Belle of the Ball

Starred review from January 16, 2023
Though painfully shy high school senior and athletic mascot B. Hawkins tends to hide inside her costume’s large feline head, she’s finally worked up the courage to ask out head cheerleader Regina Moreno. The good news is that Regina thinks Hawkins is adorable; the bad news is that Regina recently got back together with her on-again, off-again girlfriend, star athlete Chloe Kitagawa. Worried that Chloe’s poor grades will jeopardize her 10-year plan, Regina leverages Hawkins’s infatuation to persuade her to tutor Chloe for free. Hawkins hesitantly agrees, but an initial tutoring session gets off to a rough start when Chloe realizes that Hawkins is actually a childhood friend and former crush, prompting unexpected romantic feelings to resurface. Thin b&w lines coupled with vividly saturated pink hues imbue this energetic graphic novel rom-com with a cotton-candy atmosphere that expertly conveys the trials and tribulations of first love. Costa (Life of Melody) smartly employs classic shojo manga aesthetics, well-timed comedic beats, and winningly characterized protagonists to deliver a refreshing spin on the love triangle trope that meditatively interrogates identity. Hawkins is white and Jewish; Regina is Brazilian; Chloe cues as East Asian. Ages 14–up. Agent: Peter Ryan, Stimola Literary Studio.

March 17, 2023

Gr 9 Up-When high school mascot Hawkins finally works up the courage to ask her crush Gina Moreno to the school dance, she doesn't realize that Gina already has a girlfriend-star soccer player Chloe Kitagawa, who is Hawkins's former childhood friend. Gina shoots Hawkins down, but sees an opportunity. She asks Hawkins to tutor Chloe in English, her worst subject. Hawkins is willing to do anything to get in Gina's good graces and jumps at the chance. At first, it seems that Hawkins and Chloe couldn't be more different, but over time, they learn that they have more in common than they thought. Romantic feelings blossom in the group, resulting in a love triangle. Costa's illustrations in various shades of pink throughout the novel make the story feel bright and cheerful. All three main characters are well developed and distinct from one another in their interests, personalities, and strengths. Hawkins and Chloe both show significant character development over the course of the story, becoming more comfortable with themselves and one another. Costa raises important questions about societal expectations, identity, and self-expression that will be relatable to teens. Reminiscent of classic high school rom-coms, this graphic novel is delightful and sweet, perfect for fans of Alice Oseman's "Heartstopper." VERDICT A sweet sapphic rom-com, this book is a must for any teen graphic novel collection.-Jillian Girardeau

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