Published: 2024
Author: Stephanie Cooke | Illustrator: Mel Valentine Vargas
Genres: YA Graphic Novel, Contemporary, Sports, LGBTQ+
Audience: Grades 8–12
Number of Stars: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Goodreads Link: Pillow Talk
Content Warnings: Bullying (cyberbullying), body shaming, and cartoon violence.
Publisher’s Summary
Grace Mendes a.k.a. Cinderhella is a fierce competitor in the PFF, a pillow fight federation that’s part roller derby, part professional wrestling. But in this fresh, coming-of-age YA graphic novel, Grace needs to learn to overcome her biggest enemy: herself. For fans of Check, Please and Bloom.
When college freshman Grace Mendes reluctantly attends her first pillow fight match, she falls in love with the surprisingly gritty sport. Despite her usually shy, introverted, and reserved nature, Grace decides to try out for the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF), a locally famous league of fighters with larger-than-life personas like Pain Eyre, Miss Fortune, and champion Kat Atonic. They may battle with pillows, but there is nothing soft about these fighters. The first and only rule to pillow fighting is that the pillow needs to be the first point of contact; after that, everything else goes.
Grace struggles with deep-seated body image issues, so she is especially shocked when she makes the competitive league and is welcomed into the fold of close knit, confident fighters. As her first official fight performing as newly crafted alter-ego/ring persona Cinderhella looms on the horizon, the real battle taking place is between Grace and her growing insecurities. What if people laugh or make fun of her? Why did she think she could pillow fight in the first place when she doesn’t look like your “typical” athlete? Turns out, no one is laughing when Cinderhella dominates her first match in the ring. And as her alter-ego rises through the ranks of the PFF, gaining traction and online fame (and online trolls), can Grace use the spotlight to become an icon for not just others, but most importantly, for herself?
Pillow Talk is an inclusive, high-octane, outrageously fun graphic novel that aims a punch at the impossibly high standards set for women in sports (and otherwise) and champions the power of finding a team that will, quite literally, fight for you. A knock-out!
Review
Pillow Talk follows Canadian college student Gracie as she unexpectedly jumps into the world of the Pillow Fight Federation (PFF). At the start of the novel, Grace is shy and lacks self-confidence, much of which is rooted in her belief that her beauty and worth are based on the size of her body. At the urging of her best friend Callie, Grace attends a match and ends up mesmerized by the confidence of the fighters. She steps out of her shell to become “Cinderhella,” an overnight viral sensation.
The book does a great job of weaving in relevant issues while balancing light-hearted and poignant moments. Topics like body positivity and cyberbullying feature heavily, but they are balanced by great panels illustrating the fights. While Grace’s journey for self-acceptance is at the forefront, the story also subtly addresses an unsupportive family dynamic and the idea of “found family.” It also explores sexuality as Callie begins a romance with another fighter, and challenges the idea that women’s sports need to be “sexy” to have appeal.
What I really enjoyed was the way the color scheme of the illustrations changes as the novel moves into a new section rather than having defined chapters. This kept the action moving and signaled tonal shifts between panels beautifully.
🤺 The Culture of Indie Sports
The PFF is modeled after real-world “underground” or “indie” sports leagues like Roller Derby or Indie Wrestling. These spaces often prioritize inclusivity and theatricality over traditional, rigid athletic standards.
- Breaking the Mold: The book directly critiques the “male gaze” in sports, showing that female athletes don’t need to be hyper-feminized to be successful or popular.
- The Viral Effect: Grace’s journey highlights the double-edged sword of social media—instant community support versus the harsh reality of “online trolls.”
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Media Literacy/Health: Discuss the impact of Cyberbullying. Grace becomes a viral icon but faces weight-based harassment. How can students develop digital resilience?
- Visual Arts: Analyze the use of color as a narrative tool. Have students take a scene from a story and redraw it in two different color palettes to show a “tonal shift.”
- Social Studies (Found Family): Discuss the sociological concept of “Found Family”—groups that provide the emotional support that biological families sometimes cannot.
- Physical Education: Research the history of women in contact sports. How have perceptions of “the female athlete” changed over the last 50 years?
