Sink or Swim

Sink or SwimSink or Swim by Lee Durfey-Lavoie, Veronica Agarwal
Series: Just Roll With It #2
Published by Random House Graphic on June 4, 2024
ISBN: 0593125517
Pages: 314
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads
four-stars

In this cleverly illustrated graphic novel, Ty is recovering from a broken arm just as summer starts. He feels bad about missing the entire swim season and as captain of the team, he worries that he let his friends down. He especially feels bad about how he ghosted his teammate and best friend Max. Ty doesn’t simply feel bad – he is struggling mightily with depression, anxiety, body image issues, and dysregulated eating. He’s especially anxious about summer camp where he will be bunking with Max. Tensions are high between Max, Max’s twin sister Heather, and Ty and build to a climax during their boat-building activity. Between a caring camp counselor, new friends, and the long history of friendship between Ty and Max, things work out in the end. Heather is able to tell her brother and Ty about her girlfriend and Max and Ty acknowledge the romantic feelings they have for each other. After reading Louder Than Hunger by John Schu about a boy’s struggle with anorexia, I was hoping for a little back matter on eating disorders and depression or advice that Ty seek professional help. Nonetheless, this is an excellent story to use as a conversation starter with upper elementary and middle school students. This is the second book in the Just Roll With It series but it certainly stands alone. Graphic novel fans who love the wide-eyed expressions used in manga will love the characters’ faces when they are excited.

Reviewed by Karen Sandlin Silverman, Mt. Ararat Middle School, Topsham

four-stars

Quill the Forest Keeper

Quill the Forest KeeperQuill the Forest Keeper by Marije Tolman
Published by Levine Querido on September 8, 2022
ISBN: 164614452X
Genres: Animals
Format: Picture Book Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars
It’s impossible not to enjoy a book that begins “Outside it’s cold and quiet. Inside it smells of hot blueberry pie.” While basking in the delicious aroma, Grandpa hedgehog is asked to tell a story of a prior, less relaxing time. He regales his family with a tale of the Terrible Rush Era, when everybody rushed around and had no time to pick up their environment. Everybody, that is, but Quill the Forest Keeper, a dedicated forest-cleaning hedgehog who worked so incessantly to clean up everyone’s mess he eventually collapsed, ushering in a new era of animals banding together to keep the forest clean and reprioritize their values.

In a time of political uncertainty and eco-anxiety, books like Quill the Forest Keeper become treasures. There is no virtue signaling involved on Quill’s part; he just does what he can to help out and ends up inspiring others to do the same. The illustrations are unique and bold, yet charming and effective. It’s pure hygge for the picture book set; a simple message full of comfort and warmth.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

five-stars