Fearless

Combining middle school realism with a (super)hero's journey, this relatable graphic novel follows Kara's reluctant transition from ferret-owning fifth-grade fangirl to mature preteen. Kara and her ride-or-die bestie are suburban white kids who love reenacting their favorite episodes of a show called Shinpi Rider--or so Kara thinks, until Alice signals that she'd rather spend her time on science and fashion projects and then moves two towns away. Not great at reading the room, Kara ditches the first day of middle school to bike, uninvited, to Alice's new town. Inspired by Shinpi Rider on the way, she helps a boy fix his dad's fruit stand, encourages a kid to stand up to his brother, and cleans up a storefront destroyed by a rogue stag. Her newfound empathy helps her accept a difficult truth: that her friendship with Alice has changed, partly because she didn't listen to her friend's needs and preferences. When the Shinpi series itself transforms, Kara is mostly ready to start school and make new friends. Though some of Kara's adventures, such as taking down a bike-stealing bully, skew a bit textbook, Wilcox's gracefully laid out, anime-inspired illustrations complement Porter's quirky and flawed protagonist. Ages 10--14. Agent (for author and illustrator): Mark Gottlieb, Trident Media Group. (May)■

Fandom and friendship collide when middle school BFFs are tested. In this middle-grade graphic stand-alone, Kara Dawson absolutely loves the TV show Shinpi Rider, about a masked cyclist who always perseveres to save the day. Kara's life is pretty great, basking in Shinpi fandom with her best friend, Alice, and trusty ferret, Gidget. When Alice's family suddenly moves two towns over, Kara's world is thrown into upheaval. She decides to skip her first day of school to ride her bike to Alice's new house and surprise her. Predictably, her journey does not go as expected, but she meets new friends along the way: Joe, a boy struggling to lift a heavy burden; Elaine, whose bike has been stolen by a bully; and Simon, whose older brother is tormenting him. When Kara finally makes it to Alice's new home, she finds her friend changed. The girls have a falling-out; is their friendship over? Kara's subsequent self-realization, though clearly spelled out, is approachable and made with a light hand. Kara is flawed and engaging, capturing the adolescent dichotomy of both fearlessness (in her altruism with strangers) and thoughtlessness (with those she cares about). Wilcox's full-color illustrations emphasize characters' faces and emotions. Shelve this among Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Best Friends series or Hope Larson's All Summer Long (2018). Kara and Alice are White; supporting cast members are diverse. Real and empathetic. (Graphic fiction. 8-11) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.