Crush

Jorge Ruiz navigates the social landscape of Berrybrook Middle School while dealing with bullying and friendship dynamics. He steps up to protect a seventh grader from harassment, which leads to unexpected consequences. Jorge's reputation as "the protector" brings new challenges as he works to maintain his image while pursuing his own interests and relationships. His circle of friends face their own struggles with identity and belonging at school. The story explores themes of authenticity versus social expectations, and what it means to be strong in different ways. Through Jorge's experiences, the narrative examines how middle school students develop courage and self-understanding.

Readers call Crush a relatable story that captures middle school social dynamics and anxiety. Many note it helps kids deal with bullying and peer pressure while avoiding heavy-handed messaging. Readers liked: - The art style and expressive character designs - Realistic portrayal of middle school friendship dynamics - Positive male friendships - Diverse character representation - Messages about standing up to bullies without violence Common criticisms: - Some found the plot predictable - A few felt the ending wrapped up too neatly - Minor complaints about pacing in the middle Ratings: Goodreads: 4.34/5 (14,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (1,900+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 5/5 (parents), 4/5 (kids) "Perfect for kids dealing with social pressure" - Goodreads reviewer "Finally a graphic novel that shows boys can be kind and emotional" - Amazon reviewer "Helped my son understand bullying better" - Parent reviewer

Roller Girl by Victoria JamiesonA graphic novel about a middle school girl navigating friendships and self-discovery through roller derby.

All's Faire in Middle SchoolbyVictoria Jamieson A graphic novel that follows a homeschooled girl's transition to public middle school while working at a Renaissance faire with her family.

Real Friends by Shannon HaleLeUyen PhamA memoir-style graphic novel that chronicles the ups and downs of elementary school friendships and social dynamics.

Invisible Emmieby Terri Libenson A dual-narrative graphic novel about two middle school girls whose stories intersect as they deal with school, art, and social pressures.

Drama byRaina Telgemeier@@@ A graphic novel set in a middle school theater department where students navigate relationships, identity, and their roles both on and off stage.

🎨 Author Svetlana Chmakova moved from Russia to Canada at age 16, bringing with her a deep love of both manga and American comics that heavily influences her artistic style 📚 "Crush" is the third book in the Berrybrook Middle School series, following "Awkward" and "Brave," but can be read as a standalone story 💝 The book tackles important themes like toxic masculinity and peer pressure while remaining accessible to its middle-grade audience 🏆 "Crush" won the 2019 Dwayne McDuffie Award for Kids' Comics and was named one of the Best Graphic Novels for Children by the New York Public Library 🎯 The main character Jorge's struggle with expectations about "acting tough" was inspired by real conversations the author had with young male readers about their social pressures