A werewolf struggles with her senses of self and belongingTessa was born a werewolf, but her abilities lag behind those of others in her extended family; she still can't fully shift, and honestly, she doesn't even want to. Her dad was the only one who made her feel comfortable about her wolf, but he passed away. It's hard enough that white-presenting Tessa has a longstanding secret crush on her friend Maddie (who's cued Indian American), let alone adding her supernatural status into the mix. When rumors swirl about hunters in the area seeking to "cure" werewolves by turning them human, Tessa sees a chance to make her life easier, but she soon discovers that their intentions are far more sinister. A miscommunication leads to Maddie's learning the truth about Tessa's werewolf identity-and, as a result, Maddie unwittingly becomes a target of the hunters. To save her family and her crush, Tessa must embrace her full self. The easy-to-follow panels (even in chaotic action scenes) combined with inviting art make it a breeze to zip through this entertaining, straightforward tale. While Dugan doesn't delve too deeply into the themes, she includes just enough substance to make the work gratifying. The balance between action and humor is held together by Tessa as an appealing lead. The queer teen is prickly, sometimes awkward, and often relatable as she tries to figure out who she is and her place in the world, all while dealing with grief.A satisfying supernatural story.(Graphic paranormal. 13-18)

Gr 7 Up— Unlike her popular sister, Tessa doesn't fit in. Always lagging behind, misfit Tessa can't even shift by choice; only when she loses her temper does the wolf within appear. It's not easy to be a werewolf or a queer teenage girl, and if she can't control her feelings and abilities, she'll fall further behind the pack. When Tessa's crush Maddie invites her to hang out in her bedroom, Tessa anticipates the big reveal, thinking that Maddie is also a supernatural being. But as Tessa shifts, Maddie comes out of the closet as queer. This is not the bonding experience either girl anticipated, and worse, Tessa has exposed her family's secret to a human and must drive a wedge between herself and Maddie to protect the pack. Following the lead on a cure to werewolfism, Tessa stumbles onto a plot to destroy werewolves, and her blundering puts everyone in danger, pursued by violent hunters. Dugan and Seaton's graphic novel is hilarious and heartwarming. The pages are illustrated with a subdued, pastel palette, bold lines, and deep shading that sets the tone for this well-rounded story. Readers will root for Tessa as she learns that speaking the truth allows her to accept herself, rebuild familial bonds, and get closer to her crush. VERDICT Part fast-paced adventure, part poignant coming-of-age romance, Full Shift is recommended for all teen collections and pairs well with Maggie Tokuda-Hall and Lisa Sterle's Squad .— Rebecca Jung