ALA Booklist (Thu Dec 28 00:00:00 CST 2023)

It's officially the first day of middle school r Charlie, at least. The rest of her class started three weeks ago. Growing up with a dad in the air force, Charlie has had a lot of practice being the new girl. But this time is different: Charlie's dad is home for good, her mom has a full-time job, and the family has moved permanently to her parents' hometown. This time, armed with new clothes, new contacts, and one final chance to reinvent herself, Charlie is determined to finally fit in. Miller's adorable comic perfectly captures the anxiety of experiencing all of the new beginnings and awkwardness that come with being 13. Her warm, playful, and inviting art style offers a cozy background for Charlie to learn how to let her three new friends see her just as she is, quirks and all. Fans of the Baby Sitters' Club comics or Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends series will appreciate this series opener featuring four Black girls navigating the trials and tribulations of friendship, middle school, and everything in between.

Kirkus Reviews (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

A Black girl struggles to make friends and adjust to her new town.Twelve-year-old Charlie Harper is used to moving around, thanks to her father's having been in the Air Force. However, this time will be different: They're settling in her father's hometown, where he's surrounded by old friends. Charlie hopes to make a splash with contact lenses instead of glasses, trendy outfits to replace her old uncool clothes, and "tamed hair" in place of her Afro. But the first day of school goes awry when she's accidentally drenched in water. In the bathroom, Charlie meets Nola, another Black girl. Nola, whose mom has a hair salon, quickly braids Charlie's hair and helps her get to class on time, leaving Charlie feeling hopeful. At lunch she meets Nola's rambunctious friends-Black and brown curly-haired girls who call themselves the Curlfriends. But in her pursuit of being liked, Charlie's not being herself. Eventually, she realizes that it's exhausting pretending to be something you're not, but is it too late? Miller skillfully tackles middle school growing pains, complicated parental relationships, and the importance of a strong community in this brisk, humorous graphic novel. Soft but dynamic lines and a bright color palette add depth to the illustrations and complement Charlie's charming journey to self-acceptance. Readers are sure to find the Curlfriends endearing as they encourage Charlie to be her true self.A delightful coming-of-age story. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

School Library Journal (Tue Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 5–8— Twelve-year-old Charlie Harper has gotten used to constantly moving and starting over thanks to her Air Force father's many deployments. But now that her father has retired, Charlie's family is finally settling down. Convinced that she only gets one chance to make a good first impression, Charlie is determined to make her first day at Hill Valley Middle School a perfect one. She has researched the latest fashions, is trying new hairstyles, and has made the switch from glasses to contacts. After meeting a group of friends following an unfortunate run-in with the janitor's water bucket, Charlie realizes it's not easy trying to uphold her new persona as she goes out of her way to hide all the parts of herself she deems uncool. Text boxes and speech bubbles run long and the flow of dialogue sometimes feels stilted, but the almost overwhelming uncertainty and desire to fit in that Charlie experiences ring painfully true. The pastel rainbow palette, sparse backgrounds, and confidence of Charlie's friend group provide a refreshing counterbalance to her anxiety, modeling a type of genuine self-confidence not often depicted in this age group. Mr. Harper's confession to Charlie about his own struggles as a young person offers additional reassurance that this too shall pass. The main characters are Black and Latinx, background characters appear to be racially and ethnically diverse, and a wheelchair user makes an appearance. VERDICT A sincere and relatable depiction of trying too hard to fit in and almost losing yourself in the process. Recommended.— Alea Perez