5 stars
I wasn’t intending to spend all day reading this, but here we are.
Once I started, I did not want to put this book down. I forced myself to take breaks so I wouldn’t speed through and miss out on the great storytelling and wonderful artwork. Still, I read the whole thing in one day.
Personally, I don’t usually enjoy realistic school-based graphic novels much. However, this one really grabbed my attention. Loved the dynamics, interesting backstories, moral tensions, and the ongoing feud between the art and science clubs.
Not only was the book entertaining, it also had some great lessons. They were worked in naturally and didn’t come off as preaching the point. Chmakova calls out bullying and toxic behaviors while promoting finding ways to work together, standing up for others, owning up to mistakes, and making friends with different interests.
There is also bonus material in the back, including a peek into Chmakova’s process of creating comics and some character sketches.
A fantastic read that is entertaining and works in great messages. Glad this is a series. I’m ready to explore more of the middle school world Chmakova has created.