I received this book from publisher/Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

As I said in my review for the previous book, I was hoping this one would be about Jorge, and look! Look! It is! Yay!!! *fangirls*

Jorge is so adorable, how he is trying to be all like: Oh nobody got time for all that dating stuff and blabla. We are on a mission to stop bullying and the like. Then he spots Jazmine and gets totally flustered! Adorable!!!!!! And that is how it goes every time he sees her, or if she talks to him. He just goes into the zone (which reminded me of scenes of manga/anime with swoony romance), and I just loved it. Of course, I was quickly (very quickly, like after one scene of that) rooting for Jorge and her to get together, or at least give Jorge the chance to confess. Go Jorge! Sadly, we find out that Jazmine has a boyfriend! SHOCK! Poor Jorge, he finally had worked up the courage to talk to Jazmine, and then finds out she is taken!

Haha: “Do I… like Jazmine?” Yes, sir, you do. And quite a lot given the way your acting. Face the music, and welcome to love!

And so, the story continues, we see Jorge navigate the treacherous ways of school, and still falling madly in love with Jazmine (he is noticing her everywhere).

Ahhhhhhh, adorable! He just asked her! YAYYYYYYY! Well, OK, to the ball, but it is a start! YAYYYYYY! Finally dating! I don’t consider that a spoiler, come on, it was obvious. Even with the whole boyfriend at first, I just knew that they would end up together. Eep! I just love how well they fitted together, and I was delighted to see the little things they did to spend time together.

Plus, good job Jorge, for acting normal when your girlfriend cuts her hair. Given how tons of other people reacted, which I found really stupid, but then again, I know from personal experience how people act when girls have short hair. 😐

Of course, he is not alone in this book. We also have Garrett and Liv. I do have to be honest and say that I didn’t like how they bickered quite a few times during the book. But thankfully they also show enough times that they are the best of friends. They were quite fun together, bantering.

Liv was a pretty OK character, she has her heart in the right place, though she should be a bit tactful about things (like eating lunch with your current boyfriend while your ex is at the same table… is not what you want to do).  But she does have an amazing superpower of getting people to join or do things, which is pretty nice!

We also see that she has some troubles with her current boyfriend. Of course, we only see her side of the story, so who knows what Marcus’ story is, but still I wanted, just like Jorge, to destroy Liv. Hello, a relationship works from two sides. You can’t just expect her to go with you to stuff, but then find her needy when she wants you and her to go the ball.

Garrett, a new addition to the school, in his previous school he was quarterback, but here? He can’t even play much as there is already a star player who gets all the play time. I didn’t get why he was so hot about James, I just thought that dude was a skeezeball. But I guess he wanted to be in the group, and people do silly things to be in a group.

Zeke? Jazmine’s boyfriend? Sorry, but what? I liked him at times, but it is true what Jorge said, he does seem to have 2 sides to himself. We see one of that in the corridor (when Jorge saves him), and then later at the party (what a crappy move, you don’t do that to your girlfriend). Thankfully, Jazmine isn’t happy either, and it seems that some stuff happened before. I was glad to see him out of the picture.

James? Please just fall off a cliff and disappear. What a disgusting piece of *insert lots of expletives* Especially nearing the ending when he did that to Jorge.

I hated that everyone just believed that Jorge would do those things. Really? Guys? Like, you know this dude, you know how hard he tries to make sure everyone is happy and not being bullied. You saw him with Jazmine, you saw him with other girls. And then you just believe that? Not thinking about how technology isn’t always to be trusted. Anyone can pretend to be someone. Anyone can hack if they really want it. But I guess, kids are just dumb in that way. :{

The whodunnit? Aka the one who was posting as Jorge, well, I was quite shocked. What a dick move.

The ending made me smile so so much! It was just the best way to end this book. A bit of drama, but also happiness and love.

I loved the extra info at the ending, especially how the cover was picked. I am happy that they picked the cover that is now in use. That one just fits the best with this story. How Jorge only sees her, even though his friends are there, even though there is chaos. So sweet!

All in all, I am hoping we get a new graphic novel, featuring another character. Maybe Brooke? Or Nic? And I would highly, very highly, recommend this one!

Too cute and so relatable. As a middle school librarian, I can already forsee this being a big hit. There is something so genuine about the Berrybrook Middle School series. The voices are spot on for a middle school student and I think this one will help so many students gently navigate the awkward time of first crushes and friendships that fluctuate. The text is very accessible for all different reading levels so this is another multiple-copy must have for my library.

Books about teens and dating aren't my go to reads but something about Crush's cover and blurb made me click the request button on Netgalley.

It's quite refreshing to get a middle school boy's perspective and Jorge is such a precious cinnamon roll. The female characters were all independent, self-assured girls and if I were attending Berrybrook Middle school, I would be carried away with Olivia's spirit, too. Jazmine, the love interest, is shy and sweet but she isn't a push over. In fact, she can kick her stupid ex's ass if she wants to. And Jorge loves her for being badass.

"It's official... I'm taking the awesomest girl in school to the ball."

I also love the art, the character designs and how the author drew the expressions. The humor had me chuckling and the dialogues and scenes were realistic. There were positive messages inserted here and there that worked well with the scenarios without being preachy. I also love how Svetlana Chmakova made the comic diverse by including a non-binary student, a Muslim coach as well as characters wearing hijabs in the background. Also major points on the hair thing. I agree that girls look pretty whether they have short hair, long hair or no hair at all

Crush is cute, fun and diverse, with tons of positive messages for every teenage boys, girls and non-binaries. Definitely recommended!

P.S.

I received a copy of Crush from Yen Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


SOUNDTRACK
There She Goes
The Las
The Las

Even though I haven’t read the author before, I liked it her style. It's a light reading, the illustrations are so cute and I loved Jorge.

The characters are diverse, and THE FEMALE CHARACTERS!!!, all the girls are strong and independent. I liked the messages that are given in the story. It’s a graphic novel that I would recommend to teenagers.

The only thing that I didn’t like was the issue with James at the end, that took away points from the story. Overall, an entertaining and recommended story.

I SO needed this as a palate cleanse after the last two horrific 1 star graphic novels I just read.

This book is cute and sweet and everything I needed right now. I read the teaser handed out at ALA Annual 2018 and knew that I had to get my hands on the entire thing. I was right, it was so awesome! I didn't realize this was the third in a series, so now I have two other books to look forward to, yay!!

This is a contemporary story from the POV of Jorge, a large middle schooler with two BFFs, Olivia and Russell. It is their story of how they dealt with middle school, classes, teachers, fellow students, gossip, crushes, etc.

Jorge and Olivia were my favs, though the gym teacher was AWESOME. Russell was a bit of an idiot and I didn't like him, but he was true to a less self-assured pre-teen in middle school, so I can't hate on him. Just hate his initial behavior. He does grow and learn, so all is not lost.

This book would be great for the middle school years and maybe a younger, precocious reader and upwards. Highly recommended. 5, shiny, love Jorge and Olivia, stars!

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

A pleasantly lunky giant with a heart of gold finds himself with unexplainable passions for a drama student at his middle grade school. I'd guess the thinking of the modern schoolgoer is conveyed here. To the adult mind some of the late drama was forcibly put on the page just to give a shred of doubt where none was existing – it was fairly obvious they'd get over the hurdle and end up together, after all – and some of it was very much edutainment about respect and "don't touch, don't even look, don't judge people like that because people have done it for millennia but it's wrong now, OK?!" and all that malarkey. But on the whole it's a worthwhile, pleasant read.

It is time to return to Berrybrook Middle School, where things are just as cute and complicated as always. Everyone around Jorge seems to be pairing off, but he isn’t about that romantic life. His two best friends are going through their own growing pains. Liv is having trouble with her new boyfriend and Garrett is desperate to infiltrate the popular guy’s sports clique. Jorge soon finds that he actually does like a girl at school, Jasmine, if only he could gain the confidence to talk to her. Serious tensions begin to evolve around these characters when Garrett’s new friends bully/torment their peers.

This graphic novel does not disappoint. The art and story are on point. The plot is realistic and relevant to today’s teens. I love the manga stylings of Chmakova. I love her diverse cast of characters and her socially conscious narratives, which support the growth of young girls. I know this one isn’t technically out yet, I know that the author just had a baby, but GAAHHH I want more!!

Crush is a charming look into the lives of young teenagers and their relationships--both friendship and romantic. Jorge is the boy we all aspire our children to become: honest, loyal, and genuine in his actions and he is faced with some tough decisions regarding his long time friends. Few books show kids that integrity is the real winner in all things, no matter how hard it is to uphold. Showing three very different friends and their reactions to very real situations gives a great example to children and the supporting characters cover a wide span of diversity that is refreshing yet not overwhelming. I truly enjoyed this read and look forward to recommending it to pre-teen readers in my library.

Yet another beautifully written graphic novel from Svetlane Chmakova! As the third book in the trio awkward series, this one takes on several different themes and weaves a realistic middle story in the process. Chmakova deals with those crazy first crush feelings and the tongue-tiedness that comes with it in a sweet way as best friends change and grow and bullying continues to rear it's ugly head in school in a multitude of ways. A definite read for any middle schooler or parent who forgets what it is like to be that age.

Simple great story. Students have enjoyed the other books by the author as well. Will purchase for the library.

Loved it! Crush is a great addition to the series. The author seemlessly integrates diverse characters into her stories. Love the themes of consent and traits of good friendships. I will definitely recommend this title to my middle school students and I can't wait to buy a bunch of copies.

It was a nice change to have a book about middle school crushes from a male point of view. I have always suspected that there are many middle school boys who are overlooked and have so much that they would like to share. This did remind me a lot of my experiences as a teacher; I just felt like it went on a bit too long.

Abosulutely adore this story. Love the use of cool tone colour palette throughout the book, particularly fund of the lilacs and taupes tones. I will recomend this book to all my students, not only for the target audience,because there are so many little details in the drawing and in the inclusitivy (race, gender, religion ...) of the main and background characters that we sometimes need to discuss in and out the classrooms.
This book made me think of the original Degrassi series, where there are diffent types of personalities and groups within a society all with different problems and family issues that are put out there to be discuss in a very open minded way.
In the other hand, I feel teenagers do not speak or behave like that in real life, but we can alway refer to this type of book when we need extra guidance specially where parents aren't very close to their own kids education.

This was my first venture into graphic novels and it did not disappoint. I am more of a fan of the traditional novel because I like full blown sentences, but I will review this for what it is: a graphic novel.

As a 6th grade teacher this is the perfect book for my classroom. My students loved the first two books in the series and this one will be another hit. I enjoyed seeing middle school through the eyes of the tenderhearted Jorge as he struggled with his feelings and relationships. I thought the events were realistic and things my students can relate to. The conflicts in the story were handled well and the lessons learned are plentiful throughout. It is a quick read and full of humor and it is definitely heartwarming.

I will still preview graphic novels for use in my classroom, though I will continue to prefer traditional novels because of the structure of the text.

I’m a fan of Awkward and Brave, but Crush is now my favorite of the Berrybrook Middle School books! I adored this honest portrayal of crushing in middle school complete with awkwardness and flaws. Jorge is a reluctant crusher, which speaks to the fact that we can’t always control who we crush on. Chmakova’s illustrations accurately capture the myriad of emotions experienced by these relatable characters. Olivia, Garrett, and Jorge are quite a trio. Favorite quote from Olivia, “I mean, loyalty! Look it up! And get you some!” Love it.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

E ARC from Edelweiss Plus

Jorge struggles with his role in the school. He is an athlete, but doesn't much care for the way the other members of his team act. He has a huge crush on Jazmine, and asks her to the big athletic ball, but struggles with how to talk to her on a daily basis. There's lots of boy/girl drama at school, with people breaking up and getting back together, and Jorge doesn't want to be part of that. He enjoys working with the newspaper on the sports beat, and has a good friend in Liv, who helps him understand a bit about Jazmine. There are lots of current social topics discussed in this book. Coach Rashad delivers perhaps the first "body autonomy" speech in middle grade literature-- students are warned that no one is allowed to touch them without their permission, and that a teacher should be contacted if someone does. Of course, some of the boys think this is funny, but they are swiftly put in their place. There is also some cyber bullying, when Garrett doesn't log out of Jorge's account before getting involved in group chat and says mean things about Jazmine. The dance goes well, and Jorge and Jazmine continue their tenuous romance.
Strengths: This is definitely a much higher quality graphic novel series than many. The stories are substantial, the characters well developed, and the drawing very pleasant. The understanding of middle school social interactions and volatile romance is good. Jorge is a quiet, athletic character who struggles socially, and we don't have too many characters like that in middle grade literature.
Weaknesses: This is a bit on the preachy side on several topics, but students won't care.
What I really think: Definitely purchasing, and with any luck someone will lose the copy when it gets too worn out. Hope that a replacement will be available. Graphic novels frequently fall apart or are lost by students, and often can't be replaced!

Jorge Ruiz is a tall, big, tough middle schooler. Everything seems fine. He is on the baseball team; he has friends. Then he gets to middle school and things get confusing. As Jorge navigates through his first crush, he also has to face bullying, misogyny, and drama. All along Jorge stays true to himself.

Jorge's kind, compassionate, and loyal. As someone who looks intimidating, Jorge uses that to his advantage. He will break up fights or stop bullying. He does this so often that the other kids call him sheriff. He is just so likable that I loved watching Jorge navigate the sometimes rough waters of middle school. This book had a freshness about it. It is unusual to see a male main character who witnesses sexism and mild assault and stands up to it.

This is a timely book that will be very beneficial to middle schoolers. It shows you do not have to go along with the crowd. You don't have to do what the popular people do. You can be yourself and be liked and respected for it. And you can use that respect to teach others how to treat their fellow people.

I loved this book -- maybe even more than Chmakova's other two books in the "Awkward" series. Highly recommend!!

**I received an e-ARC from Netgalley**

Once again, Svetlana Chmakova has made a cute, inclusive, and most importantly, heartfelt graphic novel that I will be glad to talk up in the library. While Jorge was a clear champion of the people and a relatable protagonist, Chmakova still made sure that every character was fully fleshed out with clear motivations and personalities. I thought Awkward and Brave were good, but Crush has become my favorite of the three. With realistic middle & high school situations and teachable moments that weren't didactic, this was a winner.

I sped right through Crush and then proceeded to make sure that I had at least 2 copies pre-ordered for my library's collection, because while I love Awkward and Brave, Crush might just be slightly above those for me.
All of Chmakova's work has been incredibly popular in my library and I know that Crush will be as well, even though my tweens don't seem to be in love with love stories.

THIS IS THE CUTEST DANG THING I'VE READ IN A WHILE. Seriously, I'm in love with this graphic novel. I think it's the best one in the series yet! I love Jorge! (He's my favorite character!) I love how independent and strong the girls are in this book! I also love how the the various dilemmas and problems in this book were resolved in the end. I cannot wait to buy this when it comes out!