CURLFRIENDS

In this second series entry, a problem-solving 12-year-old attempts, with the help of her friends, to solve her mother’s financial problems.

Nola Washington is a fashion-forward Black tween who dreams of becoming a hairdresser like her mother and inheriting the beauty shop her grandmother founded. After Ella once again surprises her circle of friends by signing them up for something without asking—this time committing them to dancing in the school talent show—Nola, who’s used to being the fixer in their group, agrees to be their leader. But Nola’s vision of talent show success hits a snag when she asks for money for a new outfit and Mom only hands over $20. She’s always had a rock-solid relationship with her mother—whom she sees as “living proof that women can have it all. A thriving business, a daughter on the honor roll, and the best wardrobe in town”—but her mom’s attempt to hide their financial problems affects their relationship and spills over into Nola’s grades and social commitments. After she turns to her friends for support, they brainstorm a grand plan to turn the salon around. While Nola’s storyline is the focus of the narrative, each character within the friend circle has a distinct voice. Miller effectively uses the graphic novel format to offer a nuanced portrayal of Nola’s awareness of adult financial stressors while also keeping the solutions she proposes kid-centric.

A heartfelt cross-generational look at vulnerability and the need for community.