![]() ![]() Shyness, bullying, social acceptance, competition, working together, friendship, forgiveness, parental pressure to succeed, family fighting, and daily middle school survival are all themes in this story.Ĭharacters have defined personalities beyond the way they're drawn, which are built up further in Brave. Regardless, it's a great start, following the very likeable and relatable Penelope as she enters a new school and makes a mistake the very first day, a gaffe that haunts her for weeks to come. Everything that comes off so gracefully in the next book - diverse characters, middle-school problems, family problems - feel a little more forced, less organic, in this first volume. Awkward is a little awkward, it doesn't quite have its flow, yet. I'm glad I read the second book, Brave, first because it put this one into a more favorable context I think I'd have been peevish in my reading had I not known what comes next. ![]()
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