Doodles from the Boogie Down

Doodles from the Boogie Down #1

by Stephanie Rodriguez

A young Dominican girl navigates middle school, her strict mother, shifting friendships, and her dream of being an artist in this debut coming-of-age graphic novel inspired by the author's tween years.

Eighth grade in New York City means one It’s time to start applying to high schools! While her friends are looking at school catalogs and studying for entrance exams, Steph is doodling in her notebook and waiting for art class to begin. When her art teacher tells her about LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, Steph desperately wants to apply. But she’s in the Bronx, and LaGuardia is a public school in Manhattan—which her mom would not approve of. Steph comes up with a plan that includes lying to her mom, friends, and teachers. Keeping secrets isn’t easy, and Steph must decide how far she’ll go to get what she wants.

Doodles from the Boogie Down is a sparkling semi-autobiographical middle grade graphic novel debut set in the early aughts that's perfect for fans of Sunny Side Up by Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm and Real Friends by Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Art, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Comics, Graphic Novels Comics

208 pages, Paperback

First published April 25, 2023

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nostalgia in this one! I've been meaning to pick this one up since it came out and I'm mad that I waited so long. This was a fun read.

Doodles from the Boogie Down is a middle grade coming of age graphic novel that is loosely based on the experiences of creator Stephanie Rodriguez. We follow main character Steph, a native of the Bronx, as she begins to make the transition of applying to attend high schools. Steph adores art and wants to attend an art school in Manhattan. Unfortunately, Steph's mom doesn't want her to attend a public school so she concocts a scheme that she hopes will land her in the school of her dreams.

What Worked: There were so many great elements tied into this book! First, it takes place during the early 2000s which brought back so many memories for me as an adult reader. While I'm usually not a fan of this, I think that Rodriguez did it in a way that would be fun for younger readers who are interested in learning what life was like more than twenty years ago. There are also some great conversations about the experiences of those individuals that are children to immigrant parents. A lot of the hesitation that readers see with Steph's mom is definitely a projection of her own experiences moving from the Dominican Republic to the U.S. It's clear commentary on the idea that sometimes parents make decisions to protect their children based on their own experiences and not all of it is ill-intentioned even though the impact isn't always great. I also LOVED the conversations that Steph was able to have around art. Readers will literally get to see her art change over time. Unlike some readers, I actually enjoyed Rodriguez's art style. It definitely gave me Simpson's vibes and the teeth are kind of hard to miss, but for some reason I was into it! The unique art style with the beautiful coloring just made everything stand out. It was clear that she put a lot of effort into the details for this one.

Overall, this was a good read! I'm looking forward to reading more of Rodriguez's works in the future.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

I almost liked this middle school graphic novel about an 8th grader who tries to go around her mother to get into the public high school with the cool art program, but it was so slow and predictable that I started to get bored and then allowed myself to get distracted by the way the artist draws big toothy mouths (like the one on the cover) and slowly grew to hate those stylized choppers, especially when there are just three of them, like people don't have four front teeth, and like bottom teeth don't exist!

[Brianna Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first time I read a book after meeting the author. Stephanie Rodriguez is brilliant, sweet, and personable. Her novel was especially fun to read since I live in the Bronx and loved to see landmarks and scenes from my everyday life in many frames. It's a great joy to read books set in your city.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's the early 2000s, and in New York City, applying for high schools is a big thing. Steph lives with her busy but strict mother, who is from the Dominican Republic, and who wants her to keep attending Catholic Schools. Her mother also doesn't allow her to do much by herself, and is super embarassing, walking her to school and buying her the wrong kind of shoes. Steph's friends are looking at a variety of schools, but because she likes art, Steph is very interested in LaGuardia, an arts school. It is in Manhattan, so her mother thinks it is a very bad idea, even though she knows how much Steph likes art. Art isn't a good career choice, says her mother, so Steph is encouraged to apply to more rigorous, academic, Catholic schools. Steph's art teacher notices her interest, and encourages her. The two have an after school "club" where they work on Steph's portfolio. The teacher also invites Steph to go to art galleries with her and her daughter, and also explores art in Steph's neighborhood of the Bronx as well. How will Steph make her mother see the value in her art work, and convince her to follow her dreams?
Strengths: Steph's love of bright colors is evident in the vibrant pages of this semi-autobiographical story. Tween readers will relate to being left alone after school, and also to having parents who care too much some times, and don't care enough others. There is some friend drama, a lot of adventure in New York City, and a palpable feeling of wanting to be in control of one's own life despite parental attempts to control it. In my mind, the 2000s are indistinguishable from today, but this managed to convey a pre 9/11 sense of optimism and light heartedness that is notably lacking in modern works. I'll be curious to see what else Rodriguez writes.
Weaknesses: While it is great to see the early 2000s explored, I'd also like to see graphic memoirs from earlier decades, like Copeland's Cub. It would be great if artists and authors like Rodriguez teamed up with older authors like Lois Lowry to tell their stories before we've lost that generation.
What I really think: This will be a big hit with fans of Bermudez' Big Apple Diaries or Holm's Sunny Side Up books. Because it's a graphic novel, my students will read it even though the idea of applying to a high school and worrying about getting in will be a very foreign concept!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[BethFishReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

A moving and engaging coming-of-age story with themes that resonate both with the middle grade target audience and with older readers.

This graphic novel is loosely based on the author's life. It stars a 13-year-old girl who lives in the Bronx and is the daughter of Dominican Republic immigrants. She is in her last year of middle school at a Catholic private school, which means that she and her friends must soon apply to whatever private or public high school they think will be best for their future and interests.

Steph wants to attend a public school for the arts in Manhattan, but she knows her mother wants to stay closer to home and to enroll in a private school. Meanwhile, she and her two best friends are beginning to drift away from each other as they contemplate where they'll be next year.

In desperation, Steph prepares a portfolio for the art school. Though she has help from her art teacher, she keeps her plans secret from everyone else and lies to the teacher, saying she has her mother's blessings.

The main themes of the graphic novel are growing up, facing social pressures at school, evolving friendships, following one's dreams, honoring family, facing up to one's missteps, and working hard at what you're good at.

The colorful and expressive drawings show Steph's full range of emotions, the business of the city streets, and activities at school. Diversity and Steph's Latino background shine through.

It's so easy to root for Steph's success and to cringe at some of her decisions. The book would make a good family read or book club pick, especially for younger readers. The ending is surprisingly moving.

Thanks to the publisher for a review copy.

[Dr. T Loves Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

As she gets ready to apply for high school, Stephanie finds herself faced with choices and changes. Her overprotective mother refuses to let Stephanie go to a public school, even though Stephanie wants to pursue her interest in art at the best art school in New York City. One of her best friends has started hanging out with the girls who constantly make fun of Stephanie. The other best friend thinks art is useless to having a good future. And as Stephanie learns more about the museums of New York, she starts to distance herself from her friends. On top of it all, Stephanie starts making some new friends, and her old friends have nothing but criticism for their likes and preferences.

When Stephanie decides to lie to everyone around her so she can secretly work on getting accepted to art school, she's sure her plan will force her mother into finally letting Stephanie pursue her dream.

Instead, she finds that she's jeopardized her friendships, her relationships with the adults around her, and her future.


This story is very loosely based on some of the author's personal experiences.

The story is put together well. The art style is very cartoon-like.

I think the message is a good one for kids. Being deceitful is not likely to work out in the long run. There's also a nice message for adults, as Stephanie's mom talks with her own mom and gets counseled that even though we may mean well, we sometimes make mistakes, and that it's OK for adults to tell kids they've made mistakes and to re-address situations.

Overall, this was an enjoyable story with some good lessons.

[Katelynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read middle grade kids will love. I had no idea it took place in 2000 which made it fun for me as I’m a few years younger than the protagonist, Steph, and the pop culture references were cute. However, I think the author could’ve made it modern too and I’m not always a fan of things being “historical” just for the author’s nostalgia factor (though it was semi-auto-biographical). Nonetheless I found it really relatable to emotions and experiences I had when I was Steph’s age and I really enjoyed it!

[Mark Meiss · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fine story, but the weird Simpsons teeth were jarring and distracting.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the Note from the Creator part at the end of the book; it's filled with honesty and words that were definitely from personal experience. The book was somewhat of a memoir of her own life and the book itself most definitely felt like a memory lane.
I knew the timeline was somewhere around the 2000s and it really was with the Pretty Girl clothing boutique reference and the characters' choice of clothes! Converse was really the big fashion shoes, even I had a few pairs myself!

This book is definitely appropriate for youth of all ages, especially for junior high school students. Although the book takes place at a different time period, the materials are still relatable to today's time with the difficulty in having to take the SAT (entrance exam) or preparing a portfolio for a different route like entering the art industry. With having friends who have different goals in life, it helps the youth understand that just because there are different interests doesn't mean you have to fall away from one's friendship, especially when the friendship already has a firm foundation.

I think that this book is also good for adults to read, as it helps them understand why their tweens act the way they do; it helps them remember what goes through their tweens' minds and helps understand that it's not always the parents' perspective that's always right. By reminding themselves that everyone is different with different goals in life, it helps to not only open the parents' eyes to different possibilities (especially when their child's goals does not bring harm to others) but also helps them have a better relationship since teenager years are the most hardest to maintain a good and healthy parent/child relationship.

Also quoting from A Note from the Creator that was really touching:
"... I wrote and illustrated this book to honor a childhood memory and the big, complicated questions young people are asked to grapple with. How do we balance being an American tween with the expectations and traditions passed down by our immigrant families? What's it like to do something that no one in our family has done yet? How do we open ourselves to the art that's all around us?

[Erica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This realistic graphic novel, with an artistic style on the goofy-cute side, has many potential readers, although the cover implies a lot more humor than the story synopsis suggests it contains - and the synopsis is more accurate. Compare it to; Twins, Click, Nat Enough, and Short & Skinny.

Stephanie's mother, born in the Dominican Republic but living in Brooklyn since the age of 11, practices an authoritarian parenting style; she expects her daughter to apply to a Catholic high school, and in the meantime, ask permission for any deviation from her ordinary schedule, which is to go to school and come home without stopping even to get a quick snack at the local bodega, owned by Steph's best friend's family. Like The Poet X, also about a young person in the New York/Brooklyn Latin American community, the plot revolves around this mother/daughter relationship in which the parent's inflexible conservatism is seen as outdated and stifling, and the parent is eventually forced to update their approach.

Steph and her friends have to choose what matters to them in order to apply to the specific high schools that will be of interest and that are more likely to offer a spot. For Steph, it's obvious: she likes to draw. The fact that her two best friends have other interests & strengths (Tiff is into math & science, Ana wants to go where the "in" crowd is going) creates some tension between them - quickly exacerbated by their thoughtless banter and their bad habit of not checking in to see how one another is feeling.

The tension increases when Steph hatches a solo plan in which she tells slightly different lies to everyone. Because Steph has already established a pattern of accepting her authoritarian mother's edicts without question, it may seem like a logical step for the author - who says in the backmatter that this is autobiographical up to a point.

However, this passivity followed by elaborate deceit will fall differently on different readers. On the one hand, 11- to 12-year-olds readers may relate, because many of them perceive any parental rules as authoritarian, since young people may not be able to assess whether the rules constitute reasonable safety boundaries. Those readers may believe that the measures Steph takes are therefore logical.

On the other hand, some readers may notice that Steph barely tries to argue for her rights and responsibilities or otherwise persuade her mother to allow reasonable adjustments. In this case, when she begins her outright lies, it looks more like a moral failing on top of a lack of capacity and agency. If so, this distances readers from empathizing or relating to the main character.

It’s great when Steph is forced to own up to her deceit and then finally also opens up to her friends. However, when Steph faces Ana, they both pretend as if Ana hadn’t insulted her using the very same words the bully used.

It was also a little disappointing to read that the author in the very cute backmatter - drawn to resemble a middle school student’s notebook doodles - admits that the one untrue bit in the story is where she actually attended high school. It makes me wonder why the main character isn’t allowed to have the full authentic experience of the author’s own life. Would that small change render the story too boring? Too pitiful? Too difficult for others to relate to? It made me sad.


Here's my list of realistic graphic novels; https://oaklandlibrary.bibliocommons....

[Josephine Sorrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This endearing story is set in Our Lady of Angels School in The Bronx, where the impending high school application process s weighing heavily on 13 year old Steph’s mind. Everyone has a plan of which school they wish to apply. Well Steph does too, but a public school focused on art does not sit well with mama. Steph's Dominican mother is strict and overprotective, and doesn't think public schools are safe. Steph also knows that her mom won’t want her leaving their home in The Bronx for a school in Manhattan. And there is the the idea that “art school is not a path to a practical career”.

Still Steph driven to pursue her dream and comes up with a plan. Not a great plan but it might work… might backfire.

This is a single parent family, like so many today, that may be particularly resonant to some readers as well as complexities of the relationship between a first-generation child and her immigrant parent.

Rodriguez states in the afterward that the book is partly based on her life. The comic book artist and illustrator shares the same name as her main character, and they’re both from The Bronx. Rodriguez wrote that she herself faced many obstacles, including her mother’s disapproval and not knowing enough information about the high school application process.

Another theme of the book worth noting is the idea that art can be found everywhere. In Doodles, Steph gets the impression that real art only exists in Manhattan. Her art teacher points out that if one looks around them with awareness, art is everywhere, even in the Bronx. Steph’s eyes are opened and at her interview she shares that her favorite artist is John Ahearn who makes cool sculptures of people from the Bronx like people jumping double Dutch on the sidewalks.

As a mother and former teacher, I had a problem with her teacher taking Steph to Manhattan with only verbal permission via Stephanie. And even so a teacher traveling alone with a student is not the best idea. Also when I started the book I thought an alternative title could be… is there a dentist in the house? As I read and viewed on, I realized the creativeness of Stephanie Rodriguez art style.

Highly recommend this novel for 8-12 year old readers.

[JustinRUP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doodles From The Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez is an incredible book and I'm very thankful that I picked out this graphic novel to read. This is a must-read book and Stephanie Rodriguez is a really inspirational author with creativity. Since I live in the Bronx and used to be interested in joining an art high school this book really impacts me and maybe it will impact you too. Stephanie grew up in a Dominican household with her strict mom and she is very passionate about art. She would make amazing artwork and her dream was to be a artist when she grew up. The first step she wanted to take was going to an art high school which was the best in New York City but her mom wouldn’t allow her due to safety concerns from past experiences the mom has witnessed at her time at school. Stephanie was upset about her mom not letting her and decided to keep things a secret from her mom. Stephanie had two friends but they both didn’t like art so they were going on different paths. One of her friends thinks art is not a good future and starts hanging out with people who make fun of Stephanie. Stephanie then started to realize this and kept her dream of going to an art high school away from her friends too. She started not doing well in her classes because she had been focusing so much on her artwork. The school then called her mom and told her what was going on. In addition, I liked how Stephanie Rodriguez developed the characters including herself for example her mom not accepting her to go to the school that she dreams of going to. There were many tensions throughout the story between Stephanie with her mom, friends, and the school that built up to an interesting conflict that will be later settled with the resolution. The book also has great illustrations on each page that help you understand how Stephanie is feeling and what is going on in the story. The only thing I would say I disliked was the resolution I feel like it was very predictable ahead of time which ruins the surprise but the author still managed to pull it off and make it a great story. Overall the book was amazing and I had a great time reading it. I would recommend this book to anyone. I feel like anyone could read this book especially if you have a story of your own self not giving up on your dreams and letting anyone hold you back.

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author/graphic artist Stephanie Rodriguez takes her memory of a time in her own 8th grade life to give middle grade readers a look at a group of girls struggling to make decisions about school, friends, family, and even fashion. Steph makes a few poor choices as she tries to make her dreams come true but ultimately shares her truth and restores her relationships with her mom and her two best friends. The feelings and dilemmas faced by the girls are real and readers will likely be able to make direct application to their own lives. The graphic panels are easy to follow and are realistic with Rodriguez’ own personal style coming through in her use of exaggerated facial features. References to music of the period and the use of the slang of the time (“dope,” “mad cool,” etc) will be unfamiliar to some readers, seen as overused by others, and appreciated by others. For libraries that just can’t keep graphic novels by Scrivan, Telgemeier, Chmakova and Libenson on the shelves, this may be another one to add to that collection of school based drama.

Thanks for the print arc, Stephanie and Pigeon Kids/Kokila.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Doodles from the Boogie Down is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel perfect for middle grade readers. Eight grade is a complicated time for New Yorkers like Steph; they have to choose where to apply to high school and depending on where they are accepted, they may need to trek across the city each day. Steph knows she's not interested in the academically rigorous high schools her friends are applying for. And her wants seems constantly at odds with what her strict Dominican mom expects of her.

After learning about an arts high school in Manhattan from her teacher, she plans to do whatever it takes to get in even if it means secret trips, lying to her mom and not studying for entrance exams. But to get what she wants, Steph still must work hard and eventually be honest with those around her. A beautiful story about pursuing your dreams, advocating for your own path, and feeling the power of being accepted and supported. A must purchase for all middle grade graphic novel collections.

[grieshaber.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much to love about this book! 8th grade, New Yorker BFFs are deciding where to go to high school. Obviously, they all want to go to the same school (the cool school), but . . . Stephanie really wants to go to an art school and her art teacher is helping her put together a portfolio to apply. Her friends don't understand. Her mom doesn't understand. Her mom doesn't understand anything, actually. She's very, very strict and absolutely refuses Stephanie when she asks if she can apply to the art school (because it's a public school and public schools are badbadbad). So, Stephanie lies to her art teacher and tells her they can work on her portfolio because her mom gave her permission. Oh, Stephanie. What could go wrong?

Cute coming-of-age story with colorful and unique art. My favorite thing is all of the new experiences Stephanie has with her art teacher seeing not only art in NYC, but in her hometown of the Bronx, too. It opens up a whole new world to her, as new experiences always do.

A worthy addition to MASL's Inaugural Denny O'Neil Graphic Novel List.

[Bexa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got to listen to the author speak about her book which immediately made me want to read it. It's a great middle school story about a young second generation girl who wants to be an artist, but her mother wants her to focus on school and definitely doesn't want her to go to public school. Stephanie has a solid group of friends, but runs into roadblocks as they are growing up and going in different directions. She's also dealing with bullying from another group of girls, and is lying to her mother about extra art classes as she tries to scheme her way into the public art school. Little bit of communication and honesty ends this story on a sweet and positive note. While the artwork isn't appealing to me, it works well for middle grade graphic novels, and the author introduces the reader to a lot of classic and contemporary artists. Fun and quick read.

[Amy Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Welcome to Stephanie’s neighborhood in the Bronx, a.k.a the “Boogie Down,” circa 2000. Steph lives with her single mother and attends eighth grade at Our Lady of Angels School with her best friends, Tiff and Ana. Her favorite subject is art, and she would love to attend LaGuardia High School of Music and Art next year, but her very strict Mami opposes the idea of a public high school. With the high school entrance exam looming, Steph comes up with a mildly deceptive plan to get into LaGuardia. After all, aren’t a few white lies worth it to pursue her dream of a career in art? This debut middle grade graphic novel is a work of fiction based on the author and illustrator’s own life. Stephanie Rodriguez excels at portraying Steph’s Bronx neighborhood, especially the local art that Steph explores with her art teacher, Ms. Santiago!

[The Loco Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun, touching, and meaningful graphic novel. I really enjoyed the characters and was inspired by the resolution of the conflicts across the plot. Our main character lies to her mother about applying on to art school and then failing in the high school exam. We have friend drama, bully issues, and a crush that she meets throughout the story. Overall, it was a great story about telling the truth and persevering--push for your dreams! I admire her teacher for helping her create her art portfolio and encouraging her! I also admire her mother for having the courage to apologize when she was upset and did not understand how art could be a career. Ultimately, her mom changed her perspective and gave her daughter the encouragement for art that she deserved. Such a lovely story.

[KaylaFUP · Rating 5 out of 5]

Top five reasons to read “Doodles from the Boogie down” by Stephanie Rodriguez

Plot: “Doodles from the Boogie Down” has a very interesting and unique plot that makes you excited for the outcome.

Setting: As someone who lives in the Bronx reading this book made me feel seen since there aren't a lot of books about the Bronx.

Artwork: The fun loud and bubbly artwork gives you a nostalgic vibe and helps give the story that 8th grade vibe.

Characters: Having a strict and stern Mom with an understanding and gentle Grandmother gives the story more relatability.

Theme: This story has an interesting theme about following your dreams no matter what.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this graphic novel inspired by the life of the creator, Steph is living in the Bronx and preparing for high school but she doesn’t want to follow her friends to their schools. Her mother wants her to continue attending Catholic school but when her art teacher mentions a magnet art school in Manhattan she is determined to find a way to attend. She certainly has the artistic talent but her mother had a hard time when she was in school as a newly arrived immigrant from the Dominican Republic and wants to protect Steph from the same treatment. The illustrations are delightful – I especially like the way Rodriguez draws teeth – and Steph’s helicopter-mom antics are laugh out loud funny.

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

What is up with the teeth? Beyond that the art was fine if not spectacular. As was the story. Girl's mother is helicopter mom and doesn't want her going to public school, but the best school is a public arts school. Snd her friend group is separating. Set in the early 2000s (maybe?), although the choice seems unnecessary and would maybe appeal to the current audience with a more updated background. This had elements of connection--finding your own path, dealing with friend dramas, parental overbearingness--but it just felt a bit out of sync.

[Jaimee · Rating 3 out of 5]

My kids couldn't stand the teeth or eyelids on the characters and didn't want to finish reading it. But I powered through and the story was a good one. I appreciated the representation (Bronx, Hispanic, low income, single parent, etc.) and Stephanie's passion for art, which is not initially supported by her mother or her friends. The mother's dialogue includes English and Spanish (but you don't need to be able to read Spanish to understand what is happening) and there is discussion of artists from the Bronx. I just didn't feel like it got deep enough and the resolution came too quickly.

[AnneLibrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young second generation girl who wants to be an artist, but her mother wants her to focus on school and definitely doesn't want her to go to public school. A series of fibs set's Steph up for some problems as she goes behind her mother's back to apply to art school

Semi-auto-biographical. Good choice if looking for a different title -- fans of graphic novels about friends and coming or age. I don't remember seeing an explanation of why it's called Boogie Down. Didn't know this is a nickname for the Bronx (birthplace of hip-hop).

[Ellon · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars (I liked it)

This was a nice coming-of-age story that takes place in NYC during the early 2000s. There were lots of things I couldn't really relate to (applying to high school, immigrant parents, living in the city, etc.) but it was a really interesting window into that life.

I do not think I will be purchasing for my school library just because the target audience seems more like middle school than elementary school (not that there are things that are not appropriate for elementary students in the book)

[Dolores · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the end of eighth grade looms, it is time to apply for high school, and all her friends are pouring over the catalog of Catholic High Schools looking for the one that is best for them. Steph isn't interested in Catholic High School at all. She wants to attend an art-focused High School--a PUBLIC school. Something her mother would never allow. So, she develops a plan. It means lying to her mother and her friends and taking advantage of her supportive art teacher, but Steph just KNOWS it will all work out. Set in the 2000s, the slang was pretty distracting to me.

[Courtney Long · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! My favorite part about the book was that it shared all the emotions, good and bad, that teens can go through. Sometimes teens are mean to their friends. Sometimes they get jealous, or sad or rebellious. This book showed it all and was a gorgeous representation of the pressures young students face as they think about what they want to do with their life and the path they want to walk to get there. I’d give this book to any young kid on the cusp of a big decision as proof that those big feelings and anxieties are normal, and sometimes we need a little help from our friends and family.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

The illustration style here reminded me of Rick & Morty. Which is a show I haven't seen, so I can't speak to other similarities or other influence that show may have had here. Beyond that, I found the illustrations very accessible and readable. The typeface felt a little canned, but that didn't distract, for me.

Loved the inclusion of becoming-an-artist stuff, Spanish language, late 90s slang and pop culture references, and fashion choices of teenagers.

I ate this up so fast, I had a hard time remembering it when I sat down to review it a couple months later!

[Meagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute middle grades graphic novel about growing up in the Bronx in the late 90s/early 2000s. I loved the struggle our narrator engages with as she tries to decide what high school she wants to attend. She tries to balance her desire to attend an art high school with her friend's insistence that she choose a more practical program, her mother's desire that she continue attending private, Catholic school, and her own desire to spread her wings and have a chance to explore her passion. Students will relate to Steph and will quickly be drawn into her world as they read.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fun middle grade graphic novel set in the year 2000 about an 8th grade Dominican American in the Bronx, Steph, who needs to choose her high school. Her mom wants her to go to a private Catholic school, just like her middle school, but Steph wants to go to a public high school known for its art program. She decides to lie to her mom as she puts her portfolio together with her art teacher. I liked the story, I didn't love the art, which is why it took me so long to get to this one. It's based on the author's life, though doesn't follow it exactly.