When adapting athletic activities to a visual medium, it's difficult to demonstrate the speed and movement of the real event. Burgess portrays double Dutch with such enthusiasm and passion in the art that you want to clap along with the rhythm of the jumping. Lines become looser while the colors halo their objects in gleeful scenes of the kids skipping rope. This visual language also applies to the emotional interactions of the characters. Jay, uncertain about who they are and what they want in life, is swept up by Beah's enthusiasm for double Dutch and general drive. Jay's rhymes meld well with the skipping, but when Beah gets a chance to join a more professional team, the stress on their friendship explodes. Will their friendship survive? What will Beah's friends and teammates think of the secret she's asked Jay to keep? Finding your voice, the drama of almost losing your best friend, and balancing ambition with fun all underpin this charming volume. Root for Jay and Beah to continue rocking double Dutch together in this effervescent comic.

Jay is a poet who struggles with making friends and self-expression-until meeting someone who fulfills a deep desire to connect and belong.After crashing into Beah and stumbling into an invitation to Skip, Beah's double Dutch group, Jay, who uses they/them pronouns, finally finds a place to belong and be themself. Jay feels that they know who they are and can achieve their writing dreams with support from their new crew, especially Beah. However, bullying, jealousy, and simmering tensions culminate in an explosive conflict that fractures the group right before their big competition. Ultimately, this tale shows how an apology and support of loved ones can make up for mistakes and help heal those who become hurt. The vibrant and energetic graphic art style evokes the emotional highs and lows of close friendships, while the text complements the imagery to provide insights into Jay's inner life. Dynamic illustrations carefully draw out and portray empathy for the motivations and complex feelings that drive this character-focused story. The narrative emphasizes that while you can find a sense of belonging with others, you never belong to someone, underscoring that individuality and community can thrive in unison and balance. Jay reads white; Beah has dark-brown skin and black hair, and supporting characters are diverse in skin tone.A journey of self-discovery, creativity, and belonging centers a sweet, uplifting story of friendship and ambition. (concept art, sketches) (Graphic fiction. 9-13)