Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
When a confident tween's luck goes sour, she must find a way to change her fortune for the better in this bouncy graphic novel debut by Benda (A Family of Readers). Middle schooler Serendipity, who has never met an extracurricular she didn't like, relies on her abnormally good luck to keep her many plates spinning. While attending a carnival--to which she fortuitously won tickets--a rickety fortune-telling machine informs Serendipity that "bad luck will infect your soul." The youth thinks nothing of it--until she wakes up with her first bad hair day ever and fumbles commitments for which she is underprepared, including the school play, class election, and basketball game. Desperate to inject luck back into her life, she connects with Evelina the Gr8, a mysterious girl who solves problems with magic spells in exchange for coveted trading cards. But as Serendipity attempts to navigate life without the advantage of kismet, she realizes that asking for help and learning to appreciate her loved ones' quiet support might be all the luck she needs. Bold, rounded lines render winking details (in Serendipity's journal: "super-awesome crowdsourced ways to fix bad luck"), adding visual humor to the low-stakes conflict. It's a lighthearted tale that both celebrates young overachievers and suggests that everyone could use a break. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8--12. (Jan.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 4--7--Serendipity is her name, and it's also her game. Serendipity (Dippy) leads a charmed life: she's been the radio station's lucky seventh caller multiple times in a row, easily averts accidents, and always seems to recover anything she's lost. Life moves fast for Dippy, and she's excelling in all things middle school--student council, grades, basketball, the school play, and the steadiness of her best friend Basil. But when cashing in her newly won tickets to the carnival, she receives a bleak curse from the fortune teller: "Bad luck will infect your soul." Commence a romp of wacky events that turn Dippy's usual natural luck sideways. Readers will realize faster than Dippy that she has too much on her plate and that bad luck won't justify things she could easily control. Her problems could be less messy if she would just slow down. Owning one's choices is a journey every tween takes, and Benda's story will prove relatable to many middle grade graphic novel readers. Full-page spreads featuring bright colors and a variety of panel sizes bring Dippy's world to life and make for immersive reading. Hand this to fans of series like Terri Libenson's "Emmie & Friends," Svetlana Chmakova's "Awkward," and Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's "Real Friends." Dippy and Basil are illustrated with skin in shades of pink, the students at their school are portrayed with a range of skin tones and faith backgrounds. VERDICT Full of high jinks and endless energy, this is a strong additional purchase where realistic graphic literature is in demand.--Jamie Winchell
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
An instructive awakening for the overachieving crowd. Things have a way of working out for Serendipity, from winning radio call-in contests to getting an extra ice cream cone at a carnival. She's generous with her best friend, Basil, and suggests a "BE NICE" campaign to her class president election team; she's not a jerk about her good fortune. But Serendipity's happy-go-lucky ways are reversed by a robotic fortunetelling machine that seemingly curses her with bad luck. Staring down roles in a basketball game, an election debate, and a stage play, all scheduled to take place on the same day, Serendipity turns to the occult to bail her out. Meanwhile, because she can't stand disappointing others, her people-pleasing response to anyone's concerns is to insist that nothing's wrong--in fact, "everything's cool!" Serendipity's somewhat extreme approach to life is headed for a collision with teamwork and responsibility. Benda's debut brings the world of middle school to life with all its comedic highs and weighty lows. Her use of foreshortening effectively depicts overwhelming moments, while her dramatic employment of light and shadow enhances the fraught scenes between the best friends. The soft colors and rounded shapes make the illustrations visually appealing. Serendipity and Basil present white, and there's ample racial diversity among their peers. A humorous story that will help tweens gain self-awareness and set healthy boundaries.(Graphic fiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
