Brave by Svetlana Chmakova - ESSENTIAL

Chmakova, Svetlana Brave, GRAPHIC NOVEL, 248 pgs. Yen Press, 2017. $11.00. Language: PG (1 swear, 0’f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying)  

Jensen is struggling in middle school, both socially and academically.  He often daydreams about the future and what it will be like when he is an astronaut, but recognizes that he needs to improve his math skills, but it’s hard to pay attention in class and he’d really rather draw.  But when the editor of the school paper and her best friend start looking at “The Lizard Brain” culture at their school, Jensen starts to recognize that he is a victim of bullying, and some of the bullies are his “friends”!  

This terrific graphic novel shows middle school at is worst (and sometimes its best.) Tutoring, lunch, clubs and petitions show the reader that they are not alone in feeling like an outsider, and teaches them a lesson about changing school culture without being preachy or heavy handed.  I hope this one is as popular as Awkward, the message is timely and important.  

MS - ESSENTIAL  Lisa Librarian