Winner of the 2023 Pura Belpré Award for Children's Text
Winner of the 2023 Eisner for Best Publication for Kids
October 2022 Indie Bestseller
A Junior Library Guild selection
"Marlene’s journey of personal growth will evoke catharsis and joy. An exquisite excavation of hair politics, family dynamics, and self-love."—Kirkus, starred review
"Ortega’s narrative shows the complex arc of Marlene’s emotional growth—from exuberance to sadness, self-reflection to empowerment—captured with aplomb in Bousamra’s expressive illustrations." —Horn Book, starred review
"Bousamra skillfully renders expressive and visually distinct characters, employing bright and cheerful coloring in pastel hues to sweetly capture touching moments. Ortega expertly examines themes of colorism, generational trauma, and toxic beauty standards via authentic, heartstring-tugging dialogue and Marlene’s pitch-perfect narration, culminating in a satisfying and heartwarming exploration of self-expression and self-love." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"In the creators’ graphic novel debut, themes of anti-Blackness, colorism, and self-acceptance are explored with nuance and honesty. The subject of internalized racism is discussed in a way that will resonate with kids and families grappling with it for the first time." —School Library Journal, starred review
"Frizzy is an intimate mother-daughter drama that sensitively explores the concept of so-called 'good hair,' a manifestation of racist beauty standards, as well as how such internalized anti-Blackness gets passed down through generations. Eager to value her unique identity, Marlene eventually learns how to advocate for herself, and her journey to proud self-acceptance is nothing short of joyful." —BookPage, starred review
"Frizzy touches upon the impact that hurtful beauty standards can have on children and how they can be perpetuated across generations, and an educational conversation on the connection between these beauty standards and anti-Blackness is neatly woven into the story." —Booklist
“A wonderful tale about what it truly means to have good hair . . . and a good heart.” —Varian Johnson, award-winning author of Twins
"I desperately wish I'd had a book like this when I was growing up. Frizzy is uplifting, affirming, and healing to all kids who love their curls. Curly hair power!" —Zoraida Córdova, award-winning author of Valentina Salazar Is Not a Monster Hunter
"Through warm, encouraging collaboration, creators Ortega and Bousamra underscore and celebrate the joys of being "beautiful in your own way." —Shelf Awareness
★ 09/01/2022
Gr 4–8—Every Sunday, Marlene and her mom visit the dreaded salon for a day of hair-pulling and the unforgiving heat of the hair dryer. Because her hair needs to look pretty for her older cousin's quinceañera, the Afro-Dominican tween has to go for a second round of hair straightening, otherwise she won't look presentable in her family's eyes. While the adults marvel at her cousin's "good" hair—straight and blond—Marlene doesn't understand why her curls aren't good enough. With the help of her like-minded friend and her forward-thinking aunt, Marlene embraces herself, inside and out. In the creators' graphic novel debut, themes of anti-Blackness, colorism, and self-acceptance are explored with nuance and honesty. The subject of internalized racism is discussed in a way that will resonate with kids and families grappling with it for the first time. Bullying and grief are some of the other issues addressed. Ortega's writing is pitch-perfect for middle grade; she gives Marlene an extra layer of vulnerability that tweens will recognize. Bousamra's candy-colored palette of pinks, purples, blues, and coppers makes this sweet coming-of-age tale even more accessible and welcoming. The characters' facial expressions and the dynamic panel design keep the narrative flowing. Readers with curly hair will want to take notes as Marlene's aunt teaches her how to style her hair. Marlene has brown skin, and her family members have a variety of hair textures and skin colors. VERDICT An excellent choice for all graphic novel collections. Give to those who are not ready for Elizabeth Acevedo's books.—Shelley M. Diaz
★ 2022-07-13
Marlene, a young Dominican American girl, seeks to embrace her natural hair.
Sundays are the worst—they’re the day each week when Marlene’s mom brings her to get her hair straightened at the salon. It’s a painful, arduous process, but Mami insists it’s the only way to look your best in front of others and be presentable at events like her cousin’s quinceañera. Marlene is constantly bombarded with ideas about “good hair” and critical comments about her looks. Thankfully, Tía Ruby, with her abundance of natural, bouncy curls, reassures Marlene that straightening her hair isn’t a requirement for looking beautiful, which sets a fire in Marlene’s heart. With the guidance and support of Tía Ruby and best friend Camilla, Marlene embarks on a natural hair journey with her head held high. Ortega masterfully navigates topics like anti-Blackness and oppressive beauty standards passed down through generations. Bousamra’s eye-catching color scheme, dominated by soft shades of pink and blue, and expressive illustrations showing Marlene’s vibrant community are the perfect vessel for this story. An especially tender scene in which Marlene finally experiences a pain-free wash day speaks volumes about the healing themes present throughout this graphic novel. Marlene’s journey of personal growth will evoke catharsis and joy.
An exquisite excavation of hair politics, family dynamics, and self-love. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)
