The Do-Over (Do-Over #1)

Gr 4-8--When Mariana and her papá move from California to Ohio, Mariana would much rather text with her old friends and follow them on the Telepik social media platform than fully engage with her new life. Making new friends can be hard, and while Mariana wants to talk to people, as evidenced by her inner monologue, she can't always work up the courage to do it. At home, she wants to help take her papá's barber shop to the next level by creating a social media page for them, and is disappointed that he's not interested. Both miss Mariana's mom, who died. Everything changes when Zoe and Everly, two girls from her science class, walk into the shop and try to sell their homemade hair dye. Mariana befriends the duo, and the now trio decide to create True Colors--their own startup hair salon. When the salon gets too popular and creative differences threaten their friendship, Mariana will have to find the courage to speak up about what matters to her. Spanish phrases seamlessly integrate into the dialogue. Brightly colored expressive art, diverse main characters, and a story full of heart, humor, and the power of having supportive friends, make this title stand out among graphic novels with similar themes. Pair with Kayla Miller's "Click" graphic novels. VERDICT A first choice for all public and school middle grade graphic novel collections.--Marissa Lieberman