MISSION ONE

Can two cousins overcome their differences to save their school?

Sixth grade cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn may be united by family ties, but they couldn’t be more different. Popular, outgoing Riley (who is Black and Indigenous) grew up among extended family and friends on Muscogee Nation land, while bookish Maya, the biracial daughter of active service members (her mother presents white, her father Black), has never had a permanent home. When both girls move in with their Black-presenting artist/activist grandmother Gayle, their personalities clash, with each girl struggling to adapt and find her footing at school—no easy task with draconian, white-presenting Vice Principal Balderdash ruling the halls. Newly empowered by the mayor, Balderdash slashes funding for supplies and programs to buy portable classrooms to increase detention space. Afraid of losing the school programs and services they love, Riley and Maya must work together to stop him. After their attempts to work within the system fail, only one option remains: a risky, Mission Impossible–style plot to expose the VP’s diabolical plan. This middle-grade graphic novel, the first in a series, has everything: nuanced and empowered protagonists, a funny, gripping story, age-appropriate treatment of social issues, and expressive comic illustrations begging to be lingered over. Readers will come away inspired to raise their own voices and take action to create positive, peaceful change in their communities.

A fresh new graphic series sure to engender a devoted following.