SCHOOL DANCE

Milo thinks he can’t dance—in fact, he’s convinced that he’s cursed.

In this third installment in Sax’s charming Brinkley Yearbooks graphic novel series, Mexican American Milo Castillo is vexed by a self-induced hex: Every time he dances, disaster follows. After mortifying experiences at a friend’s bar mitzvah and a group dance lesson, Milo is utterly dejected when he hears about the upcoming Snowball Soiree. Luckily, Abue, his beloved abuela, has moved into the Castillo home. Even though she’s been warned against driving, Abue whisks Milo and his friends off to experience live Tejano music, which he enjoys both musically and aesthetically. The experience leaves him with a stronger connection to his heritage as well as more self-confidence in his dancing—but Milo feels guilty for lying to his parents about Abue’s driving and conflicted about where to draw the line when trying to please others. When Abue’s failing eyesight catches up with her clandestine drives, Milo must make a hard choice. This latest entry maintains the high standards of Sax’s series. Milo is wholly relatable and accessible, adroitly portraying the ups and downs of adolescence. Sposto’s vibrantly alluring colors and Sax’s gift for highlighting facial expressions and emotions imbue Milo’s journey of self-acceptance and confidence with deeper levels of nuance that are certain to resonate with readers long after the last page is turned.

Emotionally astute and sure to inspire readers to embrace dancing to their own beat.