Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

Riley Mayes is discovering her true self, while also trying to find a best friend and connect with her celebrity idol. The plot is a little chaotic and at times difficult to follow as Riley jumps from one stream of thoughts to the next. Probably better suited for a middle school library.

Riley Mays is in fifth grade. They love laughing and to make others laugh, they also love to draw. Their best friend moved away and now they must make new friends, especially if they’re going to talk their parents into art classes. This book is fantastic. In the beginning you didn’t know if Riley was a boy or a girl and it didn’t matter. You do find out about a fourth of the way through and that actually becomes part of the idea of this book. Who is Riley Mayes? Are they gay? Are they a lezbo? If they are will that ruin their life? Will they have friends still? Will that even matter? These are all questions that run through Riley‘s mind after being called a Lesbo. Riley realizes that maybe I am, maybe I’m not, but does it matter? This book was awesome. It fits a fifth grader so well. I think anybody could read this and learn something either about themselves or the people around them. I also think it shows that it is OK to not know who you are or be worried about who you are. If I had to compare this book to another, I would say this is gender queer for younger readers. It is not afraid to ask the questions and explore on levels appropriate for fifth grade. I loved absolutely everything about this book, however I am deathly afraid kids won’t be able to read it because of current book banning and book censorship problems in schools across our nation. Add to that problem Barnes & Noble only selling top notch authors this book could be hidden. Please don’t hide this book! Share it! Save it! Send it! Buy it! Use it! There are kids out there that need this book. And there are many people even if they do not need it will love it.

The graphic novel is a solid format choice for stories exploring identity, especially for a young middle grade audience. Kids don't always have the vocabulary to express their feelings but can understand such expression visually. I like the questions in this book. These aren't kids with clear ideas about who they are. They're asking questions about themselves while also learning to think about the needs of others.

Ahhhhh 5th grade - even someone as ancient as I am, just SAYING 5th grade evokes all sorts of memories and feelings; some good, some not-so-much. ;-)

Riley is a great MC, just trying to find her place in the world without spending her whole school year in the principal's office. She is artistic, quirky and not really understood by anyone. Enter the "new" kid, who has secrets and is quirky too and they quickly become friends and cohorts and help each other navigate the terrors of 5th grade.

Perfect for those going into 5th grade and those who have been and are still dealing with the "trauma" of that year [early middle-graders], they will enjoy this story and the fun illustrations.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rachel Elliot and HarperCollins Children's Books/Balzer + Bray for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Real Riley Mayes was adorable, relatable, and memorable. Riley is funny and full of personality. She’s fun and marches to the beat of her own drum—which seems to be off-beat compared to everyone else, leading her to feel like no one really gets her. As she struggles to find the right words to write in a letter to her favorite comedian, Joy Powers, she begins to realize maybe her obsession with Joy is more than she thought. While going through fifth grade, she discovers her own identity while finding people who get her. The book is filled with heartfelt friendships and realistic struggles with kids at school. The art is humorous and the story is a quick-read. I’d definitely recommend checking it out!