Cheer Up! is a fantastic graphic novel that I would recommend to anyone. Annie is forced to join the cheer team to improve her college application odds. Annie is firmly convinced that her attempt to be social and join a team will end horribly. However, as Annie reconnects with Bebe, a trans girl who must balance keeping her grades up and coordinating the cheer team, she discovers that it might not be so terrible after all. Adorableness ensues!

I really loved this graphic novel! While Bebe and Annie experience plenty of obstacles from well-meaning teammates to protective parents, there are so many cute moments. These range from honest conversations, gentle encouragement, and a fabulous homecoming dance. One of my favorite parts of the story is seeing the growth and self-confidence that both girls gain. It is so heartwarming to see their journey and I think every library should have a copy of this book. I also really love to see friendship between girls addressed with kindness and realism, which is expertly done with the cheer team. The art style is bright and sets the tone well.

Cheer Up! has been compared to Fence and Check, Please! which feels very accurate to me. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories that tackle important topics, contain LGBTQ+ rep, and lovable characters then you need to read Cheer Up! Thank you to Crystal Frasier, Val Wise, Oni Press, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Raybearer was one of my favorite books of 2020, so I was incredibly excited to receive an ARC of the sequel! Redemptor picks up right where we left off, with Tarisai facing an impossible quest to save her people. Tarisai must convince fellow rulers to join her council and prepare to undertake a dangerous journey to the underworld. Meanwhile, she faces court opposition as not everyone is convinced that having an empress is a good thing. When the ghosts of dead children start appearing before her, Tarisai is overwhelmed with guilt and fear. Tarisai must rely on Sanjeet, Kirah, Dayo, and her council siblings to help the spirits and ensure justice prevails.

I absolutely loved Redemptor! Themes of social justice and equality shine through this book, seamlessly intertwined with Tarisai’s perilous quest. One of my favorite aspects of this book is the extraordinary growth that Tarisai goes through, while always remembering who she is and where she comes from. The focus is on Tarisai’s journey, but the supporting cast is really endearing and lovable too! Tarisai steadily adds to her found family throughout the book, which is one of my favorite tropes. The prose was smooth and flowing, with vivid descriptions that carefully paint each scene. Ifueko makes so many poignant points about activism, mental health, and self-care. These are very important lessons and I really appreciated how they were incorporated.

Redemptor is a lyrical and spellbinding conclusion to the Raybearer duology. I hope we get to see more from this world one day! Maybe a novella to follow up with Kirah or Dayo? This is one of my favorite duologies that I will be recommending to everyone! Thank you so much to Jordan Ifueko, Amulet Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche continues Enola’s adventures as she attempts to crack a mysterious case. This is number seven in the series, though it can be read as a standalone. Enola meets a young woman who is concerned about the strange death of her twin and suspects foul play. As they examine the clues it soon becomes clear that something nefarious is going on. If she isn’t dead, where did Felicity disappear to? Along with her brother Sherlock, Enola embarks on a journey to find out.

Enola is fearless as ever and determined to find the truth regardless of obstacles. This mystery forces Enola to go undercover, revisit old friends, and interpret subtle clues. The dialogue is witty and may challenge readers to pull out a dictionary! Enola is a strong and courageous character whose exploits make it a fast-paced read. This story deals with important themes of mental health and women’s rights in a historical context. Seeing Sherlock and Watson as they assist in unraveling the mystery was delightful, though only Enola can come up with her twisty schemes!

This would be a really fun mystery for any Enola Holmes fan regardless of age, though intended audience is likely upper middle grade. Thank you to Nancy Springer, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.