What do you think?
Rate this book
The New Girl #1
La chica nueva
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 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.
272 pages, Paperback
First published June 4, 2024
436 people are currently reading
3121 people want to read
About the author
Cassandra Calin
8 books274 followersCassandra Calin is a Romanian-born Canadian artist. Based in Montreal, she's a comic artist, illustrator, and a graphic designer. “I draw comics inspired by my life and experiences,” Calin writes on her website. “I enjoy laughing at my awkward self and ranting about silly misfortunes such as being born with curly hair.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 570 reviews
![Profile Image for s.penkevich [hiatus-will return-miss you all].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1735525095i%2F6431467._UX200_CR0%2C11%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
June 8, 2024
Middle school is hard enough as it is, but for 12 year old Lia it means a whole new world of friends and foreign language when her family moves from Romania to Montreal, Canada in Cassandra Calin’s The New Girl. Based on Calin’s own immigrant experience as a child, this adorable and artistically beautiful middle grade graphic novel captures the feelings of sudden change and self-transformation that is as comedic as it is heartfelt and will likely be easily relatable to many. Across empathetic episodes of friendships and fallouts, first crushes and family, The New Girl is such a lovely book so follow along as Lia tries to fit in and thrive while often wondering…
WHAT IS GOING ON?
There is a real familiarity to this graphic novel that, sure, feels like well trodden territory of new school friend dynamics, starting menstruation and the whirlwind of bodily changes amidst a volatile expansion of emotional range, yet the twist of being an immigration story really adds to the book. And not just as a fresh take on the subjects but also because the familiarity reminds us that we aren’t all that different no matter where we come from, what race we are or what our sexual identities may be and we see each of these play into the story. There is a strong narrative arc here that reaches a satisfying conclusion while also feeling rather open ended (I mean, growing up certainly doesn’t end at 12) with strong implications of a sequel. Which I really hope we get.
I also adore Calin’s artwork here. It is a cute cover that I initially worried might be fairly run-of-the-mill middle grade artwork but Calin has a style that really sets her apart and manages to have very busy pages without feeling messy. It really captures the chaos of coming-of-age, aided by how marvelously expressive her character designs are. She captures fashion quite well too. There are also a lot of delightful visual storytelling here with often only minimal need of text which—as we see with the inclusion of familiar memes in the story—does well to meet the needs of middle grade audiences in a world where visual information literacy is becoming all the more important for the ways society communicates. Speaking of communication, there is a LOT of well done phone humor here (like dropping it on your own face while texting in bed or the way teenage text arguments erupt as dramatic emotions shift all over the place). But I also enjoyed how it showed the importance of phones for keeping up with loved ones around the world.
A heartfelt coming-of-age tale, an immigration tale, a tale of friendship and frustrations and change, The New Girl is a winner. Easily accessible for middle grade audiences without feeling “too young” for older teens as well, this is a lovely little book and I hope we get a second half.
4.5/5
WHAT IS GOING ON?
There is a real familiarity to this graphic novel that, sure, feels like well trodden territory of new school friend dynamics, starting menstruation and the whirlwind of bodily changes amidst a volatile expansion of emotional range, yet the twist of being an immigration story really adds to the book. And not just as a fresh take on the subjects but also because the familiarity reminds us that we aren’t all that different no matter where we come from, what race we are or what our sexual identities may be and we see each of these play into the story. There is a strong narrative arc here that reaches a satisfying conclusion while also feeling rather open ended (I mean, growing up certainly doesn’t end at 12) with strong implications of a sequel. Which I really hope we get.
I also adore Calin’s artwork here. It is a cute cover that I initially worried might be fairly run-of-the-mill middle grade artwork but Calin has a style that really sets her apart and manages to have very busy pages without feeling messy. It really captures the chaos of coming-of-age, aided by how marvelously expressive her character designs are. She captures fashion quite well too. There are also a lot of delightful visual storytelling here with often only minimal need of text which—as we see with the inclusion of familiar memes in the story—does well to meet the needs of middle grade audiences in a world where visual information literacy is becoming all the more important for the ways society communicates. Speaking of communication, there is a LOT of well done phone humor here (like dropping it on your own face while texting in bed or the way teenage text arguments erupt as dramatic emotions shift all over the place). But I also enjoyed how it showed the importance of phones for keeping up with loved ones around the world.
A heartfelt coming-of-age tale, an immigration tale, a tale of friendship and frustrations and change, The New Girl is a winner. Easily accessible for middle grade audiences without feeling “too young” for older teens as well, this is a lovely little book and I hope we get a second half.
4.5/5
June 26, 2024
This was going to get 5 stars no matter what because I’ve been a fan of this author/illustrator for years, but the story and illustrations were also great.
There was just so much attention to detail. You get to see Lia learning more French and becoming more confident. Also, the plot twist?! Love.
I can’t wait to see where this goes in the future. I hope that we will get to see what happens with Lia and her friend in Romania.
There was just so much attention to detail. You get to see Lia learning more French and becoming more confident. Also, the plot twist?! Love.
I can’t wait to see where this goes in the future. I hope that we will get to see what happens with Lia and her friend in Romania.
November 9, 2024
"... makes her debut with this funny, feel-good middle-grade graphic novel about change."
This was so cute, and it really was what the tagline said it'd be: Change.
Growing up.
Facing new situations.
Dealing with emotions.
Difficulty communicating.
Dealing with embarrassment.
Making friendships and connections.
It was really relatable and the art was amazing.
This was so cute, and it really was what the tagline said it'd be: Change.
Growing up.
Facing new situations.
Dealing with emotions.
Difficulty communicating.
Dealing with embarrassment.
Making friendships and connections.
It was really relatable and the art was amazing.
July 22, 2024
I wish I had her closet; she was soo sooo cute. The illustrations expressed so many things perfectly & i loved all the little details.
July 22, 2024
Imma pour one out for ladies everywhere having to deal with periods. That shit is fucking metal
Also the mom was Roxanne from Megamind
Also the mom was Roxanne from Megamind
July 1, 2024
4.5 stars
Really good book, I do wonder what happened to Bogdan, he like just disappear the second half of the book
Really good book, I do wonder what happened to Bogdan, he like just disappear the second half of the book
July 26, 2025
I'm giving this book a thumbs up because of its art and likable characters, but I do have some reservations.
The story starts strong, introducing Lia Iordache and her family as they emigrate from Romania to Canada. On top of landing in a new school in Montreal while speaking only a handful of French words, she's just had her first menstrual period and finds she now suffers from severe and even debilitating cramps.
Somewhere around the middle of the book it settles into slice-of-life mode as her problems just sort of taper off and life becomes relatively good for this middle-class tween. And yet we still have so many pages left. A crush is popped in to build up a little momentum but the book just sort of bobs along on the tides until it comes a fairly arbitrary "isn't life nice" non-ending.
I will say that there is a barely there but quietly devastating LGBTQ+ sub-plot that helped prop up the back half a bit.
I see a second volume is coming next spring, and I'll probably get it from the library when it becomes available.
The story starts strong, introducing Lia Iordache and her family as they emigrate from Romania to Canada. On top of landing in a new school in Montreal while speaking only a handful of French words, she's just had her first menstrual period and finds she now suffers from severe and even debilitating cramps.
Somewhere around the middle of the book it settles into slice-of-life mode as her problems just sort of taper off and life becomes relatively good for this middle-class tween. And yet we still have so many pages left. A crush is popped in to build up a little momentum but the book just sort of bobs along on the tides until it comes a fairly arbitrary "isn't life nice" non-ending.
I will say that there is a barely there but quietly devastating LGBTQ+ sub-plot that helped prop up the back half a bit.
I see a second volume is coming next spring, and I'll probably get it from the library when it becomes available.
October 25, 2024
The cute, beautiful and real graphic novel I needed right now
February 9, 2025
Hope everyone could read this beautiful book, and I'm disappointed but not surprised seeing so may hateful comments from just one single page, that is not even explored in the book. Fuck homophobes!
August 20, 2024
The artwork drew me in, but a coming of age story about friendship and moving to a new city kept me reading.
On the day that they’re set to move to Canada from the only place she’s ever lived, Romania, Lia gets her first period… and she’s in PAIN!!! But when she whispers it to her mom, it turns into a celebration of womanhood. That first chapter really laid it all out on the table and told us what the rest of the book was going to be like.
The family moves to Canada, where it seems more like a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures than she’s used to. While Lia is learning French with her fellow students, everyone in the class speaks a completely different language. So we learn new words here and there throughout the book from multiple different dialects.
I think having the MC be 12 and learning to deal with her menstrual cramps and period pains really teaches the young girls who read this what they could expect. While every period is different, it’s good to expect the worst and get something less chaotic than what Lia deals with.
My absolute favorite part of this book wasn’t the friendships (which was a close second), but definitely tied into it. It was finding out that one of the characters is queer. It was a surprise that I wasn’t expecting. Surprise gay is always my fave! But now I need another book so that character can have the journey they deserve!!!!
On the day that they’re set to move to Canada from the only place she’s ever lived, Romania, Lia gets her first period… and she’s in PAIN!!! But when she whispers it to her mom, it turns into a celebration of womanhood. That first chapter really laid it all out on the table and told us what the rest of the book was going to be like.
The family moves to Canada, where it seems more like a melting pot of ethnicities and cultures than she’s used to. While Lia is learning French with her fellow students, everyone in the class speaks a completely different language. So we learn new words here and there throughout the book from multiple different dialects.
I think having the MC be 12 and learning to deal with her menstrual cramps and period pains really teaches the young girls who read this what they could expect. While every period is different, it’s good to expect the worst and get something less chaotic than what Lia deals with.
My absolute favorite part of this book wasn’t the friendships (which was a close second), but definitely tied into it. It was finding out that one of the characters is queer. It was a surprise that I wasn’t expecting. Surprise gay is always my fave! But now I need another book so that character can have the journey they deserve!!!!
August 21, 2024
The New Girl by Cassandra Calin is a YA graphic novel about a young Romanian girl, Lia, who moves to Canada with her family. The story is about her adjustment to a new life, trying to learn a new language (French, as the move to Montreal Quebec) and her attempts to make new friends and to adjust to what is happening to her body.
Lia isn't happy about leaving her friends and grandparents and other family members to move to Canada with her younger brother and her mother and father. Compounding this is that she has basic English skills and no learning in French. Let's say that Lia isn't happy. Starting school, she is placed in a class of other recent immigrants. Quebec's language laws (if I understand them correctly) are such that if you immigrate to Quebec and your primary language isn't English then you have to learn French. This isn't made an issue in the story. It's just part of the premise.
For the first part, Lia doesn't really try to adjust to her new life. She meets a fellow Romanian student, Bogdan, but he does want to learn and to integrate into his new life. Gradually though, Lia begins to make friends and to take part in more school activities. Because she likes to draw, she joins the school magazine. More friends.
The other issued discussed in this graphic is Lia's dealing with her first period and the pain it causes her. Being a man, I obviously can't relate other than to remember my daughters' issues with their periods and, of course, my wife's. So I can't say that it's dealt with very well, but I think it's presented knowledgeably and sympathetically and that the book might be a good primer for parents wanting to discuss with their daughters.
All in all, it's a beautifully drawn and colored story. The characters are all sympathetic and well-developed. The story is an easy read and flows nicely. I have a feeling that there may ultimately be a follow-on novel as there were some matters that were left unresolved. But even if Cassandra moves on to other stories, this was a most enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)
Lia isn't happy about leaving her friends and grandparents and other family members to move to Canada with her younger brother and her mother and father. Compounding this is that she has basic English skills and no learning in French. Let's say that Lia isn't happy. Starting school, she is placed in a class of other recent immigrants. Quebec's language laws (if I understand them correctly) are such that if you immigrate to Quebec and your primary language isn't English then you have to learn French. This isn't made an issue in the story. It's just part of the premise.
For the first part, Lia doesn't really try to adjust to her new life. She meets a fellow Romanian student, Bogdan, but he does want to learn and to integrate into his new life. Gradually though, Lia begins to make friends and to take part in more school activities. Because she likes to draw, she joins the school magazine. More friends.
The other issued discussed in this graphic is Lia's dealing with her first period and the pain it causes her. Being a man, I obviously can't relate other than to remember my daughters' issues with their periods and, of course, my wife's. So I can't say that it's dealt with very well, but I think it's presented knowledgeably and sympathetically and that the book might be a good primer for parents wanting to discuss with their daughters.
All in all, it's a beautifully drawn and colored story. The characters are all sympathetic and well-developed. The story is an easy read and flows nicely. I have a feeling that there may ultimately be a follow-on novel as there were some matters that were left unresolved. But even if Cassandra moves on to other stories, this was a most enjoyable read. (3.5 stars)
August 9, 2024
Ce carte frumoasa, felicitari Cassandrei.
M-a emotionat incredibil de tare pentru ca m-am regasit si pe mine in poveste, despartindu-ma de familia extinsa, luand-o oarecum de la 0 (in viata profesionala, nu la scoala), cautand Rom si pufuleti in magazinele romanesti, vazand cum mi se reduce timpul pentru prietenii din Romania pentru ca imi construiesc relatii care imi cer timp si implicare in viata reala din tara adoptiva. Si m-am regasit in povestea menstruatiilor absolut oribile, cred ca e prima data in viata mea cand intalnesc asta in fictiune si m-am simtit vazuta.
Sper ca urmeaza o continuare.
M-a emotionat incredibil de tare pentru ca m-am regasit si pe mine in poveste, despartindu-ma de familia extinsa, luand-o oarecum de la 0 (in viata profesionala, nu la scoala), cautand Rom si pufuleti in magazinele romanesti, vazand cum mi se reduce timpul pentru prietenii din Romania pentru ca imi construiesc relatii care imi cer timp si implicare in viata reala din tara adoptiva. Si m-am regasit in povestea menstruatiilor absolut oribile, cred ca e prima data in viata mea cand intalnesc asta in fictiune si m-am simtit vazuta.
Sper ca urmeaza o continuare.
July 24, 2024
I think that made me emotional
March 6, 2024
What is the worst thing that could happen to you when moving to a new country where you only know how to say “My name is… and my age is…” Getting your first period while at the airport, and having your mom announce it to everyone within earshot. It can only go uphill from there.
Lia has moved to Montreal, and has been put into an immersion school with a bunch of other people from around the world. She doens’t speak enough French to totally get what the teacher is saying, and this is represented by squiggiles, with occasionally a word put in there that she does get. I think this is a great way to show how hearing a language you only partially know would be heard.
She begins to make friends, either by speaking English with them, sharing her lunch with them, or having someone pull out a phone to translate what they want to say.
It begins to get easier, and she gets used to the routine, though she does still miss Romania, and her friends there, and the candy as well.
This appears to be the start of a series, as some plot lines are not resolved by the end of the book, so this will not be the last we see of Lia. The author said she based this on her own experience having to move to Montreal, so she knows from where she writes.
Fun mini-stories, and frustrations of having to fit into a new world. She says “désolé” a lot, which means sorry in French. I knew that from my High School French, but there is a glossary in the back of the book that translates everything, including a few Romanian words.
This book is coming out the 4th of June 2024. Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for an honest review.
Lia has moved to Montreal, and has been put into an immersion school with a bunch of other people from around the world. She doens’t speak enough French to totally get what the teacher is saying, and this is represented by squiggiles, with occasionally a word put in there that she does get. I think this is a great way to show how hearing a language you only partially know would be heard.
She begins to make friends, either by speaking English with them, sharing her lunch with them, or having someone pull out a phone to translate what they want to say.
It begins to get easier, and she gets used to the routine, though she does still miss Romania, and her friends there, and the candy as well.
This appears to be the start of a series, as some plot lines are not resolved by the end of the book, so this will not be the last we see of Lia. The author said she based this on her own experience having to move to Montreal, so she knows from where she writes.
Fun mini-stories, and frustrations of having to fit into a new world. She says “désolé” a lot, which means sorry in French. I knew that from my High School French, but there is a glossary in the back of the book that translates everything, including a few Romanian words.
This book is coming out the 4th of June 2024. Thanks to the publisher for making this book available for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
continuing my mission to read more graphic novels.
super adorable, aesthetically pleasing art (i mean that cover is so lovely), but the story is a bit lackluster, to be honest. i like the aspect of adjusting to being in a new place and adapting and making new friends and all of that, i like the slice of life nature of the story. but i don’t like the author’s choice to have the main character engage in mean girl behavior (she kicks a girl out of the friend group for hugging the boy she likes). it’s 2024, aren’t we beyond that? i’m assuming there is a sequel planned or at least intended, given how this book ends in the middle of the story with literally nothing wrapped up. i hope all the focus on the main character’s painful periods (another part of the book that i like) is leading to a conversation about, if not a diagnosis of, endometriosis. or even any other medical reason, because pain like that isn’t normal. i’m also hoping for something to come of the comment about one of the girls having a crush on the main character. everything is better with queer rep. idk, given how this ended feeling like it’s unfinished, it’s hard to pin down how i feel about it. i guess three stars will have to do.
content/trigger warnings; painful periods, bullying, immigration related struggles,
rep; lia (mc) is romanian. zi mei (sc) is chinese. wan yin (sc) is chinese and queer (not specified). sara (sc) is sri lankan. amy (sc) is black.
super adorable, aesthetically pleasing art (i mean that cover is so lovely), but the story is a bit lackluster, to be honest. i like the aspect of adjusting to being in a new place and adapting and making new friends and all of that, i like the slice of life nature of the story. but i don’t like the author’s choice to have the main character engage in mean girl behavior (she kicks a girl out of the friend group for hugging the boy she likes). it’s 2024, aren’t we beyond that? i’m assuming there is a sequel planned or at least intended, given how this book ends in the middle of the story with literally nothing wrapped up. i hope all the focus on the main character’s painful periods (another part of the book that i like) is leading to a conversation about, if not a diagnosis of, endometriosis. or even any other medical reason, because pain like that isn’t normal. i’m also hoping for something to come of the comment about one of the girls having a crush on the main character. everything is better with queer rep. idk, given how this ended feeling like it’s unfinished, it’s hard to pin down how i feel about it. i guess three stars will have to do.
content/trigger warnings; painful periods, bullying, immigration related struggles,
rep; lia (mc) is romanian. zi mei (sc) is chinese. wan yin (sc) is chinese and queer (not specified). sara (sc) is sri lankan. amy (sc) is black.
Read
July 17, 2024Primul meu roman grafic - un deliciu, in special pentru ca l-am citit impreuna cu fiica mea. In timp ce ea radea in hohote la fetele pe care Lia le facea, la neintelegerile cu fratele ei mai mic si suspina (la fel ca Lia) cand aparea Julien, eu am apreciat altceva:
* faptul ca Romania e din nou in atentia cititorilor tineri (dupa I Must Betray You) si mereu ma bucur cand se vorbeste de bine despre ea - aici Lia aduce in prim plan mancarea traditionala si dorul de casa
* vorbeste deschis despre menstruatie, simptome, ingrijire - lucru intotdeauna pozitiv pentru ca INCA mai exista fete care se trezesc cu sangele intre picioare si nu stiu ce li se intampla
* promoveaza diversitatea, gasirea unui trib, fructificarea unui talent
* si cel mai mult imi place ca ii poate invata pe tineri ca o neintelegere, datorata lipsei de comunicare, poatre ucide o prietenie...
Asteptam continuarea :)
* faptul ca Romania e din nou in atentia cititorilor tineri (dupa I Must Betray You) si mereu ma bucur cand se vorbeste de bine despre ea - aici Lia aduce in prim plan mancarea traditionala si dorul de casa
* vorbeste deschis despre menstruatie, simptome, ingrijire - lucru intotdeauna pozitiv pentru ca INCA mai exista fete care se trezesc cu sangele intre picioare si nu stiu ce li se intampla
* promoveaza diversitatea, gasirea unui trib, fructificarea unui talent
* si cel mai mult imi place ca ii poate invata pe tineri ca o neintelegere, datorata lipsei de comunicare, poatre ucide o prietenie...
Asteptam continuarea :)
July 6, 2024
Literally nothing is more heartwarming than a beautifully illustrated coming-of-age graphic novel 😇
i might be in my mid-twenties but this was such a sweet reminder of all the ups and downs of being a hormonal preteen.
it was genuinely so beautifully illustrated, and the different coloured speech bubbles for the various languages represented was so cute! it made my heart happy to see the colours become more uniform as the story went on, showing all the characters growing stronger in the same language.
also, food bringing people together was the cutest story line!
i might be in my mid-twenties but this was such a sweet reminder of all the ups and downs of being a hormonal preteen.
it was genuinely so beautifully illustrated, and the different coloured speech bubbles for the various languages represented was so cute! it made my heart happy to see the colours become more uniform as the story went on, showing all the characters growing stronger in the same language.
also, food bringing people together was the cutest story line!
July 16, 2024
What a great #ownvoices middle grade graphic novel debut! This book features Lia, a 12 year old Romanian immigrant new to Montreal and her experience learning to fit in at a new school, make friends, deal with her first period and fall for her first crush.
This was a great book about female friendship, learning how to fit in and adjusting to a new country/language. I really, REALLY hope there will be more books featuring Lia since this one ended with many plot points left hanging. Highly recommended!
This was a great book about female friendship, learning how to fit in and adjusting to a new country/language. I really, REALLY hope there will be more books featuring Lia since this one ended with many plot points left hanging. Highly recommended!
April 28, 2024
I loved this graphic novel about a girl’s new life in Canada. Moving is not easy but it’s even harder to move away from your home country to a new one where Lia doesn’t understand the language, is started in a new school, growing up AND gets her first period, to add to the stress. Lia’s frustration and embarrassment as well as her joy and glee come through in Cass Calin’s beautiful illustrations. I really look forward to reading the next one!
June 15, 2024
Middle school appropriate. Super cute. I loved all the diversity with so many of the kids coming from different countries and becoming friends. I also liked the way things turned out with the boy from Romania who joins her class. The way Lia learned French was depicted pretty neat and how you could see how much of conversations she was missing.
May 14, 2024
So many lovely, tender, sometimes bittersweet memories in one book!
July 30, 2024
cuuuutteeeee
December 12, 2025
idk why I loved this sm but I couldn't stop thinking about it and literally couldn't read anything else!!
December 31, 2024
This would have been perfect for me back in high school! So cute and pretty much sums up how do or die being a teen felt like
July 29, 2025
Ohhhhh!!! This one was SO lovely! Wonderful premise. Very well written. Wonderful art. Great Characters. 10/10!
May 5, 2025
ENGLISH VERSION BELOW
---------------------------
The New Girl von Cassandra Calin ist eine liebevoll erzählte, wunderschön gezeichnete Graphic Novel über einen Neuanfang, Selbstfindung und die Herausforderungen des Erwachsenwerdens. Lia, ein junges Mädchen aus Rumänien, muss sich nach dem Umzug nach Kanada nicht nur an ein neues Land und eine neue Sprache gewöhnen, sondern auch an all die Veränderungen, die das Teenagerleben mit sich bringt.
Die Geschichte ist sympathisch und leicht zugänglich erzählt, besonders schön fand ich, wie authentisch Lia’s Unsicherheiten und kleinen Erfolge dargestellt werden. Auch die Themen Migration und Körperveränderung werden feinfühlig aufgegriffen. Die Zeichnungen sind lebendig und detailreich, ohne überladen zu wirken.
Kritisch sehe ich allerdings, dass die Handlung manchmal etwas flach bleibt. Einige Entwicklungen, wie etwa Lia's Verhalten gegenüber einer Freundin aus Eifersucht, wirkten unnötig klischeehaft und wurden mir auch zu wenig aufgearbeitet.
Vieles bleibt offen – es ist aber auch erst mal der erste Teil. Ich hoffe, ein zweiter folgt.
---------------------------
---------------------------
self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up. Lia, a young girl from Romania, has to adjust not only to a new country and a new language after moving to Canada but also to all the changes that come with being a teenager.
The story is charming and easy to relate to; I especially appreciated how authentically Lia’s insecurities and small successes are portrayed. Themes like migration and bodily changes are handled with sensitivity. The illustrations are lively and detailed without feeling cluttered.
However, I found the plot to be a bit flat at times. Some developments, such as Lia's behavior towards a friend out of jealousy, felt unnecessarily clichéd and weren't explored in enough depth for my taste.
Many storylines remain open – but this is just the first part. I hope a second volume will follow.
---------------------------
The New Girl von Cassandra Calin ist eine liebevoll erzählte, wunderschön gezeichnete Graphic Novel über einen Neuanfang, Selbstfindung und die Herausforderungen des Erwachsenwerdens. Lia, ein junges Mädchen aus Rumänien, muss sich nach dem Umzug nach Kanada nicht nur an ein neues Land und eine neue Sprache gewöhnen, sondern auch an all die Veränderungen, die das Teenagerleben mit sich bringt.
Die Geschichte ist sympathisch und leicht zugänglich erzählt, besonders schön fand ich, wie authentisch Lia’s Unsicherheiten und kleinen Erfolge dargestellt werden. Auch die Themen Migration und Körperveränderung werden feinfühlig aufgegriffen. Die Zeichnungen sind lebendig und detailreich, ohne überladen zu wirken.
Kritisch sehe ich allerdings, dass die Handlung manchmal etwas flach bleibt. Einige Entwicklungen, wie etwa Lia's Verhalten gegenüber einer Freundin aus Eifersucht, wirkten unnötig klischeehaft und wurden mir auch zu wenig aufgearbeitet.
Vieles bleibt offen – es ist aber auch erst mal der erste Teil. Ich hoffe, ein zweiter folgt.
---------------------------
---------------------------
self-discovery, and the challenges of growing up. Lia, a young girl from Romania, has to adjust not only to a new country and a new language after moving to Canada but also to all the changes that come with being a teenager.
The story is charming and easy to relate to; I especially appreciated how authentically Lia’s insecurities and small successes are portrayed. Themes like migration and bodily changes are handled with sensitivity. The illustrations are lively and detailed without feeling cluttered.
However, I found the plot to be a bit flat at times. Some developments, such as Lia's behavior towards a friend out of jealousy, felt unnecessarily clichéd and weren't explored in enough depth for my taste.
Many storylines remain open – but this is just the first part. I hope a second volume will follow.
August 1, 2024
INFINITELY CUTE! Also, there's a French glossary at the end of the book. I'll continue screaming this. Publishers, please let readers know this in the book front credits.
I loved the representation of how intense and debilitating period cramps can be here (spoiler:. Yes, sometimes, you do want to curl up into the fetal position.
Lia faces major cultural shock here leaving Romania and being thrust into Canada (Montreal). There’s a balance of wanting to hold tight to what you’re comfortable with and exploring the new that is relatable for any age and anybody.
The French language here is untranslated, which throws the reader into the same learning curve/unknown as Lia, but it's easy to figure out. I know only a little French from being a beginner in Spanish, but it adds to the personality of the story 100-fold.
The art style is so adorable – the best mixture of European cartoons and an animesque flair. I absolutely love it.
There’s either a throwaway line or a future plot point with one of Lia’s friends (*insert iPhone eyes emoji here*). If this book is a series, I can see it being developed further.
Overall, I enjoyed this so much! I would read book 2 or another book from Calin.
I loved the representation of how intense and debilitating period cramps can be here (spoiler:. Yes, sometimes, you do want to curl up into the fetal position.
Lia faces major cultural shock here leaving Romania and being thrust into Canada (Montreal). There’s a balance of wanting to hold tight to what you’re comfortable with and exploring the new that is relatable for any age and anybody.
The French language here is untranslated, which throws the reader into the same learning curve/unknown as Lia, but it's easy to figure out. I know only a little French from being a beginner in Spanish, but it adds to the personality of the story 100-fold.
The art style is so adorable – the best mixture of European cartoons and an animesque flair. I absolutely love it.
There’s either a throwaway line or a future plot point with one of Lia’s friends (*insert iPhone eyes emoji here*). If this book is a series, I can see it being developed further.
Overall, I enjoyed this so much! I would read book 2 or another book from Calin.
March 15, 2024
A MG coming of age graphic novel based on @cassandracalin immigration story.
🇷🇴
Lia and her family are leaving Romania to live in Canada and a chance for a better life. So much change happens for Lia from leaving her grandparents to getting her first period to starting a new school and having to learn a new language—it’s a lot for any kid to deal with at once. Lia is also struggling to make friends and do well in French. Will Lia ever feel like her old self again?
🇨🇦
I LOVED this book so much! Let’s talk about @graphixbooks & Clain don’t shy away from period talk or experience in this title. We need more period positive novels so I’m thrilled this is written for 3rd-7th graders and so many people will see themselves on the pages. I can’t wait to see the final copy, but appreciated @scholastic sending the ARC. I am also pumped it’s going to be a series, because the ending definitely left me wanting more! This graphic novel releases June 4!
CW: physical pain brought on by menstruation, immigration issues
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
🇷🇴
Lia and her family are leaving Romania to live in Canada and a chance for a better life. So much change happens for Lia from leaving her grandparents to getting her first period to starting a new school and having to learn a new language—it’s a lot for any kid to deal with at once. Lia is also struggling to make friends and do well in French. Will Lia ever feel like her old self again?
🇨🇦
I LOVED this book so much! Let’s talk about @graphixbooks & Clain don’t shy away from period talk or experience in this title. We need more period positive novels so I’m thrilled this is written for 3rd-7th graders and so many people will see themselves on the pages. I can’t wait to see the final copy, but appreciated @scholastic sending the ARC. I am also pumped it’s going to be a series, because the ending definitely left me wanting more! This graphic novel releases June 4!
CW: physical pain brought on by menstruation, immigration issues
4.5 ⭐️ rounded up!
May 25, 2024
ADORED!!!! This made me so very happy, plus the ending made me think that more are maybe coming 👀 you already know I’ll be anxiously awaiting. Loved the honest conversation about periods. Also this book handled the complexities of intercultural friendships SO well. I was just so happy after reading it and everyone should read it in my humble opinion
March 17, 2024
I lovvvve the French throughout the book, and this graphic novel’s honesty about how tricky it is to grow up, change schools, and make true friends is so refreshing!
The glossary (clarifying French, Romanian, and Chinese words from the story) is excellent, too!
The glossary (clarifying French, Romanian, and Chinese words from the story) is excellent, too!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 570 reviews