A for Effort
by Jarad Greene; illus. by the author
Middle School    HarperAlley/HarperCollins    224 pp.
3/24    9780063032880    $24.99
Paper ed.  9780063032873    $15.99
e-book ed.  9780063032897    $10.99

This sequel to A-Okay (rev. 11/21) finds Jay, who previously attended a magnet school across town, starting high school without any friends, a situation made worse by his inherent shyness and lack of confidence. Due to scheduling constraints, he’s unable to register for his preferred art class. The counselor convinces him to give theater class a go: the public speaking aspect will satisfy his overbearing parents, and he will be able to indulge his creative impulses in set design. While the class pushes him out of his comfort zone, it also creates a safe space with supportive peers and a warm, if demanding, teacher. This graphic novel is told almost exclusively in dialogue with some brief internal monologue, creating an engaging pace that is further enhanced by varied panel layouts, bright colors, and generous use of white space. A relatable story about a shy, awkward kid coming out of his shell and finding his crowd, this is also a bit of a love letter to the community and camaraderie of youth theater. An author’s note suggests the tale is semiautobiographical, while another interesting appendix delves into Greene’s creative process for comics.

Pubissue-From the March/April 2024 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.