The New Girl (The New Girl #1)

With a tenderness stemming from personal recollections, as discussed in an endnote, Calin crafts an empathetic tale of belonging in this graphic novel debut. Having just moved from Romania to Montreal with her family, Lia struggles to acclimate to their new home: the language barrier makes befriending her new classmates a challenge and, worst of all, she’s been experiencing extremely painful menstrual cramps. Soon, however, Lia starts to hit her stride: she’s making new friends, she’s brought on as an artist for her school’s magazine, and she’s even feeling brave enough to try and capture the attention of classmate Julien. While each successful encounter nets its fair share of potential setbacks, events sometimes turn in her favor, as when lockermate Ivana—a potential rival—becomes a close friend and ally after advising Lia on how to manage recurring menstrual pains. Vibrant and accessible visually appealing art infuses a comedic and feel-good vibe that deftly juxtaposes emotional and thought-provoking plot beats surrounding immigration and period education. Softly rendered, cherubic-faced characters with varying skin tones populate this dynamic examination of a girl in transition. Ages 8–12. (June)