Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this gently uplifting chapter book series opener, Fang (Layla and the Bots) highlights the joys and trials of connection and new experiences. Ava Lin, who reads as East Asian, is excited to start first grade, where the imaginative, fun-loving six-and-a-half-year-old endeavors to find a best friend. While attending a dinner, Ava asks her older cousin Nikki for advice on finding one and is disheartened to learn that Nikki doesn't know how to make a friend--"you just do." When a family acquaintance adds soy sauce to Ava's bubble tea as a prank, Nikki comforts her by offering Ava a replacement beverage, which sparks an idea for how Ava can net herself a BFF. But school gets off to a rough start when, following Ava's offer of a trinket to a classmate she hoped would become her new bestie, a misunderstanding between the two results in Ava crying "for probably one hundred hours." Things soon look up for Ava, however; over the next few days, Ava encounters fun firsts, explores her creativity, and finally gains a companion, events rendered by Fang in an upbeat combination of bubbly prose and simple b&w comics. Ages 5--8. (June)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
K-Gr 2--Ava Lin starts first grade tomorrow and her mission is to find a best friend. Her older cousin Nikki is in fifth grade and has had a best friend since first grade, so Ava is determined to find out how to get one as soon as possible. At family dinner, Ava sees Nikki's bedazzled notebook and is enchanted. At school, Ava is pretty sure Kushi would make a great best friend, but when Ava offers her a jewel she found on her desk (thinking she'd politely decline like adults do), and Kushi accepts, Ava is devastated. Ava's dad explains that while it's great to share with a friend, you should only do it if you actually mean it. Ava and Kushi end up sharing snacks at lunch and decorating their notebooks together. Adults will have a hard time stifling laughs as Ava describes her mom's breathing techniques when she inadvertently washes a black crayon, or when she needs to bring Ava to the doctor to have a pebble removed from her ear. Ava's descriptions of events and objects are exactly what you'd expect from a six-and-a-half-year-old and make the story all the more enjoyable for kids and the adults who love them. The grayscale illustrations perfectly capture snippets of Ava's life and character expressions, adding even more enjoyment to the story. VERDICT This sweet friendship story from the perspective of an enthusiastic first grader is a must for most libraries.--Shana Shea
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
Ava is ready to find her best friend! Six-year-old Ava Lin has the best snacks for lunch, pockets filled with treasures, and a list of 117 animals that might make a good pet. She does not, however, have a best friend. Luckily, she can look to her cousin Nikki for guidance; Nikki met her best friend in first grade, and as a fifth grader, she now has someone who's always there for her. As Ava gets ready for her first day of first grade, she knows that she'll find her best friend this year, just like Nikki. At first, things go well. Ava is seated next to generous Kushi, whose backpack features a picture of a fox (Ava loves foxes!). Then things take a turn. The rules of friendship are hard to decipher, Ava upsets her mom when she leaves a crayon in her pocket and ruins the laundry, and she makes a mistake that necessitates a trip to the doctor. Though Ava is realistically impulsive, she's also emotionally perceptive and creative, both qualities that help her find solutions to her problems. Told through a combination of prose and grayscale illustrations (some in graphic novel--style panels), Ava's story is a wonderful combination of laughs and drama that will keep young readers engaged--and eager to read future books in this new series. Ava and her family are of Chinese descent, while the artwork depicts Kushi as darker-skinned than Ava; other characters are illustrated with a range of skin tones. A funny, charming series opener. (Chapter book. 5-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
