Mindy Makes Some Space

PAWS #2

by Nathan Fairbairn, MSASSYK (Illustrator)

Best friends Mindy Kim, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta are back in business! After a few ups and downs, their dog-walking business is booming and the girls are closer than ever. It's a dream come true!
But for Mindy, things at home are beginning to feel like a bit of a nightmare. Her mom just started dating someone, which has Mindy feeling like the odd one out. For as long as she can remember, it's been just the two of them and she doesn't want that to change. (So what if her mom's boyfriend has a cute pet cat, and all of Mindy's friends seem to think he's pretty cool?)
And things only get worse when a new student named Hazel arrives in class and seems totally into joining PAWS. Sharing her mom feels bad enough, so there's no way Mindy's is going to share her best friends and her business, too! But when Mindy's stubbornness starts to hurt everyone around her, will she be able to overcome her fears and learn that change doesn't have to be a cat-tastrophe?

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Animals, Friendship, Childrens, Realistic Fiction, Comics

176 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[come book]

Czytałam polską wersję, czyli „Akcja psiaki. Mindy uczy się dzielić”. Mimo, że to książka dla trooochę młodszych niż ja to bawiłam się na niej świetnie, uwielbiam mądre książki dla dzieci, gdzie jest przestrzeń na rozmowy o ich „negatywnych” emocjach i mają prawo je czuć ❤️

[Julia Sangkawatana · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really liked it until the end.. no one ever felt bad for Mindy.. yes she was mean at times but her anger was justified..her mom was ignoring her and her friends made new friends with someone else. As a 5th grader(6th grader?) This is a huge deal. Her mom never apologized for ignoring her and everyone was mad at mindy for acting angry. Not happy with the way the book ended. I felt bad for mindy, her mom should have paid more attention to her.

[Elizabeth]

I can’t help but be picky about Mindy, a child, being on a rock climbing wall for the first time, and she doesn’t have on a harness or anything to protect her. Everywhere I’ve been with a rock wall has that protection mandated.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute! Just as precious and wholesome as the first book, with a great, relatable story, and some new, wonderful characters. I giggled many times reading this; a sweet, fun little series.

[₊˚ ⁀➴ kenzie ⠀❦ jacks’ version · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paws: Mindy Makes Some Space was very similar to The Baby-Sitters Club, especially when Kristy doesn’t want to let Stacy join the club, just like Mindy with Hazel in this book. I still liked it, and really liked Michael’s cat Chonk.

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 2 of this series, which was a wee bit better than the first one but not much. I think it's a combination of things. First, the text itself is written at what feels like a very young level. The girls are supposed to be in 5th and 6th grade but act more like they're in 3rd or 4th. Also, WAY too many exclamation marks!!!!!! (yes, done for irony)

The other problem I have is that the lesson(s) for the character(s) to learn feel very heavy-handed. Like hit the reader over the head with a 2x4 heavy. Maybe kids today need that sort of approach to get through to them, but for me, it was off-putting and not appreciated.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continues to be great, like the first one. Super relatable problem of feeling like you’re being replaced, whether in your family or friend group. Great lessons in emotional intelligence in this series, when Mindy realizes that trying to hold on to how things were by rejecting someone new in her circle actually just made her miserable instead of preserving the happiness she had had. I laughed out loud at the bit where she hasn’t seen any of the Brontë quotes around her school! Such clever dialogue and lovable characters.

[Superstine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amalie (7,5) prøvde seg på disse i fjor sommer også, men fikk ikke helt taket på dem/syns det var for mye krangling/drama - ville bare at alle skulle være venner.

Nå ligger hun under stuebordet og leser i timesvis 🩷 Kranglingen sier hun er fint å lese om "for sånn er det jo å ha venner mamma".

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Got this book for my bb girl for Christmas and she insisted I read it :) Amazing art, relatable storyline, complex and diverse characters. We didn’t realize it was book two, and definitely will check out book one!

[Danielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Battle of the books

[💙tessa (jeremy jordan’s version)💛 · Rating 2 out of 5]

mindy was so annoying and rude

[Laiveto Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

Vuelven nuestras paseadoras favoritas de perros con una nueva historia. Después de ciertas dificultades han conseguido sacar a flote su pequeña empresa y la amistad entre las tres va viento en popa, hasta que llega una nueva compañera de cole (Hazel) y Melinda comienza a sentir ciertos celos, esto sumado a que su madre se acaba de echar un novio que no le gusta provocará que Meli se comporte de manera egoísta y mezquina con aquellos que cree que quieren quitarle el amor de su madre y amigas.

Las novelas gráficas de Maeva siempre son un acierto para nuestros jovencitos y también una guía para los padres a la hora de intentar que nuestros hijos se conozcan y puedan expresar aquello que sienten sin temor a sentirse juzgados; además, gracias a este formato, la lectura se hace súper divertida y entretenida.

Una lectura que ensalza la amistad, el amor por los animales y el respeto por todos aquellos que nos rodean.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good follow up on the first graphic novel and covers some good issues. The nice thing is that all of the things that Mindy has to deal with and figure out are linked and tied to the same general lesson, namely that things will change and that is ok. She experiences this change with her mom finding a new partner and her friends opening up PAWS to someone else. And she reacts to both by being a bit of a horrible person. The fact that everyone lets her get away with it for a while was good for the plot but definitely something, as a parent, I would have tried to nip in the bud faster than her mom does here. It all works, and in the end it all works out for the better.

Chonk was by far my favourite new addition to the stories.

[Simba Saurus · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was better than the first book in the Paws series. I like how the problem was easier to see as a problem. There was a bigger plot than the first book. I just could see that this one was more interesting and had improved from the first. I accidentally read this one first instead of the first one in the series. Maybe that's why I think this one is better? I don’t know. Anyways I think that this book is awesome.

[Crystal books_inthewild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another total HIT by Michele Assarasakorn and Nathan Fairbairn! LOVE love love all the characters, their friendship and family struggles, and the real-life, mature ways that the girls handle any issues that come up.
I also love all the local BC 🇨🇦 references, the diverse characters, cultures and foods, and the amazing illustrations.

I hope they continue to make many more in this series!

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually enjoyed this one more than the first! Now that the origin story drama is out of the way, Mindy's story seems more heartfelt and relatable to readers.

[D.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

“But sharing isn’t the same as losing…”

I loved the message and enjoyed my reading experience.

[Meg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great graphic novel for young readers. Even better than the first book in the series!

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In Gabby Gets it Together Mindy Kim, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta form their dog walking business, Pretty Awesome Walkers, because they all love dogs but cannot have pets in their homes for various reasons. While Priya loves sports and Gabby loves reading, Mindy's life revolves her mother and her phone. Mindy and her mother often hang out together, reading and watching movies. When the two are out, they run into a man, Mike, who is walking his cat, Chonk. Her mother and Mike bond over the shared love of a video game, and soon Mindy feels like a third wheel when she has to go along on dates with her mother. She also feels awkward at school when there is a new student at Charlotte Bronte Elementary, Hazel. Mindy and Gabby are soon sitting at a table with Hazel, who is also really interested in walking dogs. The girls need to increase their client base as former clients no longer their services, but Mindy is increasingly distracted by her mother's new relationship and her jealousy at Hazel's inclusion in the group. At one point, Mindy leaves Hazel to walk Chonk alone. Chonk crawls off into a bush to sleep, and since Hazel is in a wheelchair, she is stuck on the sidewalk until the girls come back to get her. Will they all be able to reach some kind of agreement so that they can all get along and keep the business going?
Strengths: It is always good to see children navigating the experience of parents who are dating, since I think that is an experience that many have that is not reflected as much in literature. The friend drama is a constant draw, so while it is great that Mindy and Gabby were so welcoming to Hazel, it's also understandable that Mindy felt left out. Hazel's use of a wheelchair comes up in a natural way and is handled well by the girls. The dogs are adorable, the details of the girls' home and school life add a lot to the story, and the illustration style will appeal to readers who like Victoria Jamieson's and Raina Telgemeier's books.
Weaknesses: I'm personally not a fan of the manga style overemoting when the character's eyes bug out and their faces are red, and that happened a lot, especially since Mindy was struggling with several issues. Younger readers won't care, but it struck me the way that ALL CAPS TEXTS do. Also, a mother that plays video games while her daughter needed attention? This made my brain implode a bit.
What I really think: I need to make gamja bokkeum (potatoes fried with onions, garlic, soy sauce, and sugar) for dinner! I enjoyed this one, even though there are quite a number of books with children who walk dogs. Do tweens not babysit anymore? That was the main source of income for me and my friends; everyone walked their own dogs.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mindy feels like she’s being pushed out of all her groups. She was happy with just her and her mom, but then her mom met Michael and he’s with them all the time. At school, Hazel, a new girl in a wheelchair is added to the class. She’s put at the same table with Priya and Gabby, and Mindy isn’t available for Hazel’s birthday party which both of them go to…and Hazel is obviously interested in becoming a PAWS member. Mindy feels like she’s being replaced or pushed out everywhere she turns and it isn’t making her a very nice person.

In some ways I really felt for Mindy. My love language is quality time, so I can see how someone whose time with her friends or parent is decreased might feel less loved. I would hope a parent of such a child would recognize if they need quality one on one time. In Mindy’s case, it doesn’t appear to be her love language as much as her dislike of change and her insecurity. Eventually, her mom has a good talk with Mindy about making space for new people and changes. Mindy makes the apologies she needs to make, and starts seeing how change can be good. It ends on a happy note, but it is a bit of a rough road to getting there. Hazel being in a wheelchair provides lots of opportunities for the other girls to realize how challenging getting around the city can be for someone unable to walk. They go trick or treating with her, and the number of houses with inaccessible front entrances floors the girls, but they find a creative workaround to make sure Hazel is included. They also work out how Hazel can be a contributing dog walker with them, but also acknowledge her limitations and areas that she’ll need assistance. The book does a good job of helping put readers into the shoes of someone unable to walk and seeing them with understanding and dignity

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: Mindy’s mom and her boyfriend only hold hands.
Violence: None
Ethnic diversity: Mindy is Korean Candaian, Priya is Indian Canadian, Gabby is mixed Chinese/white Canadian, and Hazel is white Canadian (uses a wheelchair)
LGBTQ+ content: None specified
Other: Access issues of someone in a wheelchair, feelings of abandonment/being pushed out, dealing with change

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about relationship changes and how a junior high school girl learns how to navigate with the changes that happen in her life. Growing up without a father, it has always been Mindy and her mother, so when Michael came into the picture, it was hard for Mindy to accept especially since she has never had a male figure of any sort in her life (excluding the interactions with Gabby's dad). Naturally, she started to have these ideas in her head where she will be slowly excluded out. I can't plan her too much with this thinking because ever since her mother met Michael in the neighborhood, her mother spends a lot of her time with Michael whether it be playing the same video game they were commonly interested in, texting him, or even calling him. Even though throughout the book Mindy is being taken to different places with those two lovebirds, I can't blame her for feeling like she's just being dragged along, especially since they are doing things that Michael likes.

In the same way, there was a new girl in Mindy's class; Hazel, not knowing anyone, becomes instant friends with Gabby and Priya. Seeing this, Mindy views Hazel as a threat and thinks that she will slowly be pushed out of their friendship circle and be replaced. With so many changes going on, it's hard for Mindy to handle. I'm not justifying that Mindy mistreating both Michael and Hazel is good, but I can understand from her view, even though it’s a very wrong one.

I'm glad at the end things are reconciled and Mindy learns that changes are sometimes good for growth. Having new friendships and new relationships are what’s great about life. Sometimes there are those that come and go, some shorter than others, but that is the way of life.

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
Three and a half stars rounded down to three.

In the second PAWS novel, we see the girls moving forward with their PAWS business and trying to keep balancing it all with their lives and their friendships. This book focusses more on Mindy. She is struggling with feeling on the outing in basically all areas of her life. Firstly, Mindy’s mother (it’s just been the two of them for years) finds a new boyfriend and starts spending a lot of time with him. I do think that Mindy’s mother could have handled that situation a lot better. She should have thought about her daughter and how she was feeling and had an open and honest conversation with her a lot earlier.

Anyway, next there is a new girl in the class that becomes friends with the girls. Mindy struggles with this because she feels like she is being pushed out and this new girl (Grace I think?) is taking her place. All of this of course creates a perfect storm for Mindy and she struggles to process her emotions because of course she is a literal child. To make it all worse, the new girl wants to join PAWS and the other girls are happy for her to join. It’s a lot for one child to deal with, especially on her own because her mother’s attention is elsewhere with her new beau. Of course being a kid’s graphic novel, eventually things all work out. I just wanted more for Mindy. #JusticeforMindy!!!

[Vaconafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Za egzemplarz książki do recenzji w ramach współpracy barterowej dziękuję bardzo wydawnictwu.

Komiks porusza bardzo ważne tematy, a głównie skupia się na temacie dzielenia się. Mindy ma tylko mamę i dwie przyjaciółki, z którymi tworzą PSIAKI. Jej mama zaczyna się spotykać z nowo poznanym mężczyzną, a w szkole pojawia się nowa dziewczyna, która porusza się na wózku i zaczyna przyjaźnić się z jej przyjaciółkami. Mindy nie chce zmian w swoim życiu i dzielić się ani mamą, ani przyjaźnią.

Historia jest bardzo ciekawie poprowadzona i ukazuje, że warto się dzielić szczęściem, bo gdy się zamykamy na to co może być i nie chcemy zmian może dojść do starć i przeciwieństwa szczęścia. Dodatkowo możemy tu również ujrzeć problem związany z nową przyjaciółką dziewczyn i jej poruszaniem się na wózku, - dziewczyny zbierają cukierki, ale nie każdy dom jest dostosowany dla osób z niepełnosprawnością, - ale mamy tu okazaną pełną akceptację i chęć rozwiązania wspólnie problemów.

Jest to świetna historia, którą zachęcam Was byście poznali. Mi osobiście zrobiło się w czasie czytania pewnych momentów smutno, aż zakręciła mi się w oku łza. Jednak cała historia ma szczęśliwe zakończenie, które ukazuje, że zawsze można znaleźć porozumienie w każdej sytuacji i rozwiązanie każdego nieporozumienia.

Bardzo Wam polecam tą książkę jak i całą serię.

Pamiętajcie, że szczęściem zawsze warto się dzielić!

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade graphic novel is a lot of fun, technically the second in the PAWS series, but my daughter and I are reading these all out of order (started with book 4). It's about a group of girls who start a dog walking/pet sitting club. Mindy is one of the founding members, but she gets jealous when a new girl, Hazel (who is a disabled wheelchair user), moves to their city and the other two members of PAWS immediately befriend her. Then Mindy's mom starts dating. It feels like everyone is replacing her, and it makes her so angry.

Marian really enjoyed this! We read it together. She loves friend drama and pets (esp. cats), so the boyfriend's cat, Chonk, was a big hit. I also like how Mindy's ableism is called out. On to the next book in the series! I think we actually managed to check out book 1 this time.

[Kay S. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this series! And this one combines some really poignant topics for the kiddos. Learning to accept changes is something even adults STRUGGLE FAR TOO MUCH WITH.... combine that with dealing with disabilities, parental dating, owning a small business, doggos... And while Mindy was a jerk, she redeemed herself quite well I think. It's nice how she solved her problems through communication and honest to goodness apologies.

And it was great to see all the familiar doggos and new doggos and CHONK!

The series is super approachable, very much along the lines of the babysitter's Club titles (fewer kids, more dogs!). They're definitely popular enough I had to wait on a holds list for a long time for the book.

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

I liked how the book dealt with relationship changes and how you might start feeling left out (in different ways). I had read the first book but I don't think you would have to in order to understand this one.
I also liked the inclusion of Hazel and how it showed how inaccessible our world can sometimes be.

One thing that really bugged me was all the bolded words. A few times I thought they were warranted but mostly they weren't and having them all throughout made the bolding not stand out for when it actually should have been bolded.

Anyway, I will buy this for my school library as it is very reminiscent of baby-sitters club and smile, etc. so I know students will enjoy it.

[🐘bookworm🐘 · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hated almost all the characters at at least one point in this book. To be fair, I didn’t read the first book in the series so that could affect my opinions. This book is fine, but I just really didn’t like it for some reason.

One thing I did like was the pictures.

Two things that annoyed me:
1. Priya. I particularly didn’t like her as much for no certain reason.
2. THE UNNECESSARILY BOLDED LETTERS!! Is this how graphic novels normally are? Because if they are I don’t notice it as much because I read a lot of them. Whenever I read the sentences, I would always try to emphasize the bolded word in my mind, but it didn’t make any sense.

Disclaimer: I might just be too old for this book and I personally didn’t really like it.

[Penny lurkykitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't read the first PAWS book, but I was able to pick up on the characters easily enough. This book focuses on Mindy who is dealing with change in her friend group and family life. She feels as if she is being replaced by her mother's new boyfriend and a new girl at school. This, and the fear of change, are relatable fears, not just for middle school kids. I liked how Mindy had to realize that her behavior was hurting herself and others and take ownership of the solution. I was surprised to see an indoor climbing wall depicted without safety harnesses. These climbing gyms are usually super safety conscious. I loved the cat called Chonk!

[Dolores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just when it seems like the ladies of PAWS have worked out all their issues and scheduling problems, everything changes for Mindy. Suddenly there is a new guy in her Mom's life and he's ALWAYS there. There doesn't seem to be any room for Mindy any more. Then a new girl arrives at school and the teacher moves Mindy away from the table to make room for her. Gabby and Priya are happy to welcome new girl, Hazel and seem fine with Mindy being moved, but Mindy is sure that Hazel is trying to get into PAWS and push her out. Can Mindy find the courage to make space for two new people in her life. A great series for fans of Babysitters Club.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Novel
I received an electronic ARC from PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group through NetGalley.
PAWS story continues with Mindy struggling to accept changes in her life and friend group. Readers will connect with how she feels and relate to the struggle when family dynamics and friend groups shift. The artwork is fun to study and brings out the characters' emotions. I appreciate how Fairbairn showed Mindy taking ownership and resolving the conflicts. It was done in a mature manner. Looking forward to volume three.