First Fight

March 1, 2017

Gr 5-8-This series follows Lola as she experiences first love with her brother's best friend, CJ. Each entry traces an important step in the development of their relationship, from their first romantic encounter at the high school dance to their first date at a planetarium to their fight over revealing the relationship to Lola's brother to their first kiss at the park. Lola, a shy but driven girl who loves her role on the school's drumline team, is a relatable character, and the series features a diverse cast of characters in an urban setting. Warm illustrations are included on each page, and bold use of font makes the text easy to read. VERDICT While these books are written at a second grade reading level, their romantic subject matter and high school setting make them appealing to both upper elementary and middle school readers.

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2017
Four short books follow high-school drummer Lola (depicted in the full-color illustrations as African American) as she experiences the titular firsts. Each story is divided into four chapters; the simple, first-person text is printed in a large font, with important words emphasized using playful fonts. Too squeaky-clean for high schoolers, perhaps this hi-lo series will find an audience among struggling preteen readers looking for light romance.

(Copyright 2017 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)