (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 160 pages, grades 3-7). Despite his late superhero grandfather Felix Fast, Zander Fast isn’t exactly known for speed, as he plods through his day getting mediocre grades and coming in last in gym. But a mysterious package combined with a lightning strike unexpectedly gives him superpowers, and suddenly he can live up to his name, zipping through books, setting new running records, and dodging the villains that start showing up everywhere. With help from a new friend, his mom, and his great uncle Whizzy (Felix’s former sidekick), Zander’s able to defeat those villains, but it’s clear there’s more in store for him as a superhero.

From the author of the beloved Cat Ninja graphic novels comes a new series with the feel of a comic book or Saturday morning cartoon. What could be more relatable than a kid who struggles in school and gym class getting a superpower that specifically addresses those issues? Readers will enjoy reading about Zander and will be eagerly awaiting book 2.

Zeb and Bel: A Case of Bird Problems by Rachel Elliott (HarperAlley, 160 pages, grades 3-6). Bel is a cat who is also a detective. Zeb is her sidekick, brother, and a dog. When their human girl, Josephine, goes to see her friend Carlo do his magician act, Bel and Zeb follow and witness a shocking crime as Carlo’s bird and magician’s assistant, Payton, is stolen practically in front of the audience’s eyes. Bel gets on the case immediately, and with the help of Zeb, the two venture far into the city to figure out what happened to Payton. It’s not easy, but they crack the case, with the help (and despite the hindrance) of an engaging cast of animal characters. A cliffhanger ending and a preview page set up book 2, Night of the Bodega Cat. Includes instructions for drawing both Bel and Zeb, as well as a page showing mystery clues that were hidden throughout the story.

I found this graphic novel enchanting and laughed out loud at several scenes, particularly those involving Zeb and some of the other dog characters. It’s a good mystery, too, with an interesting (and funny) solution, and I liked how the author shared some of her visual clues at the end. For fans of both Dog Man and InvestiGators.

Kids and their grown-ups

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Pia in the Forest by David Bruggink (Holiday House, 112 pages, grades 1-4). We meet Pia early one morning as she’s drawing a pinecone creature. She’s so excited about her idea that she has to wake up her dad (loudly). Dad’s sleepy, but a good sport, and he offers to take her to a state forest to look for materials. He brings along a recording device that allows them to hear all kinds of sounds in the forest and leads them to interesting places. But Pia’s loudness, impulsivity, and eventually, exhaustion, wear Dada down, and the two of them have a fight. Pia goes storming off and meets a new friend who shows her how to skip stones and build fairy houses, and who enjoys learning how to use the recording device. They eventually reconnect with Dada, and the day ends satisfactorily, with the promise of a return trip. Includes additional information on sound recorders and fairy houses.

Pia is an adorable, if occasionally annoying, character with an extremely patient dad. Kids and adults will relate to their interactions, filled with both love and frustration on both sides. This would be an excellent choice as both a first graphic novel for independent readers or a read-aloud to a younger audience.

Because of a Shoe by Julie Fogliano, illustrated by Marla Frazee (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 3-6). A caregiver narrates the battle waged over putting on a toddler’s shoes in one long sentence. “Even when…” the narration begins and continues as the toddler lies on the floor, throws the shoe, and screams; and the narrator tries to be patient but eventually loses it and threatens to throw the (formerly favorite) shoes in the garbage, even then the two recognize that they love each other and have a sweet and wonderful connection. When they remember that, they’re both able to take deep breaths, get the shoes on, and get out the door. They head to a party, where there’s a bouncy house, and of course, the first thing the child does is throw off their shoes and head in for some fun.

Just as with Pia, both children and adults will recognize the scenes and emotions in this book. This would be perfect to read at the end of a long day to remind everyone of what is most important even when the day has felt like a series of battles, and older kids may need it as much as toddlers. One should never count Marla Frazee out for a Caldecott, as she spins out a series of imaginative takes on what would happen if the child spent the rest of their life lying on the floor or if the shoe were thrown to the bottom of the ocean.

Imaginary worlds, real-life issues

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly (Greenwillow Books, 176 pages, grades 4-7). 12-year-old Zuzu lives in an impoverished camp in the shadow of Lockwood Corporation that controls life in her dystopian Texas town. When her single dad loses his job, instead of severance pay, he’s given an old robot programmed to be a guardian. Zuzu’s not crazy about being watched over by Snap (Secure Network Android Processor), but one of her friends manages to reprogram it, turning Snap into more of a friend than a babysitter. Snap’s charger is broken, though, so Zuzu and her friends know he’ll only last as long as his current battery charge. As Snap takes on a life of his own, Zuzu starts to question the line between human and machine. When a dust storm hits the settlement, Snap proves his devotion, even though he can’t save himself. A final chapter fast forwards six months, offering a note of optimism that Snap has survived in some way and that change may be possible in this dark futuristic world.

Newbery medalist Erin Entrada Kelly creates a future that doesn’t seem too far off, addressing artificial intelligence, as well as corporate greed and the resulting societal inequalities. This would make a great book for an elementary or middle school classroom read-aloud or a book club, with a pretty short page count, a fast-moving plot, and lots of interesting ideas to discuss. The downside of being a quick read is that there’s not a lot of space for world building, and older readers may find it not quite as intriguing as some more fleshed-out dystopian novels. A great choice for fans of The Wild Robot series and A Rover’s Story.

Clock Hands by Marieke Nijkamp, illustrated by Sylvia Bi (Greenwillow Books, 288 pages, grades 4-8). In the city of Siennarra, the guilds hold all the power, and the guildless, unable to afford the apprentice fee, scrape by with whatever work they can find. Vale longs to practice a craft, but their guildless status prevents them from pursuing an apprenticeship. When Maestro Giuseppi and his daughter move to the city, he brings unconventional ideas that he’s picked up from living other places, refusing to join a guild and hiring Vale, first as a guide around the city and eventually as an apprentice. The powerful guilds respond violently, and Vale has to decide whether to simply accept their fate or to fight back. They choose the latter path, leading the guildless in a labor strike that proves the value of their work and opens up more fair ways for organizing labor in Siennarra. Includes an author’s note with additional information about the guilds of Middle Ages Italy that inspired this story, as well as information about labor strikes.

I missed 2023’s graphic novel Ink Girls, but this one, by the same team and taking place in the same imagined city, features a host of interesting characters and beautiful artwork depicting the city of Siennarra. Although the strike results in greater changes than most labor actions in the real world, it’s a great introduction to the concept of collective action and how it can be used for justice.

Sporty types

~ Janet Dawson ~ Leave a comment

Offside by Christina Diaz Gonzalez, illustrated by Mari Costa (Graphix, 208 pages, grades 4-8). This year’s middle school soccer team is open to girls for the first time, and just about everyone seems to have an opinion about that. Nicky, who fought for the opportunity to play on a team where she has a better chance of being scouted, is thrilled. Al, whose Brazilian father and grandfather have passed on their ideas about girls and sports, is determined to do whatever it takes to keep the team boys only. Fabiola and Sebastian, newly arrived from Colombia and Peru respectively, speak little English and just want a chance to play the sport they love. Palmer, sidelined with an injury, is bilingual and serves as a translator for the different teammates. As the season progresses, the kids–with some encouragement from their coaches–realize that to win games, they need to put aside their differences and appreciate each other’s strengths. By the end of the story, not only have they become a winning team on the field, but they’ve learned to act together to speak up for equal sports opportunities for everyone.

Those who have followed the World Cup this summer will appreciate this soccer-themed graphic novel with its uplifting message about equal access for all athletes. The different characters are well-drawn (in both senses of the word), showing growth as players and people throughout the story. Spanish and English are cleverly woven together in the dialog bubbles. Includes a glossary of soccer terms and a full-page illustrated explanation of what offsides means. I still don’t get it.

The Long Hike: The True Story of the First Appalachian Thru-Hike by Meghan McCarthy (Beach Lane Books, 48 pages, grades 1-5). Before World War II, Earl Shaffer had planned to hike the Appalachian Trail with his best friend Walter. But Walter didn’t survive the war, and Earl decided to go it alone, to “walk the war out of my system.” Following the motto, “carry as little as possible but choose that little with care,” Earl set out from Georgia on April 4, 1948. He suffered through blisters, mosquitoes, heat and cold (New Jersey prohibited campfires at the time), and a trail that was sometimes difficult to follow. But he also met interesting people along the way and was soothed by the natural world. Finally, on August 6, he stood atop Maine’s Mount Katahdin, the first person to have hiked the entire trail. Earl spent the rest of his life advocating for the preservation of the Appalachian Trail, and did two more through-hikes, including on in 1998, in which he set a record for the oldest person (at the time) to hike the trail. Includes several pages of back matter, with additional information on Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail, as well as resources to learn more.

I love Meghan McCarthy’s quirky nonfiction books, and it’s been a few years since I’ve seen a new one. This one is a lot of fun, detailing Earl Shaffer’s adventures on the Appalachian Trail, along with excerpts from the notebook he kept along the way. The illustrations of different parts of the trail and beautiful and may inspire readers to get outside for a hike themselves. This is a timely story, as the record for oldest person hiking the AT is on track to be broken this summer by 91-year-old Dale Sanders.