Mallory in Full Color
by Elisa Stone Leahy (Author)
A funny, poignant middle grade novel about a tween who navigates questions of identity and friendship when her anonymous web comic goes viral, from the acclaimed author of Tethered to Other Stars.
Mallory Marsh is an expert at molding into whatever other people want her to be. Her true thoughts and feelings only come out in her sci-fi web comic, which she publishes anonymously as Dr. BotGirl.
But juggling all the versions of herself gets tricky, especially when Mal's mom signs her up for swim team. Instead of being honest about hating competitive swim, Mal skips out on practice and secretly joins the library's comic club. There Mal meets Noa, a cute enby kid who is very sure of who they are. As Mal helps Noa plan a drag queen story time, she tries to be the person she thinks Noa wants her to be--by lying about her stage fright.
Then Mal's web comic goes viral, and kids at school start recognizing the unflattering characters based on Mal's real-life friends. With negative pushback threatening the drag queen story time and Dr.BotGirl's identity getting harder to hide, Mallory must reckon with the lies she has told.
If she reveals her full self, will her friends, her parents, and her new crush accept the real Mallory Marsh?
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Publishers Weekly
Leahy (Tethered to Other Stars) explores themes of identity and finding one's voice in this compassionate and imaginative novel. Twelve-year-old half-Korean and half-white Mallory Marsh dreads disappointing people, so she molds herself to others' expectations, a habit that leads to her mother assuming Mal loves competitive swimming. She signs Mal up for the swim team, but instead of speaking up, Mal lies to get out of attending practices. Mal expresses herself the only way she knows how: through her sci-fi web comic based on interactions she has with her friends, which she posts online under the pseudonym Dr. BotGirl. When she starts attending Comic Club, she meets white-cued nonbinary Noa, whom she immediately crushes on. Unsure of what to do with these new feelings but wanting to impress Noa, Mal agrees to perform at a drag storytime. But when her comic starts getting popular among her classmates and she loses her sketchbook at school, Mal feels as if her entire world is crumbling. Pages from Mallory's graphic novel, illustrated by Diaz (Jesse and the Snack Food Genie), begin each chapter of this true-to-life story that celebrates safe spaces and learning to be vulnerable. Ages 8-12. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US. (Nov.)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Kirkus
A sincere cautionary tale about finding one’s voice and putting others’ needs before one’s own.
Review quotes
If you've ever been completely perplexed by that simple sounding phrase "just be yourself!"...this book is a perfect fit for you. Oh, and it also has robots!!! - Rachel Elliot, author of The Real Riley Mayes
What happens when you focus on what other people want to the detriment of your own needs? Elisa Stone Leahy explores this and more in Mallory in Full Color. Mallory is a wonderfully nuanced character trying her best to stay afloat amid the stresses of middle school and life changes at home. A beautifully heartfelt novel about identity, friendship, and embracing all parts of yourself, even if you don't yet have everything completely figured out. — A. J. Sass, award winning author of Ellen Outside the Lines and Ana on the Edge
JUV008000 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | General
JUV039020 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Adolescence
