Dear Jackie

Though childhood best friends Jackie and Milo--who were born on the same day at the same hospital--are dreading entering middle school, they're comforted by the fact that they'll have each other. Once the school year begins, however, Jackie struggles to maintain their dynamic as Milo opts to bond with his new soccer teammates. On top of feeling lonely, Jackie endures cruel critiques from her peers about her appearance: Milo's teammates disparage her for dressing "like a dude," while female classmates encourage Jackie to change up her style so "at least people would know you're a girl." She resolves to give herself a makeover for picture day, but when students ridicule her visible body hair--and Milo joins in the jeering--things begin to go downhill for the once-close besties. Slice-of-life vignettes by the Bagleys (Duel) portray Jackie's grappling with issues surrounding puberty, body image, and shifting relationships; glimpses into Milo's own challenges navigating toxic male environments deepens the graphic novel's authentic presentation of kids in social transition. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. Agent: Alexandra Penfold, Upstart Crow Literary. (Sept.)

Middle school pulls best friends in different directions in this latest collaboration from husband-wife duo the Bagleys. Jackie and Milo have always been inseparable, spying on neighbors (and their dogs) and hiding from the world in their HQ. But as they enter sixth grade, middle school hits fast. The two begin to drift apart, with Milo joining the soccer team and making friends with the "dude brahs," while Jackie is thrown together with Adelle, her mom's friend's daughter, who's into fashion and makeup. As her classmates obsess over who likes whom, Jackie, who prefers video games and comics and appreciates a comfy hoodie, starts to feel like she's doing girlhood all wrong. Her parents--loving but stuck in old-school ideas of femininity--aren't much help. Jackie turns to Jabari, her college-age gender-nonconforming sibling, for advice on how they came to accept themself. Jackie also tries to alleviate the pressure from peers by typing herself a fake love letter on Jabari's old typewriter--but her scheme causes more problems than it solves. With lively, expressive art and the creative use of typewritten narration boxes to reflect Jackie's unspoken thoughts, this graphic novel captures the cringey, confusing mess of early adolescence. A diverse cast of side characters brings depth to a story that champions self-acceptance and individuality. Jackie and her family appear Black, and Milo presents East Asian. A funny, heartfelt look at growing up and pushing back against narrow expectations. (author's note, illustrator's note)(Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.