by Sharee Miller. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2023; copy courtesy of the publisher.
Twelve-year-old Charlie Harper is no stranger to being the new girl. As the only child of a military parent, she has moved around quite a bit. However, this move is different. Her father retired from the military, and they have moved to his childhood hometown. Charlie has a plan to not only start anew but to become a whole new person. She longs for the type of friendship that a permanent home would provide. Charlie’s first day is a series of missteps that leave her in serious doubt that she will ever fit in until she meets Nola, Cara, and Ella. Their friendship blossoms through their mutual love of natural hair, fashion, and pop culture. As Charlie navigates the growing pains of new friendship and her new family life, she learns the importance of being her authentic self.
What works: Curlfriends: New in Town is engaging and relatable. Miller offers readers many points of connection. No matter how one identifies, they will find some part of themselves reflected in Charlie’s experiences. From being new at a school, moving to a new town, wearing contacts for the first time, to complicated family relationships, and new friendships, there is something for every reader. Miller’s illustrations add extra tenderness to this heartwarming story as she presents Black girls with different skin tones, hair lengths, hairstyles, and personal styles.
What doesn’t work: While Curlfriends is a thoroughly delightful read, I found myself wanting a little bit more context around Charlie’s relationship with her father prior to his retirement. It is clear that she is not accustomed to having him as present as he is now, but more story about their relationship would have helped make their early distance a little less jarring.
Pass It OR Grab It?: Grab It. Curlfriends: New in Town is a cozy friendship story that is needed for all readers, but especially Black readers. Fans of Jerry Craft’s New Kid will love this first installment of the Curlfriends series.
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