Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton and Aska - ADVISABLE

Stars in Their Eyes by Jessica Walton and Aska, 224 GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphix Scholastic, 2023. $16

Language: PG-13 (17 swears 0 F); Mature Content: PG (talk of being conceived in a back seat, getting prego) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Maisie is 14yo and on her way to her first fancon where she is excited to meet other queer, disabled people. Her idol, Kara Bufano, an action hero will be there and they both have an above the knee amputation in common. When Maisie and her mother get there, she meets Ollie, a volunteer working the show. They are as into geek culture as Maisie, and Maisie begins to have feelings for them. 

 This is a slice of life book. The entire book takes place in the one day of Maisie's fancon visit, so it's like reading it in real time. This is a first romance story with nonbinary characters as well as featuring Maisie's disability. The characters are believable and reinforce the theme of celebrating yourself and others for who they are. No race is mentioned for the main characters but the culture is LGBTQ. 

Michelle in the Middle