Fresh Start by Gale Galligan
Published by Scholastic on January 7, 2025
ISBN: 1338045849
Pages: 271
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
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Galligan, whose drawing style is easily recognizable by young readers as the illustrator of some of the Babysitters Club graphic novels after Raina Telgemeier stepped down from the franchise, has a hit with her second original graphic novel. The main character, Ollie, is a middle school-aged diplomat’s kid and in a twist on the trope, moves around all the time and actually likes it. She looks at each move as a do-over, a fresh start. When the family lands back in the US, in Virginia, and Ollie has messed up socially, she is ready to move again. Curve ball, her father has taken a new job and intends to keep the family in one spot so his daughters can finish their schooling in one place. Ollie’s love of anime draws her into a group of girls who adore the format, but who aren’t quite ready for Ollie’s brash personality. Ollie’s younger sister, Cat, gets pulled into a group of popular kids who end up using her and getting her in trouble with her parents.Staying in one place causes both Ollie and Cat to realize that making friends is easy, but sticking around and cultivating friendships, that is tough. They also find that they can rely on one another, which leads to a great moment at the end of the book. Galligan draws on her own experiences of moving around as a kid, of growing up part Thai (her mother’s side) in worlds where she was too-Thai or not-Thai-enough, and of being an awkward middle schooler. Readers will enjoy this story and clamor from more from Galligan.

Reviewed by Jill O’Connor, Falmouth Elementary School