Middle Grade Review: Sink or Swim

Ty's headed off to camp with his best friends. His cast just came off his arm and it should be a great summer. But it's not because:

1. Anxiety rears its ugly head

2. Body Issues - not being able to swim changed his body

3. Friendship drama 

But there's also:

1. Building a Boat

2. Making new friends

3. RPG moments

This graphic novel has a lot to unpack, but it's also really good. I loved how there are good moments and bad moments. I liked the depiction of anxiety. And it was really brave of Ty to ask for help. I love that the counselor didn't know what to say, but came back with more information. I think that's an important piece - everyone's learning and now one has all the answers. 

Graphic Novel Review: Just Roll with It

Maggie's starting middle school. Everything seems strange. She's not sure if she'll be able to make new friends or find the perfect club to join. But she does have a d20 - and she uses it to help her make decisions. But are the decisions really right for her?

My Thoughts: I like how this graphic novel handled the mental health aspect (OCD and anxiety) with respect. I liked Maggie and her new friend group. I love the RPG moments and the geeking out over book moments. New schools can be hard, so I'm glad Maggie had friends and family to turn to when things got tough. I admired her determination and how she stood up to the bully boys. Monsters might not be real, but there are monsters in the world. The illustrations were cute.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A great mental health graphic novel for your school and public library's collection. Highly Recommended.

Hand This Book Out to: D&D or RPG players