Freestyle

Freestyle
Gale Galligan
Scholastic, 2022
272 pages
Grades 3-7
Graphic Novel

Cory is a member of a mixed-gender hip-hop dance crew, made up of his best friends. They are in 8th grade in New York City public school and everyone is expected to go to a different high school, so they are making the most of their last year together and the opportunity for one more competition before everything changes. The problem is: Cory's grades have slipped and he is officially grounded until he brings them back up. Enter Sunna: a very academically serious classmate who Cory's parents have hired to be his tutor. What starts out as a cantankerous relationship takes a turn when Cory sees Sunna secretly doing yo-yo tricks. She exposes him to the yo-yo culture and starts to teach him what she knows. Before long the two have become friends, taking time away from the dance crew and making his other buddies jealous. A misunderstanding blows up both side of Cory's life. Can Cory bring both sets of friends together, all while participating in both hobbies and meeting parental expectations?

The Babysitter's Club artist, who took over from Raina Telgemeier is now striking out on her own in her first fully independent graphic novel. Readers will immediately gravitate to this book. It is contemporary with friendship themes and will appeal to both boys and girls. I love that it is set in New York City and deals with the pressure of applying to high schools. Themes include acceptance, dealing with parental expectations, putting your friends first, and not being afraid to try something new. It is interesting that Sunna happens to be Muslim. This is not the point of her character or integral to the plot, but just who she is, living her life. The full color illustrations are expertly drawn and kid-friendly. This is the first book I know of that not only exposes middle grade readers to what it means to be in a dance crew, but delves into yo-yo culture. Cory shows his friends, and the readers, that what makes our hobbies special are the people that we share them with, as well as the importance of working as a team. Some bonus comics are included at the end tracing the author's progression with the story.