Lo and Behold: (A Graphic Novel) by Gabi Mendez, Wendy Mass
Published by Random House Graphic on May 2, 2023
ISBN: 0593179633
Pages: 224
Genres: Realistic Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Goodreads

Addie is dealing with the absence of her mother when her dad packs the two of them up and moves across the country for a summer job. Addie immediately  connects with her dad’s team and makes a friend named Mateo,  but a new interest in virtual reality draws her inward instead of hanging out with her new group. Addie finds it hard to pull herself away from her comforting virtual world, but recognizes that it’s something she needs to do.

There is a lot going on in Wendy Mass’s graphic novel debut. Addie contends with social withdrawal, a parent fighting prescription drug addiction, and a new friend’s tragic family situation. It’s a heavy read, but a good one, and will interest empathetic kids who enjoy learning about other people’s lives. It also contains a lot about virtual reality and will appeal to kids interested in gaming and VR. This is a great one to have on school and library shelves as the drug-addicted parent is something not present in  many kids’ books, but the need for representation of how this affects families is definitely there.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath