Mixed-Up

December 1, 2024

Gr 3-6-Fifth grade friends Stella, Latasha, and Emiko have a shared obsession: their favorite magical television show, Witchlins. But when the TV show releases a guidebook and accompanying digital game, Stella can't keep up with the text-heavy directions. Not only is she falling behind with her friends, her struggle to read and comprehend is also causing problems at school. Fortunately, Stella has a crew of concerned educators who see her challenges and help her gain the skills she needs to read fluently. Garcia writes Stella's journey from her own lived experience being neurodivergent and parenting a dyslexic child. It's because of this that Stella's emotional crescendo of frustration and self-isolation feels deeply authentic. The word choices and visual cues increase this title's accessibility for dyslexic or struggling readers. Brown's visual storytelling is paced perfectly and will draw fans of Raina Telgemeier Smile, Varian Johnson's Twins, and Kat Fajardo's Miss Quinces right in. The characters throughout the book are diverse in ethnicity and skin tone, including Stella and her friend group, their families, teachers, and fellow students. VERDICT While this must-read title will be especially affirming for those with dyslexia or who struggle in school, all young readers will find aspects of themselves within Stella's world, and perhaps be inspired to ask for help when needed.-Sarah Simpson

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2024
A young dyslexic girl struggles with reading. Stella Martinez can't wait to start fifth grade. She and her BFFs, Latasha and Emiko, even get to sit together in Miss Marin's class. But to Stella's dismay, school soon feels like "one big reading class." Even math, one of her favorite subjects besides art, has word problems, and the fifth grade project is a Young Authors Competition. Textbooks have longer words and fewer pictures, making comprehension time-consuming, and Stella falls behind. Even the new online universe for Stella and her friends' favorite show, Witchlins, requires a guidebook, which Stella has trouble following. As her BFFs and classmates discuss the game, Stella feels left out. Will reading ruin her friendships? Garcia, who based Stella's story on her daughter's journey of coming to terms with dyslexia and her own experiences with neurodivergence, introduces a multifaceted protagonist with a learning disability and encouragingly highlights various coping strategies. Adults are warmly supportive, barring a dour, gray-haired, light-skinned librarian whose misconception that graphic novels aren't "real" books is emphatically dispelled. In keeping with Miss Marin's affirmation that "all brains work differently," the book's clear lettering, decodable text, and expressive art invite readers of all abilities to root for Stella. Stella and her dad and sibling are brown-skinned and cued Latine; Mom is pale-skinned. Latasha presents Black, Emiko is of East Asian descent, and Miss Marin has light-brown skin. An uplifting, sympathetic portrayal of dyslexia and friendship. (resources, cover design process)(Graphic fiction. 8-11)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from January 1, 2025
Grades 2-5 *Starred Review* Fifth-grader Stella and her best friends, Latasha and Emiko, have been inseparable ever since they stood up to the school bully together in kindergarten. So far, the school year has started off perfectly: a sleepover to kick off the new year, classes together, and the announcement of a new Witchlins game based on their favorite show! However, Stella feels off: she's having a hard time reading and struggling in class, which is starting to cause a rift in their friendship. Luckily, Stella's teacher Ms. Marin realizes that Stella is dyslexic and works with her parents and the school to get her the help she needs to begin to train her brain to learn in a way that works for her. In the meantime, she spends her recesses in the school library working on a graphic novel she plans to submit for the school's annual fifth-grade project, for which she plans to write and draw a project based on her own story. Garcia, a former teacher, uses dyslexia-friendly fonts and decodable words to make this book as accessible as possible for readers who can relate to Stella's experiences. Williams' brightly colored, cartoonish artwork nicely fits the story and adds lots of personality to the main characters. A perfect book for younger readers who are fans of graphic novels like Smile, Allergic, and Four Eyes.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.