Lois Lane (yes, that Lois Lane) is preparing to spend a summer without her best friend. She has a big plan to make a viral video and go internet famous before her best friend Kristen leaves for sleep away camp. Kristen, however, isn't sure she wants to spend her last few days in town making a viral video - unfortunately when Lois sets her mind on something, nothing can stand in her way. Lois is focused on a big town barbecue, bike race, and firework display - the perfect backdrop for Lois' #friendshipchallenge video. When the fireworks go missing, Lois fixates on solving the mystery -- testing her friendship with Kristen in a way she couldn't imagine.

I thought the pacing of this book felt a little off and, as a character, Lois was a lot. But I work at a library where girls' graphic novels about friendship are VERY popular and I'm sure this book will find a good following.

I received an advanced copy of Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge through Netgalley, so I could share my review with you!

Lois Lane is a girl of many passions. Right now, she’s focusing on become the world’s greatest detective and viral video star. She hopes that she can accomplish both of these goals by filming herself solving a mystery, accompanied by her best friend, Kristen. Kristen isn’t excited by the prospect of going viral like Lois is, but Lois will need her help to complete the ultimate #friendshipchallenge video! How else will the world know just how great of friends they are? But as the big neighborhood barbecue approaches, things start to fall apart. Someone has stolen the fireworks, and without them there can be no celebration. It’s up to Kristen and Lois to solve the mystery and save the day, but how can they work together when their very friendship seems to be falling apart?

You can get your copy of Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge, by Grace Ellis on August 11th from DC Comics!

I’ve recently read quite a few wonderful DC middle grade titles, but I found myself rather disappointed by this one. I found the story to be a bit jumbled, as though there were too many plot lines fighting for space. I really enjoyed the art style and colorful illustrations, by Brittney Williams!

My Recommendation-
If you’ve got a younger reader in your house who loves mysteries and stories about confident young girls, you should definitely check out Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge! This book has an overall positive message and teaches good lessons about what it means to be a good friend.

DC's latest middle grade original graphic novel stars our favorite journalist-in-training, Lois Lane. Here, Lumberjanes co-creator Grace Ellis and Goldie Vance artist Brittney Williams create a tween Lois Lane who's all about creating a viral video for a #friendshipchallenge. The only thing is, she's kind of driving her best friend, Kristen, crazy with the challenge. Kristen is going to be going to sleepaway camp after the big neighborhood barbecue and bike race, and Lois is desperate to get her video make before Kristen leaves. But words gets out that the new bike store in town may be planning something shady for the bike race, and the fireworks planned for the barbecue go missing. Sounds like a mystery that the two best friends will have to solve - if they don't drive each other crazy first. Lois's intensity comes off as almost abrasive at first, but she's relatable as a kid who's single-mindedly focused on her task and upset at having to share her best friend - a best friend who is going away for the summer - with a new girl in town. Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge is a fun summer story.

A fun look at Lois Lane as a child and how her inquisitive nature can get her in trouble while also learning about the world.

What made Lois Lane become a reporter? This new middle grade graphic novel gives us a scenario where Lois discovers the value of investigative reporting. She and her best friend both want the best summer ever, but find their priorities are clashing. Lois is determined to when a social media challenge, but Kristen is looking for support in preparing for sleep-away camp. The graphic panels are colorful and filled with diverse characters. Unfortunately, Lois herself is abrasive and comes across as very immature. The cover is appealing, but the story inside is a bit lacking.

Thank you to NetGalley and DC Comics for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

I can't wait to hand this book to our graphic novel loving students! I think this is sure to be a new favorite. Middle school students will relate to Lois and Kristen's friendship struggles and triumphs, and the dynamic of adding a new friend to an existing friendship. Middle school students will also relate to the use of social media, hashtags, and social media challenges.

Based on the cover, alone, I thought I would enjoy this graphic novel. It gave me Baby-Sitters Club vibes. And I was excited to see a young Lois Lane. While young Lois reminded me a lot of Kristy Thomas with the whole bossy business, she also came off extremely annoying. I unfortunately just wanted the book to be over because of how she was acting. I do understand the book is aimed at Middle Grade, but I read MG graphic novels all the time. There may be some children and/or adults who enjoy it because they're DC fans. I hope that they find it and they do. It just wasn't for me.

Thank you DC Comics and Netgalley for providing me with a review copy l.

This graphic novel was straight up fun for me! I loved the illustrations which were bright and colorful and the the characters really seemed to jump off the page. Lois Lane had a bunch of energy and her friend Kristen had a great personality, too. I enjoyed seeing how they interacted throughout the story, including with the new girl. Ellis did such a good job capturing the unique personalities of each of these characters, especially Lois Lane.

I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the modernization of the storyline - Lois Lane's wish for creating a viral video with her friend Kristen -- but I think it worked really well & will appeal to young readers of right now. Ellis has successfully captured the changes and anxieties of friendships during that age & I again think that younger readers will relate to these feelings and this storyline.

Outside of the strong friendship themed storyline, Ellis also dropped in a small mystery for the friends to solve. It was an easily plotted mystery and did a good job of connecting Lois Lane to her soon-to-be future interest in journalism. I think fans of Lois Lane who have background knowledge of her character within the DC universe will connect these dots sooner than other readers, but overall I think this story was a fun way of showcasing how Lois Lane began an interest in journalism. Like I said above, I was hesitant about the modern twist to her background, but think it was pulled off really well & I'm satisfied with how it played out in the end.

Overall, this was a fun, fast-paced read that would be perfect for fans of <em>Smile </em>or <em>Roller Girl</em>. Also, what I found great about this graphic novel &amp; story was that you didn't have to be a fan of or know much about the DC universe / <em>Superman</em> to enjoy this story. Filled with mystery &amp; friendship, <em>Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge </em>is the perfect read for graphic novel fans &amp; reluctant readers! I hope to see more of this Lois Lane in this particular modern universe from Ellis &amp; DC. Definitely pick this up if you love mystery, friendship &amp; graphic novels!

Lois Lane and the Friendship Challenge was drawn really well but let's face it, Lois Lane is friendship challenged. She wasn't very nice. Not really appealing as a DC comic but my middle grade daughter liked it.

While I know this is a middle grade graphic novel, the events and characters came across a bit too childish for me to enjoy. Lois Lane is not a good friend, and I was a bit put off by her lack of listening to other people. I realize this is supposed to show Lois at a younger age, before she becomes the expert journalist the world knows, but she comes across as a pretty terrible and self-centered 13 year old and I never really feel like she "learns" her lesson in the end or becomes better or more informed for it.

As for the plot, it was cute, but a little random and... boring? I wasn't at all surprised about what was really going on, and the reveals at the end were expected. Again, I realize this is for a younger audience, but that doesn't mean it has to be too obvious.

The art style was fun, and I enjoyed the small references to the world. I'm a bit concerned by Batman being an adult and a known superhero/detective while Lois is only 13, so I'm not sure what's up with that. And the end with Izzy introducing herself as a "Kent" was weird as well. More explanation for the world would have been nice.

Some of the target audience will probably enjoy this story and Lois's enthusiasm for investigation, but I was left wanting more from the story and characters.

I was provided with an advanced copy of this graphic novel for the purpose of review from NetGalley.

I’ll start off with the positives. This book has a very cute and colorful art style that I really enjoyed. You can always count on DC to have talented artists, that’s a given. I think the art style fit well with the story and the age of the characters/audience because it was bright and bubbly. Also, I think this book teaches a valuable lesson about the importance of finding facts before you reach a conclusion rather than trying to confirm your own biases. That’s a theme I haven’t seen explored much in children’s media, but it’s a very good one to teach. Lois Lane as a character is also a good vehicle to deliver this message because of who she grows up to be.

There are also some negatives to this book. This’ll not be something that bothers everyone, but in my opinion I found Lois Lane to be very unlikeable in this. On a positive note I actually do think she’s behaving her age in this, which is kind of rare in media. However this means that she’s pretty selfish, inconsiderate, and mean to her friend. I think that you could have taught the lesson of “gather facts and do research before you reach a conclusion” without making Lois a jerk. She doesn’t have to bully a new girl in her town because she’s suspicious, she could have just suspected her and spoken with Ed and Henri about it. She would have still learned her lesson, but she would have been more of a sympathetic character to follow. It’s necessary for a main character to have flaws to teach a lesson and/or improve the story, but I think they could have achieved this differently. Parts of this book’s dialogue definitely felt like it was written by adults trying to interpret what 13 year olds. No child in 2020 says hashtag that much, even when hashtags were new and more popular. They also said the name of the off-brand YouTube platform “VidMe” a bit too much. This kind of plays into the idea that kids talk using social media lingo all the time, which is just not the case (source: I’m a teen). To nitpick even further on a technical issue, I read this using a digital copy and the text on page 90/138 had white lettering on light yellow bubbles and I could barely read it. It should have been black ink.

Overall, I still enjoyed this and I think it’s a cute book/story. I just have some problems with it that keep me from absolutely loving it.

I didn't think the author understood or captured who Lois Lane is. She's written in a really regressive way. I wonder if the author did more than read old Silver Age comics. I would recommend Gwenda Bond's Young Adult Lois Lane trilogy over this any day. Those books captured a Lois Lane who is tenacious and snarky but with kind heart.

Cute origin story of Lois Lane. Lois is ready to create the perfect viral video and become a social media celebrity this summer. Her best friend, Kristen, is too distracted and nervous about her first ever sleepaway camp to be excited about the #FriendshipChallenge, however, and tensions build between the two. But when fireworks go missing from their local bike shop, the two decide to solve the mystery together.

A funny read, though young Lois was a little overbearing at first. Definitely enjoying these new DC origin stories!

I really loved the overall plot and pacing of this book and definitely recommend it for middle grade classroom libraries!

Lois Lane wants the best summer ever with her best friend Kristen. Her plans are ruined when Kristen announces she's attending summer camp and a new girl Izzy barges into their friendship.

Fireworks go missing and Lois is sure that Izzy is the thief and has to prove it, she also needs to find a way to keep Kristen from summer camp.

Follow the adventures of Lois Lane in the Friendship Challenge.

I really enjoyed the panels. They really added to the story and made it easy for the reader to see what the characters were feeling. Fans of Lumberjanes will want to add this to the reading list. This would make a great addition to school and public libraries growing graphic novel collections.

A fun mystery filled with shenanigans and growing up. This was a fun read about a girl trying to solve a mystery, coping with her best friend leaving for summer camp, and delving into journalism for the first time. This was an interesting take on Lois Lane's childhood and first foray into journalism. I think this would make a great read for kids especially with the mystery and friendship within the story! This was a fun read and the art style was very cute!

This was a lovely way to introduce Lois Lane to a younger audience. She still has the spunk that older Lois Lane came with and it is great way to talk to kids about the good part of friendship and the not so fun parts.

Lois Lane, to me, is the hero for little girls to look up to. A strong, independent journalist, with strong skills in sleuthing. And, I suppose she had to start somewhere, but this story, of where she started being interested in journalism just felt off to me. There was nothing of the future Lois here, nothing at all. Yes, she was forceful, but in a very, very annoying way. This took me a while to read it, I kept starting and stopping, because I didn't like this version of Lois as a young girl, and I was bored with it, frankly.

The basic story is the Lois wants to win a contest, and her best friend just want to hang out with her, and solve mysteries. There are also a few other people thrown in for good measure, but Lois misunderstands everything, and is super annoying.

When the writers wrote about young Wonder Woman, that was a growing story, and she was generally good at heart, and you could see the woman she would grow up into. In this, I didn't. Added to this, that Lois was annoying, did I mention how annoying she was, and I didn't want to finish reading this, even to figure out who the villain, so to speak was.

So, unless you are a completeist, on this young versions of future comic characters, I would pass on this one.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Omg this story was so cute! I loved reading a young version of Lois Lane. She was adorable. I loved the story and how the incorporated the possiblity of how she became a journalist.

I was so looking forward to a graphic novel about Lois Lane. My expectations were, perhaps, a bit high. I wish Lois wasn't as mean-spirited and sneaky as portrayed. The ultimate message of friendship was there but was too clothed in the negative to be fully recognized. It was entertaining to see references to Batman and the artwork was well-done.