I'm far removed from middle school, but I find Svetlana Chmakova's Berrybrook series captivating. They're filled with interesting, relatable characters going through things I went through at that age. The character design in these books is top notch too. I love seeing cameos from other entries show up in the background, it makes it feel like a real school. ( )

The middle-school drama was ripe with this one haha! Also, I enjoyed the spotlight on positive self-affirmations and learning how to listen to others' ideas (even if they're not particularly good). This series is still so much fun.

3.5 ( )

7/10, it was ok, but not as good as the Poet X. ( )

This was a great addition to the series -- love how she perfectly captures the confusion and frustrations of adolescence and trying to find your way. I particularly love that the relationship awkwardness at the heart of this story was a weird miscommunication and wasn't resolved by dating. Feels authentic. Also girl gamers for the win, and young entrepreneurs are super! ( )

kids/middlegrade graphic fiction (#5 in Berrybrook MSseries but do not need to be read in order). Felicity (gotta love her hair) feels like she can never measure up to her "perfect" older sister Letty, but maybe also has trouble finishing her projects. She teams up with one of her art club friends to win a contest, but tensions arise when her former friend Joseph turns out to be entering the same contest. Stuff gets messy (REAL messy!) but 'City and her friends work things out in the end and she learns that little failures don't matter in the big picture anyway.

Another high-quality story, charmingly illustrated with tons of relatability and kid appeal, with incidental non-binary characters (teacher Mx. Edi and community business leader Mx. Shepard, who is also in a wheelchair). Recommended for any kids who love graphic novels. ( )