Extra Large

Page (Button Pusher) delivers an enthusiastic autobiographical comic about bullying and body insecurity. During a visit to a Wisconsin racetrack with his family over the summer, soon-to-be seventh grader Page wins an oversize extra-large T-shirt, which his father suggests he will one day grow into. Later, while back-to-school shopping with his mother, the youth must browse through clothes made for “husky” bodies when his usual sizes no longer fit (his mother reassures him by claiming husky means “tough”). When his dad expresses a desire to go on a no-sugar diet, his parents use it as an opportunity to encourage the whole family to eat healthier, despite objections from Page and his younger brother. Soon Page becomes self-conscious about his body and begins comparing himself to others; these feelings are exacerbated by his classmates’ bullying, his parents’ pressuring him to lose weight, and the unrealistic image standards he witnesses in the media. Sunny full-color illustrations imbue the graphic novel with the nostalgic vibe of a Saturday morning cartoon, while lighthearted and insightful storytelling brings the narrative to a tidy close. Ages 8–12. (Mar.)