Series: Curlfriends (Book 1)
Published: 2023
Author / Illustrator: Sharee Miller
Genre: Middle Grade Graphic Novel / Realistic Fiction
Audience: Grades 5–8
Number of Stars: ★★★★★
Goodreads Link: Curlfriends: New in Town
Content Warnings: None
Diversity: Centers a diverse circle of young Black girls navigating friendship, hair identity, and self-acceptance.
Review by: Corinne Blair
Publisher’s Summary
New Kid meets The Baby-sitters Club in this graphic novel series opener about the Curlfriends, four inseparable Black girls who show us the meaning of true friendship—and being your true self. Charlie has a foolproof plan for the first day at her new middle school. Even though she’s used to starting over as the new kid—thanks to her military family’s constant moving—making friends has never been easy for her. But this time, her first impression needs to last, since this is where her family plans to settle for good. So she’s hiding any interests that may seem “babyish,” updating her look, and doing her best to leave her shyness behind her…but is erasing the real Charlie the best way to make friends? When not everything goes exactly to plan—like, AT ALL—Charlie is ready to give up on making new friendships. Then she meets the Curlfriends, a group of Black girls who couldn’t be more different from each other, and learns that maybe there is a place for Charlie to be her true self after all. Sharee Miller’s graphic novel debut starts off an exciting contemporary series featuring four Black girls who each have a unique story, and each learn lessons about friendship, family, and being their true selves.
Review
I absolutely devoured this graphic novel! I loved the storyline from start to finish and thought it was incredibly relatable, warm, and wholesome. I vividly remember transferring to a completely new school back in 6th grade and being so painfully hyperaware about everything—especially trying to calculate how to fit in! Because of that, I absolutely adored the Curlfriends girl group. All four girls possess such strong, vibrant personalities and are completely unique in their own distinct ways.
This story beautifully touches on a lot of important real-life topics like parental military deployment, shifting family dynamics, and the power of positive female friendships. I also loved the magnificent representation of diverse Black fashion and creative natural hair styles showcased in the story. It is a wonderful narrative about moving home, starting a fresh school, forging real bonds, and finding your inner confidence to just be unapologetically you. I really felt for Charlie being a “military brat.” I cannot imagine how difficult it has to be for kids to pack up and move every single year to a new state or even a completely different country! Furthermore, the book explores the complex adjustments families must go through when a parent reintegrates after coming back from being deployed—something I had never deeply considered before. The bright colors and expressive illustrations pull the entire five-star package together perfectly.
🎒 Classroom & Curricular Connections
- Social-Emotional Learning (The True Self vs. The Mask):
- Activity Idea: “Inside Out Profiles.” Charlie tries to hide her “babyish” interests to impress her peers. Have students draw a large silhouette of a backpack. On the outside of the backpack, have them list traits or trends they feel middle schoolers use to “fit in.” On the inside, have them draw or write their actual, honest favorite things that bring them joy, discussing the courage it takes to share your true self.
- Social Studies & Military Family Appreciation:
- Activity Idea: “The Deployments At Home.” Use Charlie’s background to discuss the lives of modern military families. Have students investigate the concepts of transition and permanent change of station (PCS), writing an empathetic list of concrete ways a classroom community can make a newly arrived military child feel instantly welcomed and supported.
