Graphic novels

A beginning reader bonanza

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Dino Poet: a graphic novel by Tom Angleberger (Harry N. Abrams, 96 pages, grades 1-4). When a Coelophysis takes a break from writing poetry to have a froggy snack, the frog in question tells him that he hates his poem. The frog then proceeds to give the dinosaur poetry pointers, like how to express his emotions and use his senses to perceive the world. Desperate not to be eaten, the frog introduces different forms of poetry like limericks and speed haiku, while both creatures keep a sharp lookout for larger dinosaurs who may want to consume them both. The frog is so successful that by the end, the Coelophysis calls him a friend, refuses to eat him, and gets him his own notebook and pen so that they can write together.

Always expect the unexpected with Tom Angleberger, as evidenced by this book which is short for a graphic novel, long for a picture book, and has the unlikely premise of two animals from different eras becoming friends and writing poetry together. I love the way it introduces poetry and gently (and humorously) encourages kids to try their own. The simple collage art and the photo of art supplies at the beginning may also inspire readers in their artistic endeavors.

The Truth About the Tooth Fairy (Miriam’s Magical Creature Files book 1) by Leah Cypess, illustrated by Sarah Lynne Reul (Harry N. Abrams, 112 pages, grades 1-3). 6-year-old Miriam is the youngest of three siblings, slightly jaded about things her family tells her, and a firm believer in testing them out to find out if they’re true or not. For instance, after being told, “Sugar makes you hyper,” she eats a lot of it at a birthday party and feels fine. So when she realizes she has her first loose tooth, Miriam is ready to find out if the tooth fairy is real. Her methodology involves staying up and catching her parents in the act. Does she succeed? Readers will have to draw their own conclusions, but whatever they decide, they can look forward to book 2, The Discovery of Dragons, coming in August.

Miriam is a spunky and smart protagonist, part of an Orthodox Jewish family whose traditions are woven into the story and illustrations. The book resembles a scrapbook, with Miriam’s lists, charts, notes, and drawings on what looks like paper torn from a notebook. Fans of Junie B. Jones and other feisty early elementary narrators will enjoy this beginning chapter book.

The Bad Idea and Other Stories (Earl and Worm book 1) by Greg Pizzoli (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 72 pages, ages 4-8). In the classic style of such literary friendships as Elephant and Piggie, Frog and Toad, Frank and Bean, Beak and Ally, etc., Worm is a grumpy introvert who initially is annoyed by early bird Earl who gives friendly greetings and plays music for his plants first thing in the morning. The second chapter sees Worm getting increasingly annoyed by what she perceives as Earl’s copying her good ideas about home decor. When she tries to trick Earl by telling him about an outlandish plan to paint the outside of her house, Earl surprises her by painting it for her, leaving her with a house she doesn’t like and the realization that the whole thing was a bad idea. Earl’s persistent cheerfulness slowly wins over Worm, and by the third chapter, Worm is committed enough to their friendship to write a poem that celebrates it.

I’m a pretty big Greg Pizzoli fan, and, while I personally feel this whole introvert/extrovert friendship theme in early readers is a little tired, Pizzoli does an excellent job of creating two fun characters and three funny stories, particularly the one about the bad idea. I love the illustrations, especially the way Worm is portrayed doing all sorts of tasks without any limbs. Try this out on fans of some of the series mentioned above.

Culture shock

~ Janet Dawson ~ 3 Comments

Speak up, Santiago! (Hillside Valley Graphic Novel, book 1) by Julio Anta, illustrated by Gabi Mendez (Random House Graphic, 224 pages, grades 3-7). Santi is spending a month with his Colombian American abuela Emma to try to improve his Spanish. His parents hoped to raise him to be bilingual, but because he struggled with speech as a baby, they focused on getting him to speak English. Now he’s studying Spanish but is extremely self-conscious about his level of fluency and his accent. At first things go well as Santi meets a group of kids who love soccer as much as he does and seems to be communicating well with his abuela. But when he overhears some of her friends making disparaging comments about his accent, his confidence plummets, and he shuts himself off from both his grandmother and his friends. Abuela Emma has a fall that’s partially Santi’s fault, and the guilt he feels about that leads him to have a heart-to-heart conversation with her and with his friends that gets him back on the right track. When Santi sees his parents at the big soccer tournament at the end of the month, they’re amazed at how much his Spanish has improved, and he realizes that progress is better than perfection. Includes notes from the author and illustrator telling how their own heritages influenced them in creating this book.

I loved this series opener, which not only addresses the difficulties of balancing dual heritages but shows readers not to put too much pressure on themselves when learning new things. Santi makes a lot of mistakes, but he’s able to learn from them and emerges as an extremely likable protagonist. I can’t find a publication date for book 2, but a preview at the end of this book shows that it will feature Sol, one of Santi’s new soccer friends.

Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta (Random House Graphic, 256 pages, grade 4-8). Nonbinary tween Ave feels torn in two when they move with their mother and younger brother Ramón to Kansas while their father and older sister Cruz stay in Mexicali. Cruz encourages Ave not to assimilate and to keep speaking Spanish, while Ramón embraces English and renames himself Ray. At school, Ave meets some other kids who have connections to Mexico and other countries and learns to value her heritage while enjoying some American activities like running track and hanging out at the comics store. Through flashbacks and conversations with different family members, Ave remembers their past and learns that the split in the family may be permanent. The last few pages show them enjoying life in both places, leaving some ambiguity about which place they call home. Includes a lengthy author’s note about the evolution and creation of this book.

Jose Pimienta explores timely questions of heritage, language, and belonging in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a 12-year-old dealing with a lot of big questions about themself and their family. This is the final installment in his Mexicali trio that includes Suncatcher and Twin Cities.

Let’s hear it for the boys

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Old School by Gordon Korman (HarperCollins, 288 pages, grades 3-7). Dexter is a 12-year-old who has spent the last six years living with his grandmother in a retirement community while his diplomat parents travel the world. He’s always been homeschooled, receiving an excellent education from a variety of experienced educators in the community. Unfortunately, his grandma never officially registered him as a homeschooler, and in seventh grade, truancy officers catch up with them and force Dexter off to middle school. At first, he’s a complete fish out of water who talks and dresses like an old man, not a middle schooler. But slowly his kindness and handyman skills start to win over some of the other kids. When Dexter fixes a vending machine with his Swiss army knife and gets expelled for having a weapon, the other kids rally to his defense and start visiting him at his home, where they soon befriend many of the older residents. Young and old alike show up for Dexter’s hearing before the school committee, where a few surprise twists result in an unexpected outcome for both Dexter and his school.

Although Gordon Korman is less than two weeks older than I am, he has written over 100 books more than I have. His books, while somewhat formulaic (this one is told in chapters that alternate among several narrators in classic Korman style), are always engaging and funny, perfect for reluctant readers. The homeschooled hero winning over middle school students reminded me a lot of another Korman book, Schooled (2008) I’ve read quite a few middle grade books with girl main characters this year, so I’m glad to have a couple that feature boys.

Extra Large by Tyler Page (First Second, 208 pages, grades 4-8). The summer before seventh grade, Tyler starts to be more aware of his body size. When he wins an extra-large T-shirt, he’s told he’ll grow into it. Shopping for back-to-school clothes, he has to get “husky” jeans to be able to fit into them. His dad decides to give up sugar in an attempt to get back to his high school weight and encourages the rest of the family to join him, not always in the kindest way. Tyler notices kids get bullied for their size and for other body issues, and he’s always relieved when it’s not him, taking pains to be the last to change for gym with the hope that no one will see him with his shirt off. When a new girl gets teased about her ears, Tyler joins in, even though he doesn’t see what the big deal is. As the year goes on, Tyler notices more and more that some of his closest friends can be bullies, and he starts to hang out with other kids who are kinder and make him feel good about himself. He saves money for a new bike, enjoying the way he feels when he’s active, and even gets to enjoy some of his family’s menu changes. By the end of the story, Tyler has learned a lot about accepting himself as he is.

Tyler Page’s memoir is funny and realistic, and plenty of upper elementary and middle school readers will see themselves in the pages. It’s nice to see a graphic novel addressing bullying and body image issues with a boy main character.

Home is where the heart is

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Sea Legs by Jules Bakes, illustrated by Niki Smith (Graphix, 256 pages, grades 3-7). Janey’s lived on board her parents’ sailboat before, but it’s harder going back to that life this time, after going to public school for third grade and making a good friend named Rae. But she doesn’t have much say in the matter, as her family sets sail for the Caribbean. Life onboard is much different, with unique adventures and natural wonders every day, but also sometimes with boredom and loneliness. When they anchor at one of the islands so her parents can make some money, Janey’s excited to see another girl who looks just a little older than she is. Soon, she’s hanging out with Astrid, who seems cool and courageous, but who is sometimes mean to Janey and takes her on adventures that occasionally turn dangerous. Janey slowly realizes that Astrid is living with an abusive father, forced to take care of her younger half siblings and not allowed to go to school, and that the older girl envies Janey’s secure family and opportunity to get an education. When hurricane season hits hard, Janey is sent to live with her grandmother for several months. On her return, the ship is damaged, Astrid is gone without a trace, and Janey has to learn from her parents how to be resilient and get back out to sea once again. Includes notes from the author and illustrator, friends since the age of 12, about how Jules’s childhood at sea and their friendship inspired this book.

Who can resist the lure of a life at sea? I was curious to read this fictionalized graphic memoir about Jules Bakes’s unique childhood. It ended up surprising me, showing both the good and more difficult sides of this life, with Astrid’s story offering a particularly dark version of it. I was hoping for a little more resolution of Astrid’s story and her friendship with Janey, but the ambiguity felt very realistic.

Home by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Long (G. P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers, 48 pages, ages 4+). As they did with their picture book Love, Matt de la Peña and Loren Long offer meditations about home. Whether it’s an apartment next to the highway, a house near the airport, Grandpa’s houseboat, or the back of Dad’s big rig, home has a feeling of familiarity, comfort, and security. But what if you lose your home? “Hurricane rains flood your streets. Or a thick black smoke blankets the sky. Or Papa’s garment factory closes down.” You may have to leave the only home you’ve ever known, but slowly you will find your way back with the help of a father or a grandma or a teacher, because it’s those people who really are your home. And when you look up into the sky at a hawk or a mountain or the stars, you’ll remember the home we all share, “promising that all life is one life and when the winds do come they will carry you home.”

I was blown away by how much is contained in this seemingly simple picture book that could be enjoyed by a preschooler or used in a college class to reflect on all the meanings of the word “home.” The text is lyrical and thought-provoking, and as for the illustrations…well, let’s get on with it already and finally give Loren Long the Caldecott recognition he deserves.

Graphic novels that deal with tough issues

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Crumble by Meredith McClaren, illustrated by Andrea Bell (Little, Brown Ink, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Emily’s mother is often traveling to promote the family bakery, so Aunt Gina and Emily run the shop and keep things going back home. The two of them know how to infuse their baked goods with feelings, helping people to feel happier or more relaxed when they eat them. When Aunt Gina suddenly dies in a car accident, Emily and her mom are overwhelmed by grief. The only way Emily knows how to process her feelings is to bake, but baking while sad results in terrible-tasting pastries that somehow no one can stop eating. When Emily ends up making all of her classmates sick, she has to slow down and find new ways to deal with her feelings. She and her mom slowly create a new normal, and the last chapter shows them running a new baking school, while Emily has developed more empathy for people around her who are suffering.

This cheery graphic novel takes an unexpected twist when a panel showing Aunt Gina’s wrecked car changed everything for Emily. From there, the story does an excellent job showing how she processes her grief, feeling overwhelmed by it at first, then slowly finding a way to acknowledge her feelings and move on, even though things will never be the same. The reactions from the other kids–trying to cheer Emily up, asking too many questions about her aunt’s funeral–are helpful in showing readers what may or may not be helpful to those who are grieving.

Cassi and the House of Memories by Dean Stuart (Viking Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, grades 4-7). Cassi loves spending time with her grandparents, but sometimes Grandpa’s mind wanders. When he forgets who she is, Grandma reassures her that he is still there and that he loves her. One day, Cassi goes into the backyard with him, and he disappears into the woods. When she goes in search of him, she discovers a giant structure that looks like Grandpa’s head. Inside, she discovers all kinds of memories from Grandpa’s early life. Cassi is able to put herself into those memories, and in an exciting climax, to help change one of them from a traumatizing event to one that makes Grandpa into a hero. Eventually, she meets up with her present-day grandpa, and he leads her back home, where Grandma is waiting with dinner, not worried at all, just sure that the two of them have been having fun together. An author’s note tells of his experiences with his own father’s dementia and how he created this book for kids who may be dealing with someone in a similar situation.

I saw this book described as “melancholy” in a review, and that’s a perfect word for both the story and the artwork that creates an alternate world inside Grandpa’s head, where memories come and go. Cassi’s ability to change some of the memories demonstrate how selective and imperfect all of our memories are. A thought-provoking book that will help kids see those with dementia in a new way.

Two books for Ramadan

~ Janet Dawson ~ 1 Comment

Almost Sunset by Wahab Algarmi (HarperAlley, 224 pages, grades 4-7). Hassan is fasting for Ramadan in this graphic novel, and, although it’s his third year doing so, this year seems harder than before. He’s going to the mosque for nightly prayers with his father for the first time, and there’s not as much community support as there was when his family was back in Yemen. Not only is Hassan falling asleep in math class, but he’s not performing up to par on the soccer field, getting shown up by teammate and frenemy Rosie. Everywhere he goes, Hassan sees delicious food, and when some cousins talk him into sneaking off for snacks, he’s wracked with guilt. When Hassan finally tells his soccer coach why his performance is off and he’s leaving practices early, he’s happily surprised to learn that Coach is also observing Ramadan with his own fast. Finally, Eid arrives, and Hassan is rewarded for his determination with a joyous celebration that include friends and family who help him to acknowledge his perseverance and to forgive himself for mistakes.

Muslim kids observing Ramadan will relate to Hassan’s struggles and hopefully learn to open up to those around them about what is going on with them for the month; non-Muslims will learn more about Ramadan and how to support their friends. The artwork is excellent, with lots of wordless pages that move the story along at a good clip, and some funny pictures of Hassan imagining food in all kinds of contexts.

The Gift of Eid by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, illustrated by Aaliya Jaleel (Holiday House, 40 pages, ages 4-8). Yasmine and Mama are shopping in Damascus’s Souq Al-Hamidiyeh. They’re both grieving the recent death of Yasmine’s dad, and Yasmine wishes she could find the perfect Eid gift to bring a smile to Mama’s face. When she sees a sign offering money for jewelry, she sells the chain she’s wearing around her neck. At the Masjid Al-Umawi mosque, Mama and Yasmine meet up again for prayers. At the end, they agree to exchange early Eid gifts, but when Yasmine gives Mama the beautiful box she’s bought for Mama to keep her bracelet in, Mama starts to laugh. She sold the bracelet to buy Yasmine a charm to put on her gold chain. They realize that their love for each other is the greatest gift they can give, and head for home with a charm but no chain, a box but no bracelet, and “all the love we need.” Includes an author’s note about how her childhood in Syria inspired this story.

Based on the O. Henry story The Gift of the Magi, this sweet story introduces readers to daily life in Syria, beautifully portrayed in the illustrations. It’s also a tale of grief and healing, as Yasmine and Mama look for ways to help each other through a difficult time.

A collection of mysteries and the mystery of collections

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Casey’s Cases by Kay Healy (Neal Porter Books, 160 pages, grades 2-5). Fifth grader Casey aspires to be a detective, and sees a mystery in almost every situation. Who is the new girl? Where is her missing hair band? What did her crush write in his notebook? Who is the owner of the lost cat she found? Some mysteries are solved in a few minutes (the hair band), while others take the whole book to solve (the new girl, Jan, who becomes Casey’s best friend), and some have surprise twists (the stray cat, whose growing belly turns out not to be from eating too much tuna). Here’s hoping that Casey and Jan will team up for another book of mysteries.

The humor, simple story line, and short chapters will make this an appealing choice for beginning and/or reluctant readers, who may also enjoy copying the drawings that employ basic shapes, such as the triangle-headed Casey.

Monti and Leo: A Mystery in Pocketville by Sylvie Kantorovitz (Walker Books, 80 pages, grades 1-4). Monti and Leo enjoy looking at Mrs. Sheep’s collection of small figurines on display at the local library. In fact, Monti is so enchanted with one item in the collection that he’s a prime suspect when it disappears. Leo wrestles with his feelings that Monti might have wanted it enough to take it, but ultimately he believes in his friend’s innocence and sets out to solve the mystery. When he starts hearing about other missing items around town, he discovers a bird he’s never seen before flying overhead with an item in her beak. Leo runs after the bird, climbs a huge tree, and discovers all the missing treasures–including the figurine–in the bird’s nest. In the final chapter, Monti thanks his friend and reveals his new collection: containers, each one holding a mini collection of different small items.

This is book two of a series I missed last year (thank you, Walker Books for sending me a review copy). The animal cast will appeal to fans of Mr. Wolf’s Class, and it would make a good book for those just starting with chapter books. I’m always fascinated by animal stories in which some of the animals act like humans and others are more like animals (like how Marc Brown’s Arthur has a pet dog), so I was intrigued by the fact that one crow was living in a nest acting bird-like, while another one was the local librarian.

A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney, illustrated by E. B. Goodale (Knopf Books for Young Readers, 40 pages, ages 3-8). Mom may say a pocket full of rocks will make your coat dirty, Dad might ask where your other mitten will go, and your sister will dismiss them as ordinary, but you know those rocks will make excellent chairs for fairies, or let you write on the sidewalk if you don’t have chalk. There are other collections to fill your pockets as the year goes on: petals in the spring, seashells in the winter, and acorns in the fall. Each object fires up your imagination, and at the end of the year, you can use them for presents: a bowl of shells for Dad’s dresser, tiny pictures on the acorns for your sister, and a bag of petals for Mom to put in the drawer with her sweaters. And a pocket full of rocks for you to make sleds for the fairies.

Wow, this book really took me back, as my older daughter–soon to turn 30–was a collector just like the narrator. I don’t remember flower petals, but our house had plenty of rocks, shells, and acorns, with imaginative stories about each collection. This would be a lovely book to begin a conversation about collecting, seasons, or making crafts from your imagination, with illustrations that beautifully capture each season.

Graphic novels with a STEAM theme

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Very Bad at Math by Hope Larson (HarperAlley, 240 pages, grades 4-8). Verity “Very” Nelson is an athlete, musician, popular eighth-grade class president, and ace student…except when it comes to math, which she is failing miserably. When she’s told she has to bring up her math grade to stay on student council, Very starts working with a tutor. Despite her hard work, her progress is slow, and when Very makes a costly mistake at a class fundraiser, her tutor realizes she’s transposed two numbers and diagnoses her with dyscalculia. He starts to work with her on learning strategies to help her with this disability, and by the end of the book, Very’s back on top and on her way to being successful at math. But Very is something of an activist, and she’s determined to make school a better, more just place for students with disabilities, and the last few pages show her talking to her favorite local politician about ideas she has to do just that.

I’m always happy to see a new graphic novel by Hope Larson, especially one for elementary readers, since most of her books are for young adults. This one is sure to be popular with both elementary and middle school, particularly those who are dealing with some sort of learning issue. Very is resilient and persistent in her efforts, but she also has to learn how to deal with setbacks and not making progress even with hard work. I hope we’ll see a second book to find out how she brings her fight for justice to her school.

Space Chasers by Leland Melvin and Joe Caramagna, illustrated by Alison Acton (First Second, 240 pages, grades 3-7). Five middle school students are chosen to be part of NASA’s new STEAM team program, undergoing rigorous training to prepare them for a mission into space. When that mission goes awry, three of the kids wind up on a space station with no adult supervision and must figure out what to do to save the mission…and themselves. Each of the participants brings unique skills to the program but also their own insecurities that sometimes get in the way of solving problems, particularly under pressure. When everyone’s safely back on Earth, the powers-that-be deem the program too dangerous, but the kids manage to convince them otherwise, opening the door for book 2. Includes some work-in-progress art and an author’s note.

Former astronaut Leland Melvin has written a fun space adventure with five endearing kids who get the opportunity of a lifetime. I haven’t been so nervous about the outcome of a space adventure since I watched Apollo 13, which made it hard for me to put the book down. I’ll admit it took some suspension of disbelief to believe that NASA would send middle school kids into space, but heck, if you had told me a few months ago that a 19-year-old nicknamed “Big Balls” would be a senior advisor at the State Department, I would have been pretty skeptical of that as well.

Cutting hair and a mixed-up pair

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The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day by Raúl the Third, inked by Elenora Bruni and Elaine Bay (Little, Brown Ink, 128 pages, grades 2-5). The Snips are a superhero quintet from Scissors City, who not only give the best haircuts, but also use their powers to create such technology as barber-pole jet packs and and drone barber bots. When the Bad Buzz Boys come to town, threatening to destroy one of the Snips’s record for most haircuts given in one day, our heroes spring into action to save the day. The Bad Buzz Boys are racing through town, randomly giving terrible haircuts, and the Snips are able to not only stop them, but to repair the damage and to remind everyone that working together and valuing community are much more important than setting records. Includes additional information about barber poles, the real-life record holder for haircuts given in a day, and directions for drawing one of the Snips.

Those familiar with Raúl the Third’s zany, high-energy comic art will be thrilled to hear that he has a new graphic novel, which appears to be a series opener. Dog Man fans will enjoy a new set of superheroes, and those that speak Spanish–or aspire to learn–will find plenty of it (with translations) interspersed throughout the text.

Operation: Cover-Up by Tate Godwin (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 192 pages, grades 3-6). New Leaf Elementary has two new kids in the fifth grade: Sy always has a joke to tell, while Nick enjoys sharing his wealth of knowledge and advanced vocabulary. A series of mishaps results in Sy being seen as the braniac and Nick getting the label of class clown. Both try to be who they think their classmates want them to be, and when they meet and realize what’s happened, they decide to help each other keep the cover-up going. A new friend named Violet, who’s a secret comic artist, helps them see the importance of being themselves, and a school talent show allows all three to share their real talents with the rest of their classmates. A sequel, Operation: Make a Splash is promised on the last page.

Share this fun and clever graphic novel with fans of Mr. Wolf’s Class. Readers are sure to get a laugh from Sy and Nick’s mishaps and subsequent bumbling efforts to cover up the truth about themselves and will learn a good lesson or two about being true to yourself.

Struggles at school

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Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney Williams (First Second, 208 pages, grades 3-7). Stella is excited to start fifth grade, but her excitement turns to panic as the homework starts to pile up and she falls further and further behind. She and her two best friends often play a favorite video game, but when a new manual comes out, Stella feels alienated when she can’t keep up with her friends’ reading. And to add to her worries, the big fifth grade project isn’t the art project she was hoping for, but one that features students’ writing. When Stella’s teacher calls home, she’s sure she’s in trouble, but it turns out that the adults in her life want to help. Once she’s gotten a dyslexia diagnosis, Stella’s able to work with special education teachers to develop new skills to help with her reading. This also takes away her shame at feeling like she’s not as smart as everyone else, leading to an honest conversation with her friends that helps them resolve their issues. And Stella’s understanding teacher lets her create a graphic novel for the writing project that allows Stella’s artistic talents to shine.

Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke (Graphix, 256 pages, grades 3-7). Mira’s determined that middle school will be a fresh start for her, but on the first day, she finds that, once again, she can’t bring herself to talk at school. Home is a different story, the place where she can be herself and pursue her passion of stop-motion photography. But this haven is taken away when former-friend-turned-mean girl Chloe comes for an extended stay. A phone call from school alerts Mira’s parents to her selective mutism, and she begins to work on her issues with an understanding therapist. A kind and patient new friend, Alex, also helps her by volunteering to be Mira’s partner with a project and defending her from bullies. Mira learns to take things one step at a time, communicating with notes and whispers. She even finds a way to reach out to Chloe (by letter), opening the way for them to resolve their differences. By the end of the story, Mira’s enjoying sixth grade, learning to succeed in her own way. Includes a note from the author (creator of the Mr. Wolf’s Class series) about his own struggles with social anxiety and difficulties talking in public.

These graphic novels offer stories that will both empower kids who may be dealing with learning differences like Stella’s or social anxieties like Mira’s, and create empathy in kids who may have classmates like them. I loved how the girls got help and support both at school and home but ultimately had to find their own ways. Each was able to discover her own talents and see her struggles as something she could overcome while staying true to herself.

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