Horn Book (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Fifth grade isn't my kinda vibe,

ALA Booklist (Thu Aug 04 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

No one gets Riley Mayes. She's got a goofy sense of humor, is more "dude-ish'' than girly, would rather draw than do almost anything else, and she's a huge fan of comedian Joy Powers. When her mother challenges her to find someone who does understand her, Riley connects with Cate, a girl just as imaginative as she is, and Aaron, the new kid, who thinks her jokes are funny. But there are some things that Riley doesn't get, like why Cate wants to stay friends with mean girl Whitney, who calls Riley a "lesbo"; how Aaron's two dads knew they were in love; and why, when people talk about having crushes, it sounds just like how she feels for Joy Powers. There is a lot going on in this story nding real friends, first crushes, discovering gender identity d all of it is handled tenderly and with respect for each of the main characters. Riley sounds like an exuberant fifth grader and the cartoon artwork portrays her and her friends that way, too. A fun, funny story that rings true.

Kirkus Reviews (Mon Feb 06 00:00:00 CST 2023)

Riley Mayes is having a rough time in fifth grade.She desperately wants to attend drawing classes at the art barn, a studio for creative kids, but her rambunctious energy has already caused the school to send home three notes about her behavior-and it's only September. Riley is a little goofy, a bit of a free spirit, and heavily inspired by her idol, sketch comedian Joy Powers. After Riley despairs that no one understands her, her mother challenges her to seek out friends who do get her and promises to sign her up for art classes if she keeps her grades up and stays out of trouble at school. Riley reaches out to new student Aaron and friendly classmate Cate, and with their support, she attempts to navigate schoolwork, social groups, and bullying over her gender presentation, all while coming to terms with her feelings for Joy Powers. There's a lot going on, but the story handles the plot points well, and readers-especially fans of Jeff Kinney and Amy Ignatow-will love the mixture of realism and imagination that fuels Riley's world. Readers may question Joy Powers' humor-sketch comedy doesn't translate well to graphic-novel format-but the expressive illustrations capture Riley's joy when she's thinking about her hero. Aaron and one of his fathers appear Black; all other main characters read as White.This story is real-and really great! (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

An aspiring artist grapples with gender-related expectations and burgeoning sexuality in Elliott’s warm debut. Riley Mayes, who presents as white, thinks that fifth grade “isn’t my kinda vibe”: her school has laid off its art teacher, the classmate who found her funny has moved away, and the other kids seem to have “squaded-up.” But following her mother’s suggestion to find people who get her, Riley befriends new kid and comics enthusiast Aaron, who has two dads and is portrayed with brown skin, and cued-white cat fanatic Cate, who asks Riley to illustrate her original feline-focused story. As Riley works to earn local art lessons, maintaining her grades and avoiding notes home, a new hairstyle prompts a schoolmate to call her “lesbo,” and she realizes that her fixation on a female comic is actually a crush. Elliott leans into Riley’s anxieties around queerness: “If a person is gay... will they still have friends?” she wonders, even while encountering a positive model in Aaron’s dads. In fine lines and citrus hues, Elliott renders a sunny external world that juxtaposes Riley’s internal worries and confusion in a story of self-discovery that’s messy and full of heart. Ages 8–12. (May)