All's Faire in Middle School

Victoria Jamieson's graphic novel about Imogene — a homeschooled kid from a Renaissance Faire family diving into sixth grade for the first time — is warm, funny, and emotionally honest in all the ways middle school rarely is. The Faire framing works beautifully, giving Impy a personal mythology to measure herself against when she does something mean to fit in. The art is expressive, the themes of accountability and making amends are handled with real maturity, and the New York Times Editor's Choice recognition is well earned. Parents with stricter content standards should preview: there are a couple of instances of mild language, a scene where middle school girls read from a romance novel with suggestive content, and brief references to puberty and attraction. None of it is gratuitous, but it is present. For most middle-grade readers — especially those navigating school transitions — this is a standout.