This graphic novel is 4th in a series called Berrybrook Middle School. One thing that stands out about these books is the author's skill at writing highly interesting and relatable characters. The development of the characters in this story is so well done, especially the main character, Felicity who is an artist and gamer, who has a hard time focusing and completing things. The author also knows her audience and does a great job of writing things that will be meaningful and interesting to middle grade readers. She also demonstrates an understanding that not all relationships (friendships, family members etc) work out and sometimes conflict between friends or classmates is unavoidable and goes unresolved. I could definitely see middle grade students loving this book and would recommend it for readers in the 9-12 range. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this book.

I read this as an advance reader copy from NetGalley

Felicity gets compared to her sister Letty all the time -- or at least in her head she does. Letty is the perfect one, the achiever, the one who finishes big projects. Felicity is none of those things. But she is fed up with it. She wants to show her family and herself, that she can finish a big project, that she can be a winner. But she can't do it alone. Felicity is about to find out, in middle school, it's so easy to turn a friend into an enemy. But what exactly is an enemy? And do they have to stay that way?

The Berrybrook Middle School books are so realistic. They take you back to middle school, trying to show it with the wisdom of age. I would want to make these required reading for anyone in middle school to show them that they are not alone in these feelings, and that they do change.

Alright, so like, this was super lovely 🥹.
I thought at first that it would be this fun silly story that people read to pass time. Yet, it turned out to have more depth than I could have guessed.
The first thing I'd note is that through the cover art, book title and description, I had understood that we'd be seeing how a peer relationship develops with the ups and downs that comes with it. That and that only.
But truly it was that and more. I got to witness many versions of relationships ranging from familial to friendships.
At the story's core is a sweet message. It's learning to navigate life with all it's hardships through valuing yourself and each effort you make. That the true greatest enemy isn't in another, but rather yourself. In the ways that uou treat yourself.
I think the reason this Graphic Novel stood out to me most is that even at the age of 20 I see myself reflected in the main character. Her feelings towards everything she went through were so vivid and they were similar to my own. She was real in all the ways that mattered.
The reason I gave it a 4 star instead of a 5 is because the story contained an element I have reserves against. Other than that it was a very nice story, able to combine between enjoyment and deepness.

This series has been fantastic and Enemies is no exception. My son finds the series easy to relate with and connect to. The story is presented in a way that's entertaining and relatable. The characters are diverse and the adults are portrayed in positive ways.

I will definitely be adding this to my son's bookshelf as I know he'll enjoy it.

Ever since I read the first in this series, I knew it would be perfect for my middle school library. Enemies is the next perfect addition to that collection. I like that these graphic novels relate to modern middle schoolers and help them figure out how to solve a common issue that they all deal with. I also enjoy that these novels are diverse and have a variety of characters for consumption. Enemies really showcases a common middle school problem: friends one day, enemies the next (mostly because of miscommunication); then it shows a resolution to the problem. Which is vital in middle school literature, as some of them need the motivation to fix their problems on their own without adult intervention. I always enjoy Svetlana's graphic novels and hope she completes the alphabet of her amazing series!

Another excellent entry in Svetlana's Berrybrook Middle School graphic novel series. So many themes: self-confidence, jealousy, perseverance, just to name a few. The book focuses on Felicity, an artist and gamer who feels she pales in comparison to her academically successful sister, Letty, while she herself struggles to complete projects and meet deadlines. At the beginning of the story, she talks about how she's happy to not have friend drama (mostly) in her life. As the action moves along, though, and Felicity gets involved in new projects, especially with the hopes of winning a $1000 entrepreneurship prize, these changes affect virtually all areas of her social life.

Highly relatable and well-drawn. A quick read with engaging characters. Middle graders will adore this book, even if they've not read earlier titles in the series. Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a middle grade graphic novel about fitting in, friendship, sibling rivalry and the ups and downs of middle school. Middle school is tough and this graphic novel showed just a glimpse into the complications that arise in middle school and healthy ways to cope, work through and navigate the turmoil.

What I loved: the realism, the business related project/club, and the art style

I also loved how the parents and the teachers were depicted in this novel: supportive, encouraging and peacemakers.

I have not read other graphic novels based in this world, but I was drawn to the idea of this one. I am glad I gave this a shot because it was a fun book to peruse. Fun, mostly because I am not obliged to be part of that confusing world of school anymore as an adult. I was the girl who ate lunch at her desk with a book throughout middle and high school. I watched from the sidelines as people had squabbles and patch-ups, and I never understood the need to be in the centre of all of it. There are few instances of such situations that I am sure we all face as adults, but it feels scarier to have to walk into that situation every day!
Felicity has big ideas but loses steam partway through her progress. Her sister has more official things to be a part of and keeps herself busy. The latter still finds the time to poke at Felicity's indecision. Our leading lady is part of two main groups at school. Her art group and the people she hangs out with virtually as part of her game group. In the fringes of both groups is her ex-best friend, who suddenly stopped talking to her, and she is unsure of what exactly happened there. I have not met any of the characters before (having not read the other book based in this world), but this works well as a standalone.
I remember feeling wise at that age, feeling like I knew more about the world around me and myself than adults gave me credit for. Only when I have thought back to certain instances as actually older and wiser, have I seen all the things I have missed. Especially some of my own behaviour. This book captures that time quite effectively. Felicity is uncertain about her exact ambitions in life, but she feels like she is in the right and that she is assessing everything that happens around her accurately. She is not inherently a bad person, and therefore it is interesting to watch her learning curve. The situations the children find themselves in may seem mundane, but I am sure a little thought would bring the seriousness at that age to the forefront.
The author and illustrator has done a brilliant job in making this school life seem accessible to all ages.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

Svetlana Chmakova does it again in writing a graphic novel that will appeal tweens who also go through seasons of having friends who turn into “enemies” and back to friends.

Ok, I read and LOVED Crush by this author, to the point that I waited in a HUGE line to get it signed by her. It's one of my prized signings. However, the topics of her books are hit and miss for me, so this is the only other book by her that I have read. It seemed interesting, but I was divided on reading it. I decided to try it anyway.

At 36% of the way into it, I was regretting it. I didn't like ANY of the characters and didn't care about anything that happened to them. It was ALL DRAMA. Which, upon reflection, is one of the reasons that I didn't like middle school.

However, I decided to not DNF it and I am glad that I did not. It picked up considerably and there was a lot of growth in all of the characters, which quite frankly, they all needed. We ALL need that growth and I have met many adults who never matured and it's sad.

So, moral of the story, stick with this one, the characters learn and grow and it is worth the read. I can see middle grade readers enjoying this one.

3 solid stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Yen Press/JY Paperback for an eARC copy of this book to read and review.

Me encantó la historia!
En varios puntos me identifiqué con la protagonista, creo que para ser una trama aparentemente simple, logra comunicar mucho.

Tengo muchas ganas de poder leer los demás libros de Svetlana Chmakova, pero están difíciles de encontrar.

El arte de esta novela grafica es muy bella, y los colores pasteles utilizados en su paleta interior son de lo más armoniosos.

Recomiendo mucho el libro, no hablaré tanto de lo que trata porque creo que la sinopsis ya dice mucho. Pero si les puedo comentar que aquí podrán encontrar: problemas de autoestima, síndrome del impostor, relaciones de amistad complicadas, y un muy buen final.🤭

Such a great story for middle school or junior high age students. Very relatable. I can see my students enjoying this book, especially those that don't like to read.

Enemies is another great installment of the Berrybrook Middle School Series. This one deals with confusing friendships, learning to meet deadlines, and learning that it's okay to not be number 1 all the time. I love each of these books and recommend them to my students.

Great new volume to the series that encapsulates just how awkward, convoluted, and strange middle school relationships can be on every level. The main character struggles with the expectation to be as good at school as her sister and also deal with the pitfalls of ex-friends, group work, and upcoming deadlines. Definitely a recommended read for me.

Thank you Yen Press and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this awesome book! I really enjoyed this very relatable book from one of my and my students’ favorite authors. Svetlana Chmakova does it again! Loved everything about it — the great storyline, believable relationships, amazing art, and another visit to Berrybrook Middle School. Can’t wait for my students to read it and tell me how much they enjoyed it. Can hardly wait to see what Svetlana would create next.

This is one I’ll want for my classroom library. Characters are real and relatable, and the issues here are ones all middle-schoolers face. I loved the ambiguous ending—perfect for classroom discussion and debate!

Enemies by Svetlana Chmakova. Yen Press LCC, 2022.
Thank you Yen Press LCC for providing an e-book copy through NetGalley.
Rating: 1-5 (5 being a starred review) 5
Format: E-Book
Genre: Middle Grade Realistic

Synopsis: Felicity, a comic-making artist and expert gamer, can’t STAND it when her little sister accuses her of “never finishing anything.” Especially since her little sister is the “perfect genius” student who wins all the prizes. Especially since it’s true. She will prove her little sister wrong, though, by doing something BIG. Specifically, she and her best friend Tessa sign up for an entrepreneurial contest to create “the next big thing” and start a business. Felicity is eager to prove herself as capable as anyone else, until she spots Joseph, her “enemy.” Felicity is unsure what this means, except that Joseph is bitter toward her for seemingly no reason. As the deadline for the contest advances, tensions rise as Felicity and Tessa disagree more than agree, Joseph becomes more hostile, and more “enemies” appear in her life than she had anticipated. Can she really prove her sister wrong and actually complete a project for once? Or will her so-called enemies be too much to handle?

What I Liked: Stelvona’s Berrybook Middle School series are always top graphic novels because they deliver a complex story with multiple moving parts that still feels very authentic to the middle school experience. Enemies greatest strength is how well written it is. All the characters, especially Felicity herself, have excellent traits and development. No one feels one-dimensional or useless; Instead everyone has their own charm and unique personalities. The plot also switches between Felicity managing her growing relationships with her friends and enemies, but also about her inner struggles of trying to “complete” something for once while being compared to students “better” than her, like her sister. It is very well done and no scene feels out of place because of the tight writing. I also appreciate that Stelvona always has a diverse cast of characters: Black, Asian, Latinx, White, and so on. Felicity is the 2nd protagonist of the series who is Black (or at least had darker skin). Joseph is East-Asian (Korean, if I remember correctly), Tessa is white, and additional characters are Latinx, Asian, White, and other people of color.

What I Didn’t Like: Nothing!

Personal bias: I love Crush by Svetlana as well.

Who Would I Recommend This To: Middle School, High school, and Public libraries. Kids who like reading realistic fiction about daily school life and relationships. Anyone who likes the following books: Awkward, Brave, and Crush by Svetlana are also great graphic novels (Crush being my favorite of the three). Other read-alikes are graphic novels by Kayla Miller (Click, Act, Camp, etc), Twins by Varian Johnson, The Tryout by Christina Soontornvat, and Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Gabreila Epstein.

Review Date: November 1, 2022
Submitted to Youth Services Book Review on November 1, 2022. Will update when posted.

I'm familiar with the author and the other titles in this series, but I hadn't read any until this one. I loved how accurate a portrayal of middle school this novel is! As a middle-school teacher, these are issues I see my 6th graders dealing with on a daily basis; friends turned enemies turned back into friends; feeling overwhelmed by projects; sibling rivalry. The main character Felicity does a great job reminding us what it's like to be going through these things, and I love how the author addresses these topics by teaching lessons at the same time. Will definitely be adding this to my classroom library!

ENEMIES is the newest installment of the hit series Berrybrook Middle School. Berrybrook titles are sure thing for 5th - 8th graders who like graphic novels or realistic fiction. ENEMIES follows Fecility, who is struggling to meet expectations she thinks others have for her. In an effort to prove her sister and self wrong, she enters a young entrepreneur contest, but her focus on success leads to hurt feelings and missed deadlines. Again, Svetlana Chmakova captures the youthful energy, emotions, and insecurities of middle schoolers.

I love Chmakova's graphic novels and her middle school series is some of her best work. This addition to the series is heartwarming and shows great personal growth for the characters in the story. I would highly recommend it to fans of graphic novels as well as students surviving middle school.