Boo has a vivid imagination, turning everyday things and pastimes into battles with monsters, visiting fairy kingdoms or going on epic adventures to help people.

For Boo this is a way to escape high school, and a life she believes to be boring, run-of-the-mill and nothing special. These thoughts also include herself, as her self-esteem is very low.

Boo has a dish-washing job after school at a local cafe and both her work colleague and employer are kind and supportive. Still, if she makes a mistake, drops something or spills a drink she always expects to be yelled at and promptly fired. Luckily this never happens.

Home life is the opposite. Her mum is usually asleep after a night on the booze, and provides Boo with no parental support. Boo must look out for herself and worries about her mum’s health. She even tries to step in, but her mother scorns her help.

School is another place where Boo struggles and her imagination gets the better of her. But now there’s someone new in school. She’s cool, pretty and confident and also needing a friend.

Is this too good to be true? Is this cool girl real or just another one of Boo’s daydreams?

I really liked main character Boo. She is anxious and shy, but totally relatable and trying to do her best in tricky situations. When she makes a new friend, I’m happy for her and want her new friendship to work out for her and give her some much needed self confidence.

Illustrated in pinks, purples and soft mint shades, this portrays Boo’s gentle nature and often dream-like status.

Really looking forward to the next in this graphic novel series to see how Boo handles life with her alcoholic mum and builds her relationship with her new friend.

Author – Sunny

Illustrator – Gloomy

Age – 12+

Graphic Novel

(2024, Scholastic, Graphic Novel, School, Friendship, Self-Esteem, Alcoholic Mum, Attraction, Day Dreams, Imagination, Self Confidence, Cafe, Dishwasher, Dreams, Series, LGBTQ+, Queer, Neurodivergent Author, Low Self Esteem, Self Confidence, Family, Worries, Series)