Three new middle grade books (including two graphic novels) feature queer protagonists and crushes while giving us thoughtful and compelling stories of families and friendships. Share them for Pride or any time of year!
Click titles or images for full reviews!
Midsummer Sisters, by Niki Smith (Scholastic Graphix): Kenzie and Quinn are stepsisters and best friends in this beautiful and moving graphic novel about sisterhood and family change. Kenzie’s dad and Quinn’s mom have been together for years; Kenzie’s mom died when Kenzie was very young. Recently, though, the parents have been arguing constantly, and the girls don’t know what’s going to happen to their family. Gramma knowingly swoops in to take the girls for a summer in the Outer Banks, offering the girls a respite and giving their parents time to sort things out. She is Kenzie’s dad’s mother, but views both girls as equally her granddaughters.
The region offers beaches, a herd of wild horses, and even a newborn foal. The girls explore and become involved in local conservancy efforts through veterinarian Gramma, who is a stable, calming presence. Despite their activity, though, the girls are still grappling with the question of what will happen to their family. If their parents divorce, the girls would be separated, too, each living with the parent who raised them before their family blended.
Quinn is snappish and Kenzie withdrawn as they each navigate how their relationship may change. Quinn is also in the midst of a budding romantic relationship with Willow, a girl from her school, through texts and video calls. Smith has given us a poignant tale of sisterhood and growing up, but also a rare look at what happens when a blended family seems about to unblend. It is a bittersweet story, but also somehow full of joy, dazzlingly drawn, and highly recommended.
Sol Goes for Goal! by Julio Anta, illustrated by Gabi Mendez (RandomHouse Graphic): 12-year-old Soledad (Sol) is a model student and athlete, much to the dismay of her goth-y older sister in this graphic novel. Lately, however, she’s finding herself distracted by Lily, the captain of the Hillside Valley Middle School soccer team. She tries to ignore her growing crush, which is throwing her off her game and could endanger the team’s chance to win the championship.
Sol’s focus on the team, however, is causing her to ignore her non-soccer friends. Her quest for perfection and the exhaustion it engenders even threatens her long-standing best-friend relationship with artist and classmate Willie. Can she learn to manage her expectations for herself while also embracing her new feelings and balancing both old and new friendships?
Upbeat and affirming, the book also weaves in an important relationship between Sol and her sister. It gives us a sweet, budding queer relationship without being “about” queerness, creating a highly recommended tale with particular appeal to sports lovers.
Jazz Davies Skips a Beat, by Melanie Florence (Orca): In this standalone sequel to Lo Simpson Starts a Revolution, author Melanie Florence continues the story of friends Lo and Jazz, this time from Jazz’s perspective. Jazz is now one of her school’s popular “It Girls.” That meant leaving behind her best friend Lo, a decision Jazz is beginning to regret. The popular clique is focused on dating (and dieting), but Jazz isn’t interested in any of the boys in their class. In fact, it is her history project partner Ren who sets off butterflies in Jazz’s stomach. Ren’s dyed hair, mostly black clothing, and choices in music are most definitely not “It Girl” material.
Not only that, but Jazz’s mother left her dad for her yoga instructor. Jazz and her father are working out their new normal, and Jazz is seeing a therapist to process her feelings of anger and abandonment. Jazz thought that being an It Girl would give her an anchor, but she’s feeling more at sea than ever. Complicating things further is a major spoiler, but one likely relevant to readers of this review; I’ve written it in hidden text on the full review page, so click through to see how you can reveal it, if you wish.
The short, dialog-heavy chapters keep the tone light and lively as the book explores Jazz’s evolving relationships with Ren, Lo, and her mother, and her navigation of whether being popular is the same as belonging.