MAEVE MULVANEY HAS HAD ENOUGH

A group of middle school friends fight back against oppressive harassment and disbelieving administrators.

Dedicated comics creator Maeve Mulvaney begins eighth grade in the new “Nowhereville” Florida town where her family has relocated for her astronomer mother’s university job. Leaving Vermont was devastating—her new community seems to care more about football than the arts—but luckily, she quickly finds a great comic book shop as well as a supportive group of friends. Unfortunately, she’s also plagued by incessant bullying from classmate Robbie, who challenges her love of comics and ridicules her weight, calling her things like “Fatty-Fatty Fake Geek.” The acutely painful in-person and online bullying scenes work well, effectively encouraging readers to interrogate the high value often placed on activities like sports and to recognize and call out sexism. Maeve’s troubled relationship with her mom is compelling, and Maeve frequently challenges the pressure she feels from both her parents to avoid expressing negativity. Maeve, who is white and bisexual, has a supportive, diverse, strongly characterized friend group: New best friend Daniel is a white gay boy, and her larger friend group includes racial diversity. As Maeve grows in her power to organize against the sexism, fatphobia, and homophobia she encounters at school—and the lack of support from school leadership—readers will be satisfied by her development as an artist and advocate for herself and others.

A captivating, blisteringly realistic exploration of middle school activism.