Mallory in Full Color

September 16, 2024
Leahy (Tethered to Other Stars) explores themes of identity and finding one’s voice in this compassionate and imaginative novel. Twelve-year-old half-Korean and half-white Mallory Marsh dreads disappointing people, so she molds herself to others’ expectations, a habit that leads to her mother assuming Mal loves competitive swimming. She signs Mal up for the swim team, but instead of speaking up, Mal lies to get out of attending practices. Mal expresses herself the only way she knows how: through her sci-fi web comic based on interactions she has with her friends, which she posts online under the pseudonym Dr. BotGirl. When she starts attending Comic Club, she meets white-cued nonbinary Noa, whom she immediately crushes on. Unsure of what to do with these new feelings but wanting to impress Noa, Mal agrees to perform at a drag storytime. But when her comic starts getting popular among her classmates and she loses her sketchbook at school, Mal feels as if her entire world is crumbling. Pages from Mallory’s graphic novel, illustrated by Diaz (Jesse and the Snack Food Genie), begin each chapter of this true-to-life story that celebrates safe spaces and learning to be vulnerable. Ages 8–12. Agent: Brent Taylor, Triada US.

October 15, 2024
Mallory Marsh is eager to please. Whether she's agreeing to look after her chaotic twin brothers to help her overworked and recently separated mom or simply saying that everyone else's preferred pizza toppings are her favorites, too, Mal always puts everyone else's needs before her own. She's placated by stealthy acts of rebellion, lying about her age so she can publish her webcomic, "Metal-Plated Heart," whose characters are closely based on her classmates, and attending the library's comic club when her parents think she's at swim team practice. When Mal meets nonbinary cutie Noa at comic club, she begins to realize that neithergay norstraight might be the right label for her. Meanwhile, the library is planning a drag storytime, and Mal is anxious about the protesters who are trying to shut it down. Mal is at a relatable stage on her queer journey, and questioning middle schoolers will surely see themselves in her story. Most of her problems stem from conflict avoidance, and Leahy establishes that this trait comes from her father, who tells Mal that he's working on expressing his emotions in therapy, though there's no mention that Mal could benefit from therapy as well. Dynamic panels from the webcomic are interspersed throughout, offering additional insights into Mal's emotions. Mal's mother is Korean, and her father is implied white; Noa has brown skin. A sincere cautionary tale about finding one's voice and putting others' needs before one's own. (author's note)(Fiction. 9-13)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from November 1, 2024

Gr 5 Up-A heartfelt novel about Mallory, a tween comic illustrator struggling to discover her identity. Throughout the story, Mallory molds herself into what she thinks others want, avoiding conflict at all costs. She tells no one about her extremely popular webcomic Metal-Plated Heart, because she knows her parents won't approve, and because she doesn't want her friends to see how they've informed her characters. She doesn't push back when her mother pressures her to join a highly competitive swim team. This passive approach works until her bottled-up emotions finally overwhelm her. As Mallory navigates her personal challenges, she volunteers at her local library's Drag Queen Storytime, offering her a fresh perspective on acceptance and identity. What sets this novel apart is its thoughtful exploration of LGBTQIA+ terminology. The author breaks down complex ideas in a way that is easy to understand, making readers comfortable even if they were previously unfamiliar with certain terms. This inclusive and nonjudgmental approach enhances the book's appeal. Readers are treated to comic strips from Mallory's comic between each chapter. These excerpts mirror her inner struggles, adding a visual layer to her journey of self-discovery. Art plays a crucial role in the story, symbolizing how creativity can reflect the creator's inner world. VERDICT Overall, this novel is a queer-friendly, heartwarming exploration of identity, communication, and acceptance, making it a must-read for young readers seeking an authentic and relatable story.-Jessica Calaway

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2024
Grades 4-7 Mallory is a bonafide people pleaser, even when it means sacrificing her own interests and opinions to make others happy. So, she tries to balance being a babysitter, a good student, and a member of the swim team even though she hates swimming competitively. Secretly, however, Mallory misrepresents her age to anonymously publish a webcomic, and she joins the library's Comic Club instead of attending swim practice. Not only do the club members love Mallory's increasingly popular webcomic (without knowing it's hers, of course), but Mallory starts crushing on Noa, a nonbinary club member who enlists her help in organizing a drag queen story hour at the local library. Then, all too realistically, the library is forced to cancel the event, but Mallory and Noa help the storytime continue elsewhere. Chapters get a boost from panels interspersed from Mallory's webcomic, though, in the end, Mallory faces appropriate consequences for posting online underage, making the story a realistic read for tweens. Recommend this to middle-grade readers searching for LGBTQIA+ novels and those drawn to stories about complicated feelings and identity.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2025
Mallory Marsh wants to keep her friends and family happy, even if it means becoming a chameleon who constantly wears different faces to mirror those around her. The one place where she feels free to express herself is her web comic, a sci-fi story full of characters inspired by her life. The juggling act becomes increasingly precarious when Mal secretly attends comic club, where she meets Noa, a nonbinary kid who quickly becomes a friend and a crush she desperately wants to impress. Soon, the multiple lives and web of lies catch up to Mal. Her comic goes viral, with everyone at school on the verge of discovering who is behind it, and she must find the courage to show her true self. Leahy weaves a realistic and at times painfully resonant narrative about the cost of not asserting your own opinions and needs; the various threads of the story reinforce the theme of how the desire for validation and fear of rejection can lead people astray. The book also touches on the experience of questioning one's sexuality without making it the primary conflict, and still creates a largely queer-affirming space for the characters and readers. Shenwei Chang

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)