Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
An aspiring artist grapples with gender-related expectations and burgeoning sexuality in Elliott's warm debut. Riley Mayes, who presents as white, thinks that fifth grade "isn't my kinda vibe": her school has laid off its art teacher, the classmate who found her funny has moved away, and the other kids seem to have "squaded-up." But following her mother's suggestion to find people who get her, Riley befriends new kid and comics enthusiast Aaron, who has two dads and is portrayed with brown skin, and cued-white cat fanatic Cate, who asks Riley to illustrate her original feline-focused story. As Riley works to earn local art lessons, maintaining her grades and avoiding notes home, a new hairstyle prompts a schoolmate to call her "lesbo," and she realizes that her fixation on a female comic is actually a crush. Elliott leans into Riley's anxieties around queerness: "If a person is gay... will they still have friends?" she wonders, even while encountering a positive model in Aaron's dads. In fine lines and citrus hues, Elliott renders a sunny external world that juxtaposes Riley's internal worries and confusion in a story of self-discovery that's messy and full of heart. Ages 8--12. (May)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--8--In this delightful story, fifth grader Riley Mayes is trying to find her place. Her friend has moved away, and she is bouncing around from group to group trying to find friends who understand her. Her teacher certainly doesn't; Riley's class interruptions and constant doodling land her in trouble on a regular basis. When the class is assigned to write a letter to a well-known person, Riley chooses to write to Joy Powers, a comedian she admires, but she gets stuck on what to write and how to say it. In the meantime, the new kid in her class, Aaron, seems okay, and classmate Cate begins to befriend Riley. Things are looking up until the other kids start harassing Riley and calling her "lesbian." Would that be so bad? How does a person know they're gay? Riley is filled with questions. Though confused, she has a tremendous support team in her parents, her older brother Danny, and her newfound friends. Through many ups and downs, Riley begins to find her footing and, most importantly, recognize that she has plenty of people to go to. This realistic and heartwarming story, filled with humor and angst, has a little something for everyone to enjoy. Readers will readily empathize with Riley. VERDICT The simple and endearing artwork with soft colors will fly off library shelves and be a hit for readers who enjoy Raina Telgemeier's books and Jennifer Holm's "Sunny" series.--Esther Keller
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Review by Horn Book Review
"Fifth grade isn't my kinda vibe," admits Riley at the start of Elliott's debut graphic novel, an exploration of self-identity that is both LOL funny and touching. Riley struggles in school, preferring to crack jokes and doodle on her assignments. And she doesn't have a crush on anyone in Eleventy-One, the boy band that is the frequent subject of her classmates' discussions. But she starts to suspect she might have a crush on Joy Powers, a celebrity comedian who is her idol and the intended recipient of a letter for a school assignment -- if Riley can only figure out how to narrow her questions ("Do you ever love stuff that other people think is weird?"). Riley finds a true friend in new -- kid Aaron but accidentally outs his parents as gay. When a classmate calls her a "lesbo," Riley (who thinks of herself as a "dude-ish girl") struggles to come to terms with her own identity. With the help of a few friends, her tight-knit family, Aaron's dads, and even Joy Powers, Riley realizes that "it's worth it to find the few people who truly get you." Elliott brings readers crisp linework, a bright palette, expressive body language, rich narrative details, and (bonus!) kitty comics. Best of all is inimitable Riley, who endears herself to readers with her budding self-awareness and undeniable moxie. Julie Danielson July/August 2022 p.118(c) Copyright 2022. 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.
