Former NFL player Crews draws inspiration from his early years for this graphic novel about a Black boy attending a new school in a different neighborhood.Terry, who dreams of moving out of his working-class neighborhood and making it big, is excited for his first day at the prestigious Rock City Academy, where he'll be able to pursue his passion for art (which he balances with a love of sports). At first, Terry loves the school, but a week later, he feels out of place and begins to have doubts, though the chance to participate in an upcoming talent show buoys him. Rick, a popular student, offers to let Terry join his team for the show, but first Terry must bully Xander, another student. Terry does, but he instantly has regrets, and eventually he, Xander, and Terry's class guide, Rani, form their own team for the talent show. Though the three are different, as they work together, they become closer. But when Terry's grades begin to suffer, his mother wants him to stop working on the show. However, with the support of friends and family, Terry finds a solution. This story is thematically similar to Jerry Craft's New Kid (2019) but is simpler and presented with less polish. Still, the friendships and family interactions are realistic, and the colorful drawings pair well with a story where art is a major component. Rani and Rick are brown-skinned, Xander presents White, and characters in both Terry's school and neighborhood are diverse.A worthwhile read, especially for kids with grand aspirations of their own. (Graphic novel. 8-12)

Gr 5–8 —In this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, Crews tells the story of brotherhood, temptation, friendship, and the importance of kindness. Terry is excited to win the lottery to attend a new prep school, but he faces self-doubt when stark class differences at the school reveal themselves. Everything seems to be moving in a good direction for Terry until Rick, the winner of last year's talent show, invites Terry to join him in his act. Rick pressures Terry into bullying Xander, the bookworm, to prove that he's cool and committed to the team, and when Terry succumbs to the pressure, he loses Rani, the only real friend he's made so far. Rani and Xander eventually forgive Terry, and the trio gets involved with the talent show in their own way. Terry finds the courage to stand up to Rick and stay true to himself. Crews carefully works in mature issues that tweens may encounter without explicitly describing experiences of substance abuse and drug dealing. Even while maintaining a lighthearted plotline, Crews crafts scenes that demonstrate how classism can impact students from all walks of life and places a heavy emphasis on the importance of staying true to oneself. The diverse range of characters presents relatable situations for all readers. The vibrant cartoon-style art keeps the readers' eyes moving from spread to spread, including a variation of page and panel styles. VERDICT A great selection for fans of Jerry Craft's New Kid and Johnnie Christmas's Swim Team , deserving a spot on shelves of school and public libraries.—Angie Jameson