Crush

Jorge, Garrett, and Olivia have always been best friends, but this year, things are changing: Olivia is fixated on dating, and Garrett is obsessed with grabbing the attention of aloof, entitled quarterback James. Only Jorge seems to rise above it all, quietly observing the behavior of his friends, using his strength to help others, and relishing his favorite sports. That is, until Jazmine shows up; then he suddenly can't speak! Set in the same middle school as Awkward (2015) and Brave (2017), this sweet, manga-inflected middle-grade graphic novel is refreshing in its depiction of a boy navigating the tricky waters of shifting friendships and pushing back against the expectations that he be a tough guy. Chmakova seamlessly weaves in nuanced, poignant commentary about toxic masculinity but keeps the story firmly grounded in the relationships between her well-drawn characters. The open, expressive faces of her figures (almost all with a near-constant blush) telegraph emotion beautifully, and she includes a refreshingly wide variety of body types and skin colors. Perfect for Raina Telgemeier fans.--Sarah Hunter Copyright 2019 Booklist

Gr 5-8-The third installment of the series set at Berrybrook Middle School centers on Jorge, whom readers met in Chmakova's Brave as "the sheriff," the big, scary dude (who's actually very sweet) who patrols the halls and intimidates bullies into leaving their victims alone. This year, students are obsessed with who's dating whom and who's asking whom out-which Jorge finds annoying, especially when he begins noticing one particular girl and can't seem to remember how to use words around her. The character development is wonderful. With each page turn, everyone becomes more complex, and the situations they experience are timely and real. The artwork tends toward colorful pastels, and the backgrounds lighten and darken to reflect characters' emotions in a lovely, subtle way. Panels featuring well-placed, expressive speech balloons and creative fonts move the action along. Mr. Raccoon continues to sneak into the background, and the author has a fun cameo. -VERDICT This compelling continuation to a fabulous middle grade graphic series also stands on its own and is every bit as strong as the first two books. For all collections.-Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.