Frizzy
by Claribel A. Ortega
Graphic Novel
Realistic Fiction
* * * * Stars (Great!)
Marlene comes from a long line of women with beautiful kinky hair and, alas, a tradition of straightening it to keep it under control. When her mom starts taking her to the salon, Marlene is initially excited about the attention and time they get to spend together, but that’s quickly overshadowed by the pain she experiences during the procedure, the length of time it takes, and having to maintain this hair that she doesn’t even want. She keeps these feelings to herself until they burst out of her one day and she and her mother have a serious heart to heart and her aunt shows her how she can have beautiful kinky hair that’s not out of control. Hair can be a serious issue and Marlene’s experiences showcase all of the Things that can get encompassed in a hairstyle (pain, politics, judgment, self-expression, etc.). Great, realistic graphic novel exploration of HAIR DRAMA. For tweens, grades 4-8.
Reviewed by YA Librarian
