Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this semi-autobiographical debut, Fox combines middle school angst with giggle-inducing humor to deliver a wholesome graphic novel romp. Left alone following her best (and only) friend Blair's move from Indiana to Boston, sixth grader Coco attempts to make new friends. It's only after she literally falls into a group of girls that Coco begins to learn--via trial and error--how to obtain and be a good companion. Joining the Owls basketball team, Coco befriends star player Maddie, who constantly belittles Coco and their teammates. During a sleepover, Coco suffers heartbreak when her crush Tami reveals she likes the team's mascot and jeopardizes her long-distance friendship with Blair by lying about why she can't call Blair that night. When Maddie, furious at being upstaged by Coco in the semifinal, reveals Coco's crush and her own careless remarks about her teammates, Coco must reconsider who her real confidants are and whether she has been acting like a friend to the people closest to her. Fox renders Coco's anxiety as eerie flame-like tendrils sprouting from the edges of pages, highlighting through the on-point visuals the emotional turbulence of adolescence. Frenetically designed characters are portrayed with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. Agent: Charlie Olsen, InkWell Management. (Aug.)
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--6--Eleven-year-old Coco's best and only friend Blair just moved out of state. How will Coco manage sixth grade? With a new technique she learned from her brother to help her face her fears, Coco joins the basketball team and discovers a new group of kids with similar interests. New teammates don't automatically mean new friends though, especially when Coco is navigating crushes, a broken arm, anxiety, and team drama. A diverse cast of characters helps round out this generally straightforward graphic novel about middle school relationships, with Coco having a crush on her teammate Tami, and nonbinary Zander having a crush on Coco (oh the dynamics of middle school feelings!). Fox's purple and orange palette gives the book a cozy, fall feel, while also highlighting the colors of the lesbian pride flag. The use of wavy, flamelike tendrils to showcase Coco's anxiety highlights the stress and emotional upheaval of the middle school years. VERDICT Good representation but doesn't add many surprises to the always-growing world of kids' graphic novels about friendship drama. Even so, this will still be much appreciated by kids who devour these stories, particularly if they like a sports twist.--Annamarie Carlson
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A middle schooler faces new challenges when her best (and only) friend moves away. In this graphic novel that's loosely based on the author's life, Indiana sixth grader Coco is determined to make new friends now that BFF Blair is busy with her new life in Boston. Despite her anxiety, which is represented by jagged white flamelike tendrils swirling around her, Coco joins the basketball team, the Lady Owls, hoping to hang out with her crush, Tami. When new nonbinary student Zander joins the team, Tami and Coco suggest dropping "Lady" from the name to be more inclusive. After Coco breaks her wrist during practice and must play with a cast, she starts passing the ball to Maddie, a talented teammate who used to taunt her. The girls become a dynamic duo on the court, but their subsequent friendship involves some emotional turbulence. Coco embarks on a mission to correct her mistakes and mend her relationships with family and friends. When her anxiety worsens, she'll need to rely on her teammates to help her through the championship. The expressive faces, clean lines, and uncluttered panels allow readers to clearly identify how the characters are feeling. The color palette is composed of varying shades of purples, oranges, and whites and is reminiscent of the lesbian pride flag. Coco, Maddie, and Zander read white; Blair is coded Chinese American, and Tami appears Black. A quirky, heartfelt celebration of bravery, friendship, and self. (Graphic fiction. 9-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
