Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Rodriguez's warm and encouraging semi-autobiographical graphic novel debut depicts the challenges of pursuing one's dreams while feeling misunderstood by surrounding community. Circa 2000, 13-year-old artist Steph, who attends a Catholic middle school in the Bronx, is preparing to enter high school with best friends Tiff and Ana. While her protective mother warns her about the dangers of public school, citing her own traumatic childhood experience after emigrating from the Dominican Republic, Steph's supportive art teacher, Ms. Santiago, suggests applying to a Manhattan liberal arts high school to develop her creative talents. Given friends' disparaging comments regarding her aspirations, Steph lies to her peers and mother about her goals and puts together an application portfolio in secret. Distinct details denoting place and time--such as bodega snacks and era-specific sparkly slogan tops--lend verve to the kaleidoscopically colorful illustrations peopled by a largely Latinx-cued cast rendered with animated facial expressions. With sincerity and precision, Rodriguez captures Steph's feelings of frustration with her loved ones and awe at the inherent beauty of the world around her, which she depicts in her art. Ages 9--12. (Apr.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 6--10--Dominican American eighth grader Steph is struggling to focus on her upcoming New York high school entrance exams because the core subjects don't interest her much; her real passion is art. With encouragement and support from her teacher Ms. Santiago, Steph instead sets her sights on the LaGuardia High School in Manhattan, a public school with a portfolio-based admissions process. LaGuardia seems like a dream to Steph, but there's just one (big) problem: her mother, Mari, would never approve of going to a public school, due to Mari's own bad experiences. Undeterred by the obstacles in front of her, Steph devises a plan to put together her portfolio and convince her mom that she knows what's best for her own high school career. Loosely based on the creator's life, the story convincingly delves into familiar themes surrounding diverging interests in middle school friend groups, wanting to fit in, and trying to find individual happiness amid family pressures. Colorfully vibrant artwork alternates between the micro and the macro: Steph and her friends at school and home are depicted with solid backgrounds and a skillful use of shading, while various New York neighborhoods are shown with impressive detail. Chapters are marked by minimalist colored and numbered circles and early 2000s slang and pop culture references are abundant, while Spanish is present throughout. Supporting and background characters largely appear to be Black, including best friend Tiff, or other people of color. VERDICT A touching and recommended story for offering reassurances that even sticky situations aren't the end of the world.--Alea Perez
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Review by Horn Book Review
In this engaging graphic novel, itâe(tm)s time for Steph to choose a high school, and her protective Dominican mom wants her to pick a nice Catholic school in the Bronx. But academics arenâe(tm)t Stephâe(tm)s strong suit -- sheâe(tm)d rather spend time drawing. Her art teacher, Ms. ÂSantiago, suggests she apply to LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, and even offers to help Steph with her portfolio. Stephâe(tm)s mom wonâe(tm)t let her attend a public school, let alone one in Manhattan, so Steph comes up with a plan: if she fails the Catholic school entrance exam on purpose, LaGuardia will be her only option, and her mom will have to let her go. Can she keep her mom from finding out that sheâe(tm)s been visiting Manhattan art museums with Ms. Santiago? And next year, when Steph and her two best friends are at separate high schools, will their bond survive the split? Set in the year 2000, Stephâe(tm)s world is full of time-period details, from landlines to AIM to Kid Cuisine, while dialogue includes 2000s slang and seamlessly interwoven Spanish language. Bright, cartoony illustrations allow moments of both comedy and expressive emotion. This slice-of-life story lets the characters and their relationships shine -- itâe(tm)s hard not to root for Steph to find the school of her dreams. Bodie ShanisMarch/April 2023 p.79 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
In Rodriguez's quasi-memoir, eighth grade finds 13-year-old Steph at a crossroads in the Bronx circa 2000. Even though high school's fast approaching, Steph can't quite shake off her overprotective mom, who insists on walking her to school every morning and expects Steph to come straight home after school. How embarrassing! To pursue her dreams of becoming an artist, Steph decides to apply to LaGuardia High School, an art school in Manhattan. Only one problem: Her mom does NOT want her to go to a public school. Undeterred in her artistic ambitions, Steph preps to get into LaGuardia with the help of Ms. Santiago, her art teacher. The young artist, however, keeps her plans mostly a secret, stirring up a web of lies for her mom, Ms. Santiago, and even her best friends, Tiff and Ana. Meanwhile, cracks start forming in her once-solid friendships with Tiff and Ana. While Tiff derides Steph's art goals, Ana gets chummy with Steph's schoolyard bullies. Will Steph get into LaGuardia in one piece? Upbeat and effervescent, Rodriguez's middle-grade graphic novel debut elicits a lot of laughs. The author lovingly depicts the Bronx to its brightest and fullest colors, sprinkling in a few pop-culture callbacks to the early 2000s. A nuanced focus on the central relationship between daughter and mother (who emigrated from the Dominican Republic at 11) provides a potent cross-generational dialogue. Most characters are cued as Latine. An artfully rendered, sweetly impressive coming-of-age journey. (author's note) (Graphic novel. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
