The New Girl (The New Girl #1)
by Cassandra Calin (Author) Cassandra Calin (Illustrator)
Instagram sensation and Tapas webcomic superstar Cassandra Calin makes her long-form debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change.
Goodbye, old life...
Lia and her family are waiting to board a flight across the Atlantic, leaving behind family, friends, and Romania -- the only home Lia has ever known. But Lia's heartache is overshadowed by the discomfort of her first period. As if things weren't difficult enough! Now Lia is thrust into a world where everything is different: her home, her language, and even her body. With so many changes happening at once, Lia struggles with schoolwork, has trouble communicating with classmates, and has no idea how to manage her unpleasant periods. Will she ever feel like herself again?
Inspired by the author's own immigration experience, The New Girl is a comically charming story about change and acceptance.
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Kirkus
Funny, awkward, and exuberant.
Publishers Weekly
With a tenderness stemming from personal recollections, as discussed in an endnote, Calin crafts an empathetic tale of belonging in this graphic novel debut. Having just moved from Romania to Montreal with her family, Lia struggles to acclimate to their new home: the language barrier makes befriending her new classmates a challenge and, worst of all, she's been experiencing extremely painful menstrual cramps. Soon, however, Lia starts to hit her stride: she's making new friends, she's brought on as an artist for her school's magazine, and she's even feeling brave enough to try and capture the attention of classmate Julien. While each successful encounter nets its fair share of potential setbacks, events sometimes turn in her favor, as when lockermate Ivana--a potential rival--becomes a close friend and ally after advising Lia on how to manage recurring menstrual pains. Vibrant and accessible visually appealing art infuses a comedic and feel-good vibe that deftly juxtaposes emotional and thought-provoking plot beats surrounding immigration and period education. Softly rendered, cherubic-faced characters with varying skin tones populate this dynamic examination of a girl in transition. Ages 8-12. (June)
Copyright 2024 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.
Review quotes
Calin's illustrations flow effectively and provide humor; her text bubbles also creatively visualize, through color coding for different languages and scribbles to represent French words Lia can't understand, the process of acquiring a new language... Fans of Raina Telgemeier, Victoria Jamieson, and Svetlana Chmakova will rejoice. Funny, awkward, and exuberant. — Kirkus Reviews
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
