ELLE CAMPBELL WINS THEIR WEEKEND

A nonbinary tween goes on a quest to meet their hero.

Seventh grader Elle is a huge fan of Phantom Thief, a fictional Doctor Who–esque show, but above all, they love its nonbinary protagonist, who is portrayed by nonbinary actor Nuri Grena. When Elle finds out their hero will be signing autographs in their town, they are ecstatic—until they’re slammed with an unfair detention by the meanest teacher in school. Now they’ll have to sneak out and race across town on commandeered scooters with their two best friends before they get caught. Elle’s world feels enjoyably like a cartoon or sitcom, a place where kids can sneak out of school inside the gym’s laundry hamper and run amok in an art museum, and famous actors sign autographs in baseball-themed small-town restaurants. The story is also focused on its kid protagonists—no watchful parents stand in the background, and no boring lessons are learned about the importance of detention. Despite the lighthearted atmosphere, Elle is a fully realized character who learns more about themself through and during their adventure. Other characters are more one-dimensional, primarily there to support Elle’s journey. The prose can be clunky at times, but Elle and their friends’ hijinks will keep readers entertained. Elle reads white, and there is some racial diversity in the supporting cast.

A fun, silly adventure with a heart.