Skip!

September 18, 2023
Nonbinary, introverted Jay and gregarious Beah are a dubious pair whose tandem efforts and errors drive this spirited graphic novel about competitive double Dutch. Though Jay’s mother worries about their lack of friends, pink-skinned, brown-haired Jay relishes their solitude and spends it writing rhymes in a notebook. Brown-skinned Beah, who wears her curly black hair in a bun, proves to be Jay’s polar opposite with her outspoken persona and penchant for energetic acrobatics. The two literally collide as Jay flees a dance team audition debacle and Beah rushes to double Dutch practice. Jay can’t resist Beah’s enthusiastically welcoming demeanor, and Beah delights in Jay’s ability to throw down a rhyme. Beah soon persuades Jay to join Skip, her double Dutch team, as their rapper and rope turner. Suddenly, Jay has the friend they didn’t know they wanted, and Beah has the friend she didn’t know she needed. Sequences snake across the page, mimicking the billowing of a jump rope, while sparingly employed structured panels zoom in on emotions or change perspective, complementing the fluid, motion-filled ambiance of Burgess’s endearing debut. Bright greens, purples, and oranges bring graffiti-like energy to this satisfying story of an unlikely friendship built through sport. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jas Perry, KT Literary.

October 15, 2023
Jay is a poet who struggles with making friends and self-expression--until meeting someone who fulfills a deep desire to connect and belong. After crashing into Beah and stumbling into an invitation to Skip, Beah's double Dutch group, Jay, who uses they/them pronouns, finally finds a place to belong and be themself. Jay feels that they know who they are and can achieve their writing dreams with support from their new crew, especially Beah. However, bullying, jealousy, and simmering tensions culminate in an explosive conflict that fractures the group right before their big competition. Ultimately, this tale shows how an apology and support of loved ones can make up for mistakes and help heal those who become hurt. The vibrant and energetic graphic art style evokes the emotional highs and lows of close friendships, while the text complements the imagery to provide insights into Jay's inner life. Dynamic illustrations carefully draw out and portray empathy for the motivations and complex feelings that drive this character-focused story. The narrative emphasizes that while you can find a sense of belonging with others, you never belong to someone, underscoring that individuality and community can thrive in unison and balance. Jay reads white; Beah has dark-brown skin and black hair, and supporting characters are diverse in skin tone. A journey of self-discovery, creativity, and belonging centers a sweet, uplifting story of friendship and ambition. (concept art, sketches) (Graphic fiction. 9-13)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

November 1, 2023
Grades 4-7 When adapting athletic activities to a visual medium, it's difficult to demonstrate the speed and movement of the real event. Burgess portrays double Dutch with such enthusiasm and passion in the art that you want to clap along with the rhythm of the jumping. Lines become looser while the colors halo their objects in gleeful scenes of the kids skipping rope. This visual language also applies to the emotional interactions of the characters. Jay, uncertain about who they are and what they want in life, is swept up by Beah's enthusiasm for double Dutch and general drive. Jay's rhymes meld well with the skipping, but when Beah gets a chance to join a more professional team, the stress on their friendship explodes. Will their friendship survive? What will Beah's friends and teammates think of the secret she's asked Jay to keep? Finding your voice, the drama of almost losing your best friend, and balancing ambition with fun all underpin this charming volume. Root for Jay and Beah to continue rocking double Dutch together in this effervescent comic.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 15, 2023

Gr 5-8-When shy and socially awkward Jay meets driven and outgoing Beah, this graphic novel takes off with immediate and authentic emotional development for the characters, and empathy delivery for readers. Beah, who is "big, bouncy, and Black," has a girl posse she has invested in supporting her obsession with double Dutch rope jumping. Nonbinary Jay is devoted to their poetry and with keeping a low profile at school and at home. There are events aplenty-from prepping for a big tournament to Jay losing their poetry notebook-and a cast of characters diverse in ethnicity, pecking order concerns, and showmanship. But driving the story is how Jay and Beah influence each other toward becoming better individuals through their friendship. The colors and physical expressions pop in nearly every panel. Burgess is already a masterful visual storyteller and will be fun to watch. VERDICT Skip! belongs in every library serving middle schoolers and deserves tween book discussion group awareness.-Francisca Goldsmith

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