i received an ARC of this through NetGalley and i cannot wait to get this into the hands of my students!

first, i loved the color scheme and illustrations in this book.

the story was so good. marlene just wants to be herself and feel comfortable in her own skin (with natural hair) but doesn’t know how to tell that to her mom. discussions around societal expectations of “professional” or "good" hair, generational learned behaviors, and anti-blackness help marlene figure out how to stand up for and take care of herself.

also i want to be that cool aunt!!!

As someone who grew up with messy hair and had to deal with a lot of what Marlene goes through, this book was comforting. It accurately displays family microaggressions about appearance and displays a message of self love.
Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to reach this book. I needed it.

I loved everything about Ortega's Frizzy. Recently I've noticed a trend with graphic novels where they are tackling the various ways to care for different types of hair, especially for people of color. I found Frizzy incredibly relatable as Marlene is your typical preteen girl just wanting to fit in and due to her "bad" hair she feels like she's fighting a losing battle. Marlene's hair creates a base for a lot of her relationships in the book and how each character relates to her based off their own definitions of what exactly defines "good hair." Rose Bousamra's artwork brought the whole story to life as she deftly illustrated all the different ways that Marlene does battle with her hair. I highly recommend for middle grade and teen graphic novel collections.

This book is totally heartbreaking, both because of the bullying depicted and the still prevalent messages that society sends kids about body image. This story could just as easily be about skin tone, eye color, or weight. Loved how the aunt was a force for positivity and how supportive Marlene's best friend was. The art work was great, conveying the sometime silliness of hair styles and Marlene's fantasies about her appearance without ever taking away from the impact of the story. Wonderful example of diverse representation as well.

I really love how the author covered the topic of natural curls as this is a topic that’s really important to me , so for that: 10 out of 10

The illustrations were beautifully done, the colour scheme absolutely gorgeous and I love how the skin-tones were done!

The section washday was my favourite, I wish I would’ve had someone to teach me about how to care for my hair

This is the most practically PERFECT middle grade book I've read in a while! Frizzy follows Marlene, whose mother takes her to the salon every weekend to get her hair straightened., as she experiments with wearing her curls. Marlene has supporters, like her friend Camila and her Tia Ruby, and also faces bullies and family members who judge her natural hair to be "bad." She learns about how the way people judge her hair's appearance is caught up in racism and ideas of what "good" hair is & about how one's relationship with their hair can be deeply personal, like how her mom stopped wearing her hair curly after Marlene's dad died. The plot is relatively straightforward and captures a lot of emotional depth in the narrative space of a few weeks - the moments between Marlene and her mom had me tearing up at the end. This would be so great for middle grade readers and could prompt some great discussions about race and the subtle ways people experience racism, as well as family dynamics and friendship and bullying. I think so many readers will be able to relate to Marlene's struggle between wanting to conform and please those around her, especially her mom, and wanting to try new things and embrace a side of herself that feels more real - and Frizzy does a great job at showing what it means to give people time to unlearn at their own pace. This book is so sweet and heartwarming and I'd highly recommend it to almost any reader!

I loved this book! It is wonderfully written and tackles some hard issues in a really approachable way for middle grades. It really gives the reader a journey through self-doubt and loathing to acceptance. It tackles diversity and professionalism, family tradition, and generational racism. I LOVE IT. It is so important. One of my favorite lines was "Self-worth shouldn't be tied to appearance." It is so important for middle-grade readers to hear this. The adult characters grow and learn! Another really important thing for middle-grade readers to hear. This book will be invaluable for those students to see themselves reflected in Marlene's experinces.

Such a beautiful read, I loved the graphics and the overall storyline shone with themes of self-worth, identity and family. Marlene doesn't know whether to love or hate her curly hair, every weekend she goes to the salon to have her hair 'tamed' and it is not a process she enjoys. Feeling the pressure to fit in and be a good girl, Marlene needs to decide what makes her happy and with the help of Tia Ruby and her friend Camilla, she might just be able to work it out.
Touching on topics that every girl feels - am I good enough, do I look okay, will I ever fit in? 'Frizzy' is a celebration of loving who you are - especially those things that make you different.

I adored this book so much. The message was great and the graphics were colorful and vivid. As someone with extremely frizzy, wavy hair, this is a message I wish I would of seen more often growing up. The characters were also a joy to read. Marlene, Tia Ruby, and her friend Camila! This is one book I’ll put on my list of books to recommend young readers at work

This graphic novel was so relatable, not just for kids but for the adults that may be reading with their children. Learning to have self confidence and to find your own place is an important lesson for everyone, no matter their age. Plus, the art style of the book was superb.

I absolutely loved this middle grade graphic novel. The artwork was gorgeous (and the interior of Tia Ruby's home? Amazing), the characters were relatable and the representation is invaluable.

Every young girl with curly hair (and everyone else, honestly) should be reading this and I'm thrilled that this book exists for young readers to relate to and use to learn to love their own beautiful hair. One of the best own voices middle grade books I've ever read.

It was a blast. A hearthwarming, hearthbreaking blast. As an french POC, I wish I had this book when I was a kid, to explain those kind of things. I was so with Marlene and her need to learn about herself, to understand who she is and who she can be. I'm really happy to read the book, I wiil certainly rereading, and offer it to my family and friend.

I knew as soon as I saw the cover and title that I had to read this book. I struggled for years to get my curls “under control” and to embrace them when I was younger. I wish I had this book when I was younger. An important book about self acceptance. Really enjoyed the characters, especially her tía. Some great moments of depth. Will appeal to a lot of my middle school graphic novel fans.

This middle grade book is a short and fast read yet a very enjoyable one.

I remember watching a movie where a grown up woman is always straightening her hair just so that her corporate job in advertising would not see her in a different light- as a black woman trying to survive with the white people in the office.

I was imagining that grown up woman as she was before when she was a kid like our protagonist here. If this one happens, then her future self-esteem is fixed and no more extra hours of waking up in the morning to straighten that lovely curly hair.

Aside from that, there are also other issues that was tackled here. For one, those people around you that should've been at your side coz they are your relatives are the ones that is your number one detractors and non-believers that natural beauty is the real beauty. Another lesson is practice what you preach. We always say to always be ourselves or honesty is the best policy but when you are faced by the standards set by the norm, these beliefs are set aside and considered not right.

Such a nice book to introduce your kid into reading. Looking forward on reading books from this author in the future!

This middle grade graphic novel is amazing! It follows Marlene, a young Dominican American girl, who goes to the salon with her mother every Sunday to straighten her frizzy, curly hair to make it look more “acceptable”. Marlene hates it very much, but she thinks, what choice does she have? When she wears her natural hair at school, she gets made fun of. But then she learns, curly hair is beautiful too! Her Aunt Ruby teaches her how to wash and style her curly hair so she can finally wear it just the way she has always wanted to!

This was a beautiful story, and I thought it brought the topic of beauty standards surrounding hair for black and brown women out in a way that was easy to understand for middle grade readers. I also loved the ending, coming full circle with her mom and finally being able to accept her hair just the way it is!

I was given an advanced reader's copy via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

This graphic novel is absolutely darling! It follows a young girl with frizzy hair his mother forces her to go to the salon and get it straightened at least once a week. Her family members pick on her and criticize her when her hair frizzes out. With the help of her favorite and she learns how to take care of her gorgeous curls and be herself. I am so excited for this book to be released so I can share it with my beautiful curly and frizzy haired students, as well as anyone else who wants an adorable read.

This was such a GREAT #ownvoices middle grade graphic novel about a young Dominican American girl fighting against generations of beauty standards and family telling her that her natural curly hair is bad and she needs to straighten her hair to be beautiful. A wonderful mother-daughter story about learning to love yourself for who you are and standing up for what you want. I adored every bit of this story and love that it's out there for girls like Marlene who might need to hear curly is beautiful too! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance review copy!

Absolutely wonderful! 5⭐️ Middle grade graphic novel.

What I enjoyed/loved!
-representation!!
-background about beauty standards for black women and girls that will prevail to present day. Generational trauma/ prejudice shown and easy to understand for young readers.
-Aunt Ruby was an amazing adult figure in the story, her relationship with Marlene is loving, caring, and non-judgmental. She is an advocate for Marlene and provides great education!
-The ending was beautiful—Mami’s journey and past was insightful.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the ARC! ❤️

Every Sunday Marlene and her mother, Paola, go to the salon to straighten their hair so that it’s “presentable” and “good hair”. But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn’t understand why she can’t wear her hair natural and embrace her curls. With a few missteps, and help from her best friend Camila and her Tia Ruby - Marlene slowly begins her journey to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

This is a very important book for young girls out there who need to know that embracing and feeling comfortable in your natural hair is something to celebrate and show off.

Along with step-by-steps from Tia Ruby on how to take care of her hair, Marlene and her Tia also have a discussion on generation trauma and what that means and how it affects every generation. They were both important topics that I felt like were handled with care, especially for the age group this novel is aimed towards.

I loved the illustrations by Rose Rousamra, they were stunning and conveyed Marlene’s journey perfectly. The color pallet for everything was beautiful as well.

*Thank you NetGalley and First Second for a digital copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review

This book is outstanding! I loved it from beginning to end! Marlene is a young woman who has curly hair and with curly hair comes the challenge to tame it! With that said ,Marlene endures weekly trips to the salon to maintain her hair and she hates it. Having straight hair is what Mami believes is right and best, but Marlene doesn't like straight hair. She just wants to be her and that means showcasing her beautiful curls. Unfortunately, there are many that don't think Marlene's hair is beautiful, in fact they think she has bad hair. It is sad to say that many people, even today, do feel that straight hair is superior. Hair should be worn how one sees fit, but there is a beauty standard that many subscribe to that doesn't include kinky and curly hair.

I loved how Frizzy talked about how many people dislike blackness and that includes black hair. As a black woman, I can completely relate with Marlene, especially when it comes to sweating ones hair out (The heat is not my friend)! For me, I prefer my hair straight and also make trips (bi-weekly) to the salon, but my hairstylist is far more understanding and pleasant then Gleny. In the end, I am glad that Marlene had her aunt Ruby to turn to when she couldn't turn to Mami. I am also glad that Aunt Ruby and Marlene were able to bring Mami back to the curly side!