Crunch

September 2, 2022

Gr 3 Up-Olive Branche is a sixth grader who likes to keep busy. But as her list of activities starts growing out of control (student council, guitar lessons, making a short film, Berry Scouts), her life gets more difficult to manage. While Olive is excited to get involved in so many projects, she makes the mistake of trying to give everything her all. Soon, she is struggling to keep up. She gets stressed, falls behind on her projects, and loses sleep. She does have several major accomplishments during this time, from organizing a fashion show to trying to reform the school dress code to creating a short film with friends for a film festival. But when she realizes that she can't keep up with everything, she learns that she must prioritize-and that she can't say yes to everything. Along the way, Olive is supported by friends, teachers, and family (including Aunt Molly, the cool librarian!). Miller's artwork is clear and colorful, filled with humor and energy. There are several resources at the end of this book that will benefit readers, including a guide on creating a to-do list and an overview of stop-motion animation. This graphic novel is part of the "Click" series, but it isn't necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one. VERDICT Recommended for kids who enjoy graphic novels, realistic fiction, school stories, and narratives about stress and self-care.-Andrea Lipinski

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