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Club Kick Out!: Into the Ring: A Graphic Novel – A Punchy Middle Grade Story About Creative Kids and Wrestling for Children
“A laugh-out-loud hilarious, action-packed treat!” —Kristen Gudsnuk, author of Making Friends In this punchy and energetic middle grade graphic novel, six artistic misfits take matters into their own hands when their principal cancels all creative extracurricular clubs at their school. When the school principal cancels Sasha’s gaming club , she’s crushed—but not alone. Turns out theater, cosplay, and choir clubs are canceled too, and tons of kids are left without a space to let their creativity shine. Just when she thinks all hope is lost, a class project leads Sasha and her new friends somewhere they never expected—a local wrestling match—where costumes, secret identities, and catchphrases abound. It’s there an idea is formed. Enter Club Kick Out! But not everyone is on board with this flashy new club, so when Sasha and her friends take their performances too far, trouble starts brewing. With friendships on the ropes and an unexpected injury in the ring, it looks like the end for these up-and-coming performers. Can Sasha and her friends make a comeback in time for Club Kick Out to give the school a match they’ll never forget…or is this young club officially down for the count?
224 pages, Paperback
Published September 5, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 5, 2024
I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this one! It was a fun and interesting middle grade graphic novel
Reading Club Kick Out! Into the Ring is my first introduction to Stephanie Mided and it did not disappoint. It's follows main character Sasha and her group friends as they attempt to form their own wresting club after all their art programs at school have been cut to provide more funding to the athletics department. This definitely captures an issue that happens to schools all the time and serves as a love letter to the kids who are a huge part of and/or support the arts. This graphic novel tackles several other themes that will middle grade readers will adore. With vibrant art and funny, laugh out loud moments, this isn't one that you want to miss!
Reading Club Kick Out! Into the Ring is my first introduction to Stephanie Mided and it did not disappoint. It's follows main character Sasha and her group friends as they attempt to form their own wresting club after all their art programs at school have been cut to provide more funding to the athletics department. This definitely captures an issue that happens to schools all the time and serves as a love letter to the kids who are a huge part of and/or support the arts. This graphic novel tackles several other themes that will middle grade readers will adore. With vibrant art and funny, laugh out loud moments, this isn't one that you want to miss!
January 25, 2025
Into the Ring
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.00/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 6
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (3/5) or 6.00/10 overall
Characters - 6
Atmosphere - 6
Writing - 7
Plot - 6
Intrigue - 6
Logic - 5
Enjoyment - 6
January 19, 2024
Sasha who hates the spotlight learns to overcome her fears through wrestling!
This books gets huge kudos from me from , and that it's okay for friends to have different interests.
3.5
This books gets huge kudos from me from , and that it's okay for friends to have different interests.
3.5
October 5, 2024
This was so fun and different! The art was cute and expressive, great for both the action scenes and the heartfelt moments. I really liked how there were details peppered throughout the story all gearing up towards a second book (where did the little brother sneak off to??). Looking forward to more of this series!
October 18, 2023
I can’t love this middle grade graphic novel about 7th graders starting a pro wrestling club more. Literally perfection for me lol
try-again-later-me-not-the-book
January 25, 2024I really enjoyed this, but my hold was due before I finished.
I just put it back on hold because it’s shaping up to be 4-5* read!
I just put it back on hold because it’s shaping up to be 4-5* read!
February 26, 2024
4.5
Super cute. Wrestling is pretty accurate. But the text is too small.
Super cute. Wrestling is pretty accurate. But the text is too small.
June 5, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Sasha is a big fan of the video game Pom-Pom McPunch, and she's in a gaming club at Custard Creek Middle School. She's excited to enter 7th grader, since 6th graders weren't allowed ot hold offices, and she would like to be president. She's in the club with her good friends Sage, Noah, and Declan. Sage is apprehensive about the year because her father, who was a football star and motivational writer, is going to be the new principal. Sasha's brother Riley is also going into 7th grade, but is a deeply unpleasant character and wants to run against her for the presidential position. When school starts, things don't go well. The gaming club, along with all of the other clubs that aren't sports related, have been canceled by the principal and school board, and all of the funding they would have had will be funneled into teams and a new sports facility. Not only that, but Declan is being horrible about everything and is no longer friends with the group. When Sasha's friend Clover gets tickets to pro wrestling, it's a welcome diversion at first, but the group soon realizes that it might be their answer for an alternative to a club. It's sports related, but also incorporates elements of theater, costume, and story telling. They put together a proposal that the principal considers, but they still need a faculty advisor. Their language arts teacher, Mr. Park, seems like a good candidate, but he's busy with cooking lessons, since he had been the home ec teacher before the cuts. Eventually, they approach the school nurse, since Sasha is always in her office because she's clumsy, but she refuses. The kids eventually find out that this is because she performs in local pro wrestling meets and doesn't want anyone to know. She eventually agrees, and Sasha and her friends come up with all sorts of plans for the group. Sasha has become a cheerleader, and it is hard for the two to remain friends. Some of them are a little misguided, and get them into trouble, like staging a fight in the cafeteria to drum up support and get new members for the club. Since they hadn't asked permission, and a bit of a food fight ensued, this doesn't help their case. Eventually, they get the backing of the cheerleaders and the football team, and plan a big show at half time. Will this be enough to stand the group in good stead with the administration and have access to funding? Will the clubs ever be able to return?
N.B. Graphic novels are a challenge for me; I can't high light things in my e copy, and even when I take notes, I often forget characters' names.
Strengths: The cool kids are now the uncool kids; this is completely on trend with the new middle grade insistence that all of the artistic types who previously were on the fringes of school society are now the main characters of books, fighting the injustice brought about by the evil sports teams. This makes sense, since the people who write books are often ones who felt marginalized when they were young. Sasha's love of gaming is something that many young readers will appreciate, and they will cheer for Sasha as she fights The Man to regain her club. This also has a nonbinary charater, Clover, who uses they/them pronouns, and one of the characters (Artemis, who likes vampires and dresses like a Goth) has two mothers. This is full of humor, has some friend drama, and shows dedicated students trying to fight for what they believe in. My favorite characters were Sasha's parents, who run a local cheese shop (this is set in Wisconsin) called Cheese Louise!
Weaknesses: While sports generally get more support than other sorts of activities, I'm not sure that school boards and principals can often take it upon themselves to pull funding from nonsports groups and reallocate it. It could happen, I suppose, but doesn't seem all that realistic. It makes for a good story, thought, like Herbach's Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders, but that book seemed a bit more likely.
What I really think: I'm not sure how many middle grader readers will be interested in pro wrestling, but this will appeal to the Post Covid middle graders who are always anxious, feel everyone is out to get them, and believe completely that the things they like to do are hated by everyone else. I'm struggling to understand these students, but this is completely on trend with what I have seen at school and in middle grade stories like Capp's Indigo and Ida, Badua's The Takeout, or Davault's Misfit Mansion. In the 1990s and early 2000s, everyone wanted to be popular. Now, characters seem to hate popular people and feel that they wish them ill. No judgement, just an observation on how perceptions change.
Sasha is a big fan of the video game Pom-Pom McPunch, and she's in a gaming club at Custard Creek Middle School. She's excited to enter 7th grader, since 6th graders weren't allowed ot hold offices, and she would like to be president. She's in the club with her good friends Sage, Noah, and Declan. Sage is apprehensive about the year because her father, who was a football star and motivational writer, is going to be the new principal. Sasha's brother Riley is also going into 7th grade, but is a deeply unpleasant character and wants to run against her for the presidential position. When school starts, things don't go well. The gaming club, along with all of the other clubs that aren't sports related, have been canceled by the principal and school board, and all of the funding they would have had will be funneled into teams and a new sports facility. Not only that, but Declan is being horrible about everything and is no longer friends with the group. When Sasha's friend Clover gets tickets to pro wrestling, it's a welcome diversion at first, but the group soon realizes that it might be their answer for an alternative to a club. It's sports related, but also incorporates elements of theater, costume, and story telling. They put together a proposal that the principal considers, but they still need a faculty advisor. Their language arts teacher, Mr. Park, seems like a good candidate, but he's busy with cooking lessons, since he had been the home ec teacher before the cuts. Eventually, they approach the school nurse, since Sasha is always in her office because she's clumsy, but she refuses. The kids eventually find out that this is because she performs in local pro wrestling meets and doesn't want anyone to know. She eventually agrees, and Sasha and her friends come up with all sorts of plans for the group. Sasha has become a cheerleader, and it is hard for the two to remain friends. Some of them are a little misguided, and get them into trouble, like staging a fight in the cafeteria to drum up support and get new members for the club. Since they hadn't asked permission, and a bit of a food fight ensued, this doesn't help their case. Eventually, they get the backing of the cheerleaders and the football team, and plan a big show at half time. Will this be enough to stand the group in good stead with the administration and have access to funding? Will the clubs ever be able to return?
N.B. Graphic novels are a challenge for me; I can't high light things in my e copy, and even when I take notes, I often forget characters' names.
Strengths: The cool kids are now the uncool kids; this is completely on trend with the new middle grade insistence that all of the artistic types who previously were on the fringes of school society are now the main characters of books, fighting the injustice brought about by the evil sports teams. This makes sense, since the people who write books are often ones who felt marginalized when they were young. Sasha's love of gaming is something that many young readers will appreciate, and they will cheer for Sasha as she fights The Man to regain her club. This also has a nonbinary charater, Clover, who uses they/them pronouns, and one of the characters (Artemis, who likes vampires and dresses like a Goth) has two mothers. This is full of humor, has some friend drama, and shows dedicated students trying to fight for what they believe in. My favorite characters were Sasha's parents, who run a local cheese shop (this is set in Wisconsin) called Cheese Louise!
Weaknesses: While sports generally get more support than other sorts of activities, I'm not sure that school boards and principals can often take it upon themselves to pull funding from nonsports groups and reallocate it. It could happen, I suppose, but doesn't seem all that realistic. It makes for a good story, thought, like Herbach's Fat Boy vs. the Cheerleaders, but that book seemed a bit more likely.
What I really think: I'm not sure how many middle grader readers will be interested in pro wrestling, but this will appeal to the Post Covid middle graders who are always anxious, feel everyone is out to get them, and believe completely that the things they like to do are hated by everyone else. I'm struggling to understand these students, but this is completely on trend with what I have seen at school and in middle grade stories like Capp's Indigo and Ida, Badua's The Takeout, or Davault's Misfit Mansion. In the 1990s and early 2000s, everyone wanted to be popular. Now, characters seem to hate popular people and feel that they wish them ill. No judgement, just an observation on how perceptions change.
October 23, 2023
In this graphic novel, Sasha is excited to start 7th grade and get back to her favorite gaming club. Her enthusiasm is dampened on day one when the new principal announces the cancellation of all school clubs that are not sports-related. Her best friend decides to join the cheer squad while she and her friends try getting together after school for gaming. When even the gaming club falls apart, she decides to go to a professional wrestling match with her friends and an idea is hatched to form a wrestling club which former gaming, drama, music, and sewing club members eventually join. This is a fun take on middle school and standing up to authority in a creative way. Readers will cheer for Sasha as she overcomes her shyness and finds her voice.
November 21, 2024
Non-sports kids who still like sports but other things too, unite! When the extracurricular clubs are shut down by the macho principal (who happens to be the dad to our main character) a new concept is born that begins with a local wrestling match.
It's got a serious but fun side with bright colors, colorful characters, and a need to advocate for the things that they want when others want to squash them. It highlights friendships, partnerships, and creativity with a positive message and a few hijinks, because it wouldn't be a book about preteens without some tomfoolery.
It's got a serious but fun side with bright colors, colorful characters, and a need to advocate for the things that they want when others want to squash them. It highlights friendships, partnerships, and creativity with a positive message and a few hijinks, because it wouldn't be a book about preteens without some tomfoolery.
October 1, 2024
The PERFECT middle school graphic novel!! Friend drama, club drama, and WOMEN PRO WRESTLERS!! Accident-prone Sasha needs to find a way to fit when her bestie Sage joins cheerleading. The new principal at their middle school (Sage’s dad 😳) has cancelled most clubs, so Sasha joins forces with member from several other cancelled clubs and creates a wrestling club! Quick and witty with fast paced action - this one is sure to be a hit in my classroom!
October 2, 2023
This is a fun book about friendship, wrestling, and the courage it takes to try something new. The art style is perfect for middle grade and I kept laughing aloud and stopping to take pictures of panels to send to my friends. I love the cheese puns, the memes, and the tiny background gags like the paintings in the living room that said "home, family, noun."
April 25, 2024
4.5 stars for this contemporary graphic novel for ages 8-12. The characters are in 7th grade, and their principal is a "cartoon character", but the wide variety of friends, interests, unusual storyline and fantastic art make it really enjoyable. Characters learn and grow--and it's continued! I hope we find out what is the deal with Sasha's little brother?? : )
May 6, 2025
Fun and quirky graphic novel about a group of middleschoolers who start a pro-wrestling club after various artistic clubs are cancelled and all the money funneled into sports. Not a lot of drama which is a nice change.
August 24, 2023
Wholesome, good fun!
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley.
I received a digital ARC from Netgalley.
October 4, 2023
CW: Bullying, anxiety
April 11, 2024
The art style was amazing, and the character development definitely did its job!
March 1, 2025
Adorable and fun!
June 7, 2023
My Rating: 5
An artistic, fiery, and wrestle-filled graphic novel about making a space for yourself when the world refuses to give you one.
Thank you Harper Alley for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis:
Sasha is looking forward to the seventh grade, where she can relax in her gaming club and be with her like-minded nerdy friends. Then, she, and about half of the school are punched in the gut when the pro-football principal cancels all artistic extracurriculars in favor of all-things sports, including their plan for a brand new stadium, though he claims there is not enough budget for the rest. Sasha is broken, not only by the devastating news, but by 1) her best friend leaving her behind for cheerleading and 2) one of her gaming club friends turning against her and kicking her out, calling her a crybaby who can’t lead anything. Alone, she works hard for her English class project, where she has been grouped with a bubbly cosplayer, two theater nerds, and an improv actor, all reeling from the absence of their clubs. However, when the group goes to a local wrestling match and witnesses the wonder of sport, Sasha gets a brilliant idea: They will create their own wrestling club at school! Not only is it a sport, but it has costumes, acting, audio and music, theatrics and staging, improv, and so many more artistic elements that can create a space many students are missing. So Sasha and her crew create a plan, and together, they try to create the greatest wrestling club this school has ever seen. But how will they convince the principal and others to get on board with the plan? And will they take their performances too far?
What I Liked:
Everything, honestly. The art was fantastic - fun, colorful, and stylistic. Mided showed her inspiration of western comics and manga through the characters’ poses, composition, and overall energy. I loved all the characters themselves. Sasha, the protagonist, starts as a weak and insecure nerd and transforms into a passionate girl not afraid to fight in the face of authority and haters. Her wrestling buddies are drastically unique from each other, both in terms of the art they like (cosplay, theater, improv) but also their personalities, ethnicities, outlooks on the situation, and overall feel, so when all five come together, readers experience dynamic friendships that never go stale and handle both lows and highs of relationship building. Other characters, such as the coach, Sasha’s “ex-friends”, the principal, her enemy, and her family, stand out and none of them are wasted or useless to the narrative; All of them add to the conflict, the resolution, and Sasha’s character growth. Lastly, I think the plot itself is really clever and funny. A group of kids try to make a wrestling club that incorporates all their favorite artistic passions? That’s hilarious! I wish my school was bold enough to do that. Overall, a great comic for middle grade readers who want to see students their age in the arts fighting for their passions and dealing with friendship dynamics in a bright and entertaining graphic novel.
What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!
Who Would I Recommend This To: Kids who like realistic graphic novels with fun art, set in middle school, and involves fun sports, artistic passions, nerd culture, and navigating friendship. Crush or Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova or Click by Kayla Miller are good read-alikes.
Review Date: May 31, 2023
An artistic, fiery, and wrestle-filled graphic novel about making a space for yourself when the world refuses to give you one.
Thank you Harper Alley for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Synopsis:
Sasha is looking forward to the seventh grade, where she can relax in her gaming club and be with her like-minded nerdy friends. Then, she, and about half of the school are punched in the gut when the pro-football principal cancels all artistic extracurriculars in favor of all-things sports, including their plan for a brand new stadium, though he claims there is not enough budget for the rest. Sasha is broken, not only by the devastating news, but by 1) her best friend leaving her behind for cheerleading and 2) one of her gaming club friends turning against her and kicking her out, calling her a crybaby who can’t lead anything. Alone, she works hard for her English class project, where she has been grouped with a bubbly cosplayer, two theater nerds, and an improv actor, all reeling from the absence of their clubs. However, when the group goes to a local wrestling match and witnesses the wonder of sport, Sasha gets a brilliant idea: They will create their own wrestling club at school! Not only is it a sport, but it has costumes, acting, audio and music, theatrics and staging, improv, and so many more artistic elements that can create a space many students are missing. So Sasha and her crew create a plan, and together, they try to create the greatest wrestling club this school has ever seen. But how will they convince the principal and others to get on board with the plan? And will they take their performances too far?
What I Liked:
Everything, honestly. The art was fantastic - fun, colorful, and stylistic. Mided showed her inspiration of western comics and manga through the characters’ poses, composition, and overall energy. I loved all the characters themselves. Sasha, the protagonist, starts as a weak and insecure nerd and transforms into a passionate girl not afraid to fight in the face of authority and haters. Her wrestling buddies are drastically unique from each other, both in terms of the art they like (cosplay, theater, improv) but also their personalities, ethnicities, outlooks on the situation, and overall feel, so when all five come together, readers experience dynamic friendships that never go stale and handle both lows and highs of relationship building. Other characters, such as the coach, Sasha’s “ex-friends”, the principal, her enemy, and her family, stand out and none of them are wasted or useless to the narrative; All of them add to the conflict, the resolution, and Sasha’s character growth. Lastly, I think the plot itself is really clever and funny. A group of kids try to make a wrestling club that incorporates all their favorite artistic passions? That’s hilarious! I wish my school was bold enough to do that. Overall, a great comic for middle grade readers who want to see students their age in the arts fighting for their passions and dealing with friendship dynamics in a bright and entertaining graphic novel.
What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!
Who Would I Recommend This To: Kids who like realistic graphic novels with fun art, set in middle school, and involves fun sports, artistic passions, nerd culture, and navigating friendship. Crush or Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova or Click by Kayla Miller are good read-alikes.
Review Date: May 31, 2023
July 3, 2023
Uau! This is so cool. I wish I had these friends and a club that combines sports and storytelling. I was really excited to read this one.
13-year-old Sasha is starting 7th grade and she is hoping that this is the year that all is going to be better. Kids are often mean to her, she is not very confident or stands for herself and she is very shy ao maybe if she can become the Gaming Club president things can change. But the new principal shuts down all art programs and a lot of kids now don't have a way to express themselves... until... Sasha sees a pro-wrestling match between two amazing fighters and she has an idea to create their own at school.
It's so awesome, fighting to get her club approved promotes union, friendship, and teamwork. Later it helps them face fears and doubts. They get to create their background stories, make their characters' costumes and stand up for something they love. More than that, they make a place where they love and belong. Their hard work is recognized by parents, builds support from the community, and puts up an exciting show for those who become fans. All focused on safety and rules firsts, like any other sport. We even learn some basics and rules about pro-wrestling and the choreographs.
My favorite chapter is how they decided to introduce the club to the entire school, in the cafeteria. That was ingenious and super fun. Points for inclusiveness and for not expecting that girls only have to be cheerleaders and that all are girls.
The artwork and colors make the story uplifting, energetic, and vibrant. Great humor also in their expressions. Although the main character struggles with confidence, there are a lot of amazing colors, cute costumes, awesome poses, other characters, and go-forward, never give up vibes around them.
Even if you aren't into pro-wrestling, they make it like cartoon characters good vs evil and their stories are really cute. Also, this is about friendship and building confidence. Learning to stand up for others is important, but standing up for yourself is a stronger lesson. (I'll use my own words, but they say something like this: Never give up, always face fear and doubt... and kick out!)
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this Arc. My opinions are my own and honest.
13-year-old Sasha is starting 7th grade and she is hoping that this is the year that all is going to be better. Kids are often mean to her, she is not very confident or stands for herself and she is very shy ao maybe if she can become the Gaming Club president things can change. But the new principal shuts down all art programs and a lot of kids now don't have a way to express themselves... until... Sasha sees a pro-wrestling match between two amazing fighters and she has an idea to create their own at school.
It's so awesome, fighting to get her club approved promotes union, friendship, and teamwork. Later it helps them face fears and doubts. They get to create their background stories, make their characters' costumes and stand up for something they love. More than that, they make a place where they love and belong. Their hard work is recognized by parents, builds support from the community, and puts up an exciting show for those who become fans. All focused on safety and rules firsts, like any other sport. We even learn some basics and rules about pro-wrestling and the choreographs.
My favorite chapter is how they decided to introduce the club to the entire school, in the cafeteria. That was ingenious and super fun. Points for inclusiveness and for not expecting that girls only have to be cheerleaders and that all are girls.
The artwork and colors make the story uplifting, energetic, and vibrant. Great humor also in their expressions. Although the main character struggles with confidence, there are a lot of amazing colors, cute costumes, awesome poses, other characters, and go-forward, never give up vibes around them.
Even if you aren't into pro-wrestling, they make it like cartoon characters good vs evil and their stories are really cute. Also, this is about friendship and building confidence. Learning to stand up for others is important, but standing up for yourself is a stronger lesson. (I'll use my own words, but they say something like this: Never give up, always face fear and doubt... and kick out!)
Thank you NetGalley and Publisher for this Arc. My opinions are my own and honest.
May 21, 2024
When the new school principal—her best friend’s dad—cancels their gaming club as a budgeting measure, Sasha is upset. She’s not the only one; he’s canceled the theater, cosplay, and choir clubs too. Then they learn the school is planning to spend tons of money on a fancy new sports stadium, and they’re all furious.
Chance leads Sasha and her new friends to a local pro-wrestling match, where they promptly fall in love… with wrestling, that is. That’s the solution! They’ll form a wrestling club as an outlet for their creativity! But with obstacles in and outside their new club, will they rise to the challenge or fall flat on their faces?
Mided introduces readers to the world of pro-wrestling in an accessible way, all while creating a compelling and relatable protagonist in the excitable, often insecure Sasha. While most of the other characters are not as strongly developed, snappy dialogue and a solid A and B plot keep the book interesting, as do vibrant, full-color panel illustrations. Fans of Raina Telgemeier are sure to enjoy this story about friendship and self-confidence.
[Note: One of Sasha’s new friends is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, which are respected by the other characters. Another character has two mothers, which is not commented on by characters within the text. Characters in the book come in a variety of skin tones and body shapes, but all of the primary characters read as able-bodied.]
Recommended for ages 9-14.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southeast Ohio Young Adult Media Group.
Chance leads Sasha and her new friends to a local pro-wrestling match, where they promptly fall in love… with wrestling, that is. That’s the solution! They’ll form a wrestling club as an outlet for their creativity! But with obstacles in and outside their new club, will they rise to the challenge or fall flat on their faces?
Mided introduces readers to the world of pro-wrestling in an accessible way, all while creating a compelling and relatable protagonist in the excitable, often insecure Sasha. While most of the other characters are not as strongly developed, snappy dialogue and a solid A and B plot keep the book interesting, as do vibrant, full-color panel illustrations. Fans of Raina Telgemeier are sure to enjoy this story about friendship and self-confidence.
[Note: One of Sasha’s new friends is nonbinary and uses they/them pronouns, which are respected by the other characters. Another character has two mothers, which is not commented on by characters within the text. Characters in the book come in a variety of skin tones and body shapes, but all of the primary characters read as able-bodied.]
Recommended for ages 9-14.
Thanks to HarperCollins for the copy via the Southeast Ohio Young Adult Media Group.
November 18, 2024
I really loved this book a lot, the characters were so unique and diverse!
The main character could have been more ‘original’ but other than that, I definitely recommend! Who was your favorite character? :)
The main character could have been more ‘original’ but other than that, I definitely recommend! Who was your favorite character? :)
October 5, 2023
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read a digital copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.
A very fun middle grade book about 7th graders who start the year off loosing all their clubs and extracurriculars due to budget cuts. They still have sports teams, though, so some of the students band together to create a club where they can still work on their interests while fitting the criteria of a sport. This takes the form of a wrestling club. The students hope is that this club will become popular enough to convince the school to bring back their respective clubs. I am pretty far removed from this age group, but I found the story fun and endearing. I also really enjoyed the artwork.
A very fun middle grade book about 7th graders who start the year off loosing all their clubs and extracurriculars due to budget cuts. They still have sports teams, though, so some of the students band together to create a club where they can still work on their interests while fitting the criteria of a sport. This takes the form of a wrestling club. The students hope is that this club will become popular enough to convince the school to bring back their respective clubs. I am pretty far removed from this age group, but I found the story fun and endearing. I also really enjoyed the artwork.
October 18, 2023
As a lifelong fan of pro-wrestling I adored this graphic! Sasha is really looking forward to holding an office position in her school gaming club but is crushed when the principal shuts down all clubs for the year. Sasha, her friends and other students come up with a great plan of combining sports and theater after she watches a pro-wrestling match. I loved that this entire novel is about making space for yourself and taking up that space on your own terms. The characters are very true to life and I love the messages of friendship and working together to build confidence and just be who you are. The artwork with bright and loud in the best ways and the facial expressions made me laugh so much during several scenes. Well done! I hope there is more to come in this series.
August 27, 2023
Thank you HarperCollins Children's Books, HarperAlley, and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this great book. This is a fast-paced, action-packed sport based story about friendship, confidence building, fitting in, and being who you are. Fun art with manga elements, great, realistic characters, and important lessons of working together to accomplish a goal and standing up for yourself and others make for an entertaining read. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys realistic graphic novels in school setting, like those of Svetlana Chmakova.
June 13, 2023
The art in this book gives off a serious manga vibe! Yet it reads like a regular graphic novel, just the art has this added bonus of being manga-like.
This is a fast-paced and lively story of fitting in, of friendship, of community, of being who you are, of finding creativity in all the unusual places, and of finding your place in the world.
This is a fast-paced and lively story of fitting in, of friendship, of community, of being who you are, of finding creativity in all the unusual places, and of finding your place in the world.
September 7, 2023
This is a great graphic novel about Sasha who is going into 7th grade. Well she finds out that all clubs besides sports are canceled! Lots of kids are upset and left without a place to let their creativity shine. One day a class project leads to an unexpected idea. I really enjoyed this book, it’s also got messages about bullying, friendships and standing up for your yourself/finding your voice.
Want to Read
May 12, 2023Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through Edelweiss.
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