By Faith Erin Hicks
New York: First Second, 2026. Comic. 240 pgs.
Twin sisters Sloane and Ash have dreamed about becoming animators since they rode the studio backlot tour on a family trip to Disney World. The first step is spending their summer at a prestigious eight week animation course at a nearby university. The tweens are ecstatic to discover that their animation hero Douglas Frye will even be teaching one of their courses. Unfortunately, Sloane and Ash lose their rose colored glasses pretty quickly. Ash loves animation, but her enthusiasm doesn't immediately translate to skill. Sloane realizes she loves art but that animation isn't the right fit for her. Even Douglas Frye isn't what they expected–he openly prefers the work of white male students and is dismissive of their talented friend Nisha once he realizes she's a girl. It takes courage, friendship, a Studio Ghibli movie night, and advice from a different animation teacher for Sloane and Ash to rebuild their confidence and rediscover their passions
Set in Canada in 1999, this book has a strong setting that will captivate readers as much as the lives of Sloane and Ash. Both sisters are fully realized characters with a full cast of friends and classmates with their own identities. Readers who know other books by Faith Erin Hicks will recognize her colorful, cartoony style of illustration and it is really well suited for this book. A strong coming of age story, this book deftly navigates growing up and reconciling dreams with realities, including the difficulties of forging your own path. Tweens who are starting to think about who they are and what they want their future to look like will love this book.
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