A seventh grader's attempts to live her truth backfire when she fails to listen to her friends.Olivia Vivian Sullivan, now going by Viv to differentiate herself from all the other Olivias in her grade, is horrified when her mother sends her to school on picture day wearing a hand-knit floral cardigan with her hair in the same old boring braid. A follower of cutting-edge internet influencer Quinn Sparks, who's Black and androgynous, Viv, unlike best friends Milo (a brown-skinned boy) and Al (a redheaded White girl), longs to attract attention. Racially ambiguous Viv, who has light brown skin and purple hair, initiates this plan for self-expression by hacking off her braid in the school bathroom. When that doesn't garner the response she hoped for she escalates matters, creating big scenes. She helps another girl arrange an elaborate, public Halloween-dance invitation for her cheerleader crush with great success. But when she strong-arms Milo and Al into another all-school spectacle, it backfires, humiliating her friends. An impressively strong debut, this work authentically touches on family relationships, individuality, the pros and cons of online fame, and the value of genuine apologies. Supporting characters are multidimensional, and Viv, Milo, and Al are skillfully given full family backgrounds in just a few scenes. The drawings vary from several panels to full pages, with and without borders, conveying drama and emotion.Bold, brash, and honest. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Another year, another picture day where Viv feels like she's just blending in with the rest. Her idol, social-media influencer Quinn Sparks, always says if you're true to yourself, the world will notice. Just before she gets her picture taken, Viv is inspired to gain control of her own truth. She grabs a pair of scissors, sets her phone to record, and cuts off her signature braid. With her new haircut, Viv feels empowered enough to show her real self to the world, and she smiles proudly for her picture. After the video of her cutting her hair circulates, other students begin to come to Viv for help expressing their true selves. The more she helps others, however, the more she drifts away from her friends. Will Viv be able to balance her newfound popularity and her old friendships before it's too late? This heartwarming story of self-expression and being unapologetically yourself will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Svetlana Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School series.

A seventh grader's attempts to live her truth backfire when she fails to listen to her friends.Olivia Vivian Sullivan, now going by Viv to differentiate herself from all the other Olivias in her grade, is horrified when her mother sends her to school on picture day wearing a hand-knit floral cardigan with her hair in the same old boring braid. A follower of cutting-edge internet influencer Quinn Sparks, who's Black and androgynous, Viv, unlike best friends Milo (a brown-skinned boy) and Al (a redheaded White girl), longs to attract attention. Racially ambiguous Viv, who has light brown skin and purple hair, initiates this plan for self-expression by hacking off her braid in the school bathroom. When that doesn't garner the response she hoped for she escalates matters, creating big scenes. She helps another girl arrange an elaborate, public Halloween-dance invitation for her cheerleader crush with great success. But when she strong-arms Milo and Al into another all-school spectacle, it backfires, humiliating her friends. An impressively strong debut, this work authentically touches on family relationships, individuality, the pros and cons of online fame, and the value of genuine apologies. Supporting characters are multidimensional, and Viv, Milo, and Al are skillfully given full family backgrounds in just a few scenes. The drawings vary from several panels to full pages, with and without borders, conveying drama and emotion.Bold, brash, and honest. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Gr 4 Up— Viv has an idea that will make her seventh grade picture day different from all the ones that came before it. Instead of looking the same as she does in every other school picture (after her mother braids her hair), Viv decides to cut off that braid while her friends help her live stream the event. Suddenly Viv is a sensation, not only for her bold new haircut but also because other students want her to help draw attention to their own causes. But as Viv is drawn toward the idea of being popular, she starts drifting further away from the people who know her and care about her the most. This story about reinvention and self-acceptance will be easy and accessible for kids who are already in middle school, and those who will be soon. It's a book that teaches gentle but important lessons about life, priorities, and relationships, and it will definitely appeal to fans of realistic graphic novels like Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm's "Sunny" series. The artwork is sweet, colorful, and filled with energy, reminiscent of the art in Kayla Miller's "Click" series. VERDICT For kids who enjoy realistic graphic novels about school, friendship, and discovering your true self.— Andrea Lipinski