Curlfriends: New in Town (A Graphic Novel)

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.

A National Indie Bestseller
2024 Golden Kite Award Winner
An NPR Books We Love Selection
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023
* "With empathy, charm, and a seemingly endless supply of good cheer, Miller (Michelle's Garden) crafts a stirring tale that encourages kindness and honesty in pursuit of friendship."--Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A refreshingly honest look at middle school friendship, and the cost of trying to fit in."--Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Frizzy
"Miller's adorable comic perfectly captures the anxiety of experiencing all of the new beginnings and awkwardness that come with being 13. Fans of the Baby Sitters' Club comics or Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends series will appreciate this series opener featuring four Black girls navigating the trials and tribulations of friendship, middle school, and everything in between."--Booklist
"Curlfriends is a delightful book, packed with sunny, buoyant illustrations, even as it also cuts into the heart of the challenging tensions that pervade this intermediate stage of life."--NPR
"Miller skillfully tackles middle school growing pains, complicated parental relationships, and the importance of a strong community in this brisk, humorous graphic novel..... Readers are sure to find the Curlfriends endearing as they encourage Charlie to be her true self."--Kirkus reviews
"Miller's vibrant art is warm and inviting, with engaging details that pop on every page.... A welcome graphic novel with Black girl representation for middle-graders and middle-schoolers."--Horn Book
"A sincere and relatable depiction of trying too hard to fit in and almost losing yourself in the process."--School Library Journal
"A charming reminder that being your true self is the key to finding friends who love you for who you are." --Kayla Miller, creator of the Click graphic novel series
"For anyone who has ever had a hard time fitting in or feeling confident, Curlfriends creates a safe space to explore those feelings and work through them. Sharee crafts such a rich welcoming world with her sweet illustrations and her charming characters that feel so real and earnest. I want to be friends with all of them and I can't wait to read more and more of their stories!"--Vashti Harrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History
"Miller's vibrant, playful art and stylish characters perfectly capture both the awkwardness and joy of making new friends and reminds us why it's so important to stay true to ourselves."--Rose Bousamra, illustrator of Frizzy

Sharee Miller is the author and illustrator of Princess Hair, Don't Touch My Hair!, and Michelle's Garden, all published by LBYR. She is also the illustrator of The Shai and Emmie series written by Quvenzhane Wallis and Nancy Ohlin and Sam's Super Seats, by Keah Brown. She lives in Jersey City with her spouse, son, and two cats, Pumpkin and Spice!

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