  | Freestyle Author: Galligan, Gale | |
| Price: $19.08 | ||
Summary:
Cory's dance crew is getting ready for a major competition. It's the last one before they graduate eighth grade and go their separate ways to high schools all over New York City. Things go from bad to worse when Cory's parents ground him for not taking his grades seriously. With mounting pressure coming from all sides, how is Cory supposed to balance the expectations of his parents, school, dance, and his new friend? In graphic novel format.
| Illustrator: | Czap, Kevin |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 2.70 Points: 1.0 Quiz: 517551 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (08/15/22)
School Library Journal (+) (10/01/22)
The Hornbook (+) (00/11/22)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2022 Gr 5 Up—Galligan, already a cartooning sensation thanks to their emotionally nuanced, endlessly entertaining work on Ann M. Martin's "Baby-Sitters Club" graphic adaptations, brings that same gleeful energy to their first original graphic novel. A commitment to representing the joys and ultra-specific struggles of adolescence shines through in this story about break-dancing, bad grades, and yo-yo masters. The main story is that of Cory, a so-so student who's part of a high-achieving dance team. When it becomes clear that his grades are tanking, his dance dreams are put on hold, and he's paired up with Sunna, a quiet, overlooked classmate, for tutoring. Initially resistant, he discovers that she has her own avocation—the yo-yo—and begins to take an interest in her passion too. As the story moves through family expectations, middle-school social negotiations, and questions of doing your best versus doing what you love, Galligan's manga-influenced visual language for characters' emotions and a brightly colored urban universe mean each moment resonates without dragging the story down. It doesn't hurt that in dancing and yo-yo, someone is always on the move. Galligan's diverse cast includes Cory, coded as Filipino, and Sunna, who wears a hijab, and depicts a mixed-gender friend group free from romantic entanglements, which is a breath of fresh air. VERDICT A visually kinetic, emotionally complex story of finding a sense of self while navigating relationships and expectations. Fun and full of heart.—Emilia Packard - Copyright 2022 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
