A middle schooler faces new challenges when her best (and only) friend moves away.In this graphic novel that's loosely based on the author's life, Indiana sixth grader Coco is determined to make new friends now that BFF Blair is busy with her new life in Boston. Despite her anxiety, which is represented by jagged white flamelike tendrils swirling around her, Coco joins the basketball team, the Lady Owls, hoping to hang out with her crush, Tami. When new nonbinary student Zander joins the team, Tami and Coco suggest dropping "Lady" from the name to be more inclusive. After Coco breaks her wrist during practice and must play with a cast, she starts passing the ball to Maddie, a talented teammate who used to taunt her. The girls become a dynamic duo on the court, but their subsequent friendship involves some emotional turbulence. Coco embarks on a mission to correct her mistakes and mend her relationships with family and friends. When her anxiety worsens, she'll need to rely on her teammates to help her through the championship. The expressive faces, clean lines, and uncluttered panels allow readers to clearly identify how the characters are feeling. The color palette is composed of varying shades of purples, oranges, and whites and is reminiscent of the lesbian pride flag. Coco, Maddie, and Zander read white; Blair is coded Chinese American, and Tami appears Black.A quirky, heartfelt celebration of bravery, friendship, and self. (Graphic fiction. 9-12)

Gr 4–6— Eleven-year-old Coco's best and only friend Blair just moved out of state. How will Coco manage sixth grade? With a new technique she learned from her brother to help her face her fears, Coco joins the basketball team and discovers a new group of kids with similar interests. New teammates don't automatically mean new friends though, especially when Coco is navigating crushes, a broken arm, anxiety, and team drama. A diverse cast of characters helps round out this generally straightforward graphic novel about middle school relationships, with Coco having a crush on her teammate Tami, and nonbinary Zander having a crush on Coco (oh the dynamics of middle school feelings!). Fox's purple and orange palette gives the book a cozy, fall feel, while also highlighting the colors of the lesbian pride flag. The use of wavy, flamelike tendrils to showcase Coco's anxiety highlights the stress and emotional upheaval of the middle school years. VERDICT Good representation but doesn't add many surprises to the always-growing world of kids' graphic novels about friendship drama. Even so, this will still be much appreciated by kids who devour these stories, particularly if they like a sports twist.— Annamarie Carlson