Twelve-year-old Tuva has questions about what it means to become a mature and a teenager. She’s starting seventh grade and has a few goals; write (or draw) a whole diary, get a cool look, build the best base in the bog with Bao and Linnéa, go to a sleepover birthday party, and fall in love. She’s got it all planned out. But when school starts, nothing is how she hoped.

Her two best friends are not split into rival teams. TEAM LINNÉA are the girls who fall in love. TEAM BAO are the girls who will never fall in love. Linnéa got a boyfriend over the summer and Bao hates everything there is to do with love. And now, they’re expecting Tuva to pick sides! Then Miriam shows up and suddenly Tuva feels like she’s met her soulmate.

How’s a girl to survive?

This was so cute! First sapphic love written in the diary form of a young artist is adorable (especially when she’s making the connections that yea - she does like Miriam like that!). It’s also one of the best coming of age stories I’ve read in a minute. Tuva’s on that teetering edge of playing around in the mud during breaks and wearing a bra and mascara for the first time (I don’t wear makeup anymore, but I did when I was younger and trying to figure out your “look” is hard!).

Tuva’s dad is also a single parent and it’s heartwarming to see him trying while Tuva’s going through everything. He even admits he doesn’t have all the answers, but it’s always so very supportive.

This book is set in Norway and is translated from Norwegian - it’s fascinating to see how universal growing up can be.

Overall, I’ll be thrusting this book into the hands of many who would like a warm hug on a chilly day. Also those that love queer middle grade stories. The subjects in the story are never too heavy and can be enjoyed by all ages! ( )

A sweet little middle grade graphic novel about the awkwardness of growing up at a different rate than your friends and negotiating your way through your first crush. ( )

Best line in this book: “I wonder…can you be in love with a girl and still like BTS?” ( )

This book came into the library and I thought the cover was cute so I thought what the heck I'll read it. I'm glad I did. It was a great story about a girl whose friends are growing up too fast for her. She confused as to what she wants. Does she want to remain a tomboy and just hang out in the bog or does she want to start dating and wear makeup? Hmm... Graphics are great and the ending was sweet. ( )

i really loved this focus on changing friendships as you mature from "kid" to "young adult" and how that can happen at different paces for everyone, so some feel left behind and like they don't have anything in common with their friends anymore. this was really well done, showing a friend group that was maturing at different paces, and how that impacted each of them. there was also a first crush situation, which felt extraneous to me and i kind of wish it didn't take the focus away from the really lovely story of growing up. but i guess those crushes are part of that. (this was a same sex crush and that wasn't really even an issue, which was nice to see.) also nice was the sweet relationship between the single dad and the main character daughter. i've been loving healthy parent-child relationships lately and this was a great example. ( )