A very fun and wholesome school story about changing friendships and first crushes. Even a day after finishing it, though, it's already fading in my mind--there wasn't much to make it stand out from other graphics in the genre. And I could have done without the palm-reading scene.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC and amazing book! I would love to recommend this graphic novel! Mia's journey through middle school is brought to life with vibrant artwork that perfectly captures the ups and downs of growing up. The story amazingly explores themes of friendship, identity, and self-discovery, with readers of all ages. With its relatable characters and heartwarming plot, this book is a must-read for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller. It's a charming reminder that communication and understanding are important, even when navigating the difficulties of growing up.

I really want some more reads on this book. I thought it was unique in the fact that it focused more on friendship with growing up rather than romantic relationships. We love women in STEM and encouraging young girls to enjoy it!

“But we’re 13. It’s time to grow up…right?”

It’s only the second week of school, and already everything seems to be changing for 13-year-old Mia Milligan. Her best friend, Addy, is hanging out with popular girl Courtney and pressuring Mia about things like status and boys. Fortunately, Mia learns that her best friend from science camp, Tariq, is moving into town. She envisions everything being just like camp, but Tariq has…changed. Mia suddenly finds herself developing a crush on him and feeling hurt that he doesn’t want to spend more time with her. However, the duo team up with artist Kinsey and goofball Evan to build a robot for the Science Olympics. Nonetheless, not everything goes to plan between a broken camera and tangled emotions as Mia and Kinsey’s friendship grows at the expense of Mia’s relationship with Addy, and the new friends tip-toe around their feelings about Tariq.

Middle school is a challenging and confusing time when things start to change whether you are ready or not (and sometimes just because you think they should change). Beth Fantaskey does an incredible job of capturing how it feels to be stuck in this transition phase in her debut graphic novel, Wires Crossed. Although Mia’s story is not inherently unique—she is growing apart from childhood friends while making new friends, suddenly attracted to an old friend, and embarrassed by the quirks of her family—her journey provides needed relatability to readers. Wires Crossed not only explores how and when we “grow up” but also whether we have to. This is a question that left me contemplating throughout the novel and even after. While I am past the turmoil of middle school, this idea of moving to the next stage or becoming a “real” adult is currently weighing on my mind. Growing up doesn’t look the same or mean the same thing for anyone, and the pressure to do so can be damaging. We need more stories like Wires Crossed to remind us that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to this dilemma and that life can only be navigated one step at a time.

A sweet coming of age about the time in-between childhood and being a teenager. Mia is figuring out who her friends really are and how her current place in life fits in among them.

Such a fun and relatable book for middle schoolers and beyond! Mia is a self-proclaimed nerd who loves her summer camp and camp friends. But what will happen when her best friend from camp moves to her town and goes to school with Mia. If this isn't hard enough to navigate, Mia's best friend from camp is a guy who has matured a lot since she last saw him. He's cute, charismatic, and all of the middle school girls seem to like him. Watch and see how Mia handles the situation. Fabulous illustrations to match an equally fabulous book!

This was a fun middle grade graphic novel about changes. It’s about how people you know and love change but are still themselves in ways that counts. For our main character Mia, her best summer camp friend is now going to get to be her all the time friend because they’re moving into the same school. But things are not how Mia planning. One friendship is cracking, school is changing, and it now matters if things are cool or crazy. This is a fantastic book about growing up. About remembering to communicate and remembering that friends are what you make of them. This was well done and great for people who like books like Dork Diary.

Loved this one -- it's got a little bit of everything. Changing friendships, first crushes, STEM, family, and captures beautifully that feeling of in-betweenness where you're not quite a kid, not quite a teenager. I'll be preordering this for the library and I expect it to be very popular with fans of Shannon Hale, Kayla Miller, and Raina Telgemeier.

"Wires Crossed" by Beth Fantaskey is a captivating and intricately woven tale that effortlessly blends romance, mystery, and suspense. Fantaskey's masterful storytelling takes readers on a thrilling journey through the lives of its well-developed characters, leaving them hooked from the very first page.

The novel centers around a complex web of relationships and secrets, creating a sense of anticipation that keeps the reader eagerly turning the pages. Fantaskey's ability to craft multi-dimensional characters adds depth to the narrative, making it easy for readers to connect with and invest in the protagonists' journeys.

Beth Fantaskey's writing style is engaging and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the story's setting and immersing readers in the world she has created. The dialogue is sharp and authentic, adding an extra layer of realism to the characters and their interactions.

In "Wires Crossed," Beth Fantaskey delivers a captivating narrative that seamlessly blends romance and mystery. With well-crafted characters, a compelling plot, and an engaging writing style, this novel is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction and mystery alike.

This was a fantastic read. The illustrations were colorful and fun to look at. The characters and what they’re dealing with are relatable to students. I know that my 5th graders will love this graphic novel. A must for middle grade libraries!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's for a digital review copy. All opinions are my own.

I am always looking for good books for my fans of Raina Telgemeir and the Baby Sitter's Club books. This definitely fits the bill.

Mia is 12 years old and dealing with the normal girl issues of friends acting differently, cliques, first crushes, and middle school in general. She is concerned with how other people view her and with being true to who she is. At the start of her latest school year, her long time BFF is looking to be in with the "popular" crowd (think Mean Girls) and Mia isn't ready to give up her ultra cool tree house. In the midst of all of this, she has just found out that her best friend from science camp is moving to her school and is excited to show him around. But when he arrives, he is instantly loved as a part of the soccer team and Mia feels left out. A science competition brings them back together along with some other interesting characters that help round everything out.

The title of the book comes from the simple fact that we don't always know what others are thinking or going through. We make assumptions about behaviors and often second guess ourselves. Wires get crossed when we don't talk things through with the people around us, as Mia and Tariq learn in the story.

I could tell from just the first few pages that this graphic novel is going to be popular with the 4th - 6th grade range. It is a cute graphic novel that I can't wait to get for my library.

Wires Crossed: perfect for fans of stories like Awkward and Smile.

This new realistic graphic novel is about those little growing pains of middle school: shifting friendships, crushes, braces, and living with quirky (and let’s face it, embarrassing) family members.

Mia and Tariq are best friends at a STEM summer camp. Tariq surprises Mia by moving to her hometown after Tariq’s mom gets a new job. What Mia thinks will be an awesome transition takes a turn when Tariq arrives and seems…different. Confident, athletic, but still the same Tariq on the inside—Mia doesn’t know how to cope with this unexpected twist. Mia’s friendships with other classmates are also changing. Will anything ever be the same again?

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing this digital ARC. All views are my own.
Recommended! To be released in April 2024.