Marcus and Izzy have found themselves in a tough spot. They did not perform their swing dance well in gym class, so they have to perform it again during the school's talent show for extra credit. Marcus finds himself stuck between Izzy and dancing and his friend Ted and soccer. Izzy just wants to be herself. 'Swing' does not shy away from the hard, complicated feelings that come for Marcus and Izzy as they navigate friendship, self confidence, and middle school. This book is well-rounded and deserves a spot on every library's shelf.

Swing by Audrey Meeker is a beautifully crafted story that captures the essence of youthful love and the complexities of growing up. I was drawn in by the rich characters and their emotional journeys, which felt both authentic and relatable. The way Meeker weaves themes of friendship, self-discovery, and the power of music made this book a truly enjoyable read that I couldn’t put down!

I only enjoy contemporary middle grades when they are unique, or fun, or in graphic novel edition. This one is all three!
At the beginning it felt full of cliches: the boy who is almost bullied into playing soccer, the girl who has changed style over the summer, the bully who pretends to be a friend and makes fun of everyone… but the PE teacher suggesting dance in the first few pages is what kept me hooked!

Middle school is tough; its a time when kids are trying to figure out who they are and who everyone around them thinks they should be. Marcus doesn't want to play soccer anymore, but his family and teammates expect him to give his all, just like his brother. Izzy wants to be herself - into drama and design, dressing in black, dying her hair, etc. But her mom has plans for her and expects nothing but the best. And her classmates label her the weird girl. When these two are thrown together for a school dance project, they just need to work together long enough to pass the class. Can they get past everyone else's expectations and see they have more in common than they thought?

To fit in, Marcus plays soccer with his rude friend Ted, even though he dislikes the sport. However, when he is paired with Izzy—a girl known for her bold fashion choices—for a gym assignment on dance, their lack of trust leads them to fail the assignment completely. To pass gym class, they must perform their dance routine during the talent show. Throughout this experience, Marcus learns the importance of being true to himself and discovering his passions.
I absolutely adored this book to the point that I couldn't put it down and finished it in a single sitting. The protagonist, Marcus, comes across as an everyday guy, yearning for genuine friendships and striving to blend in with the crowd. In stark contrast stands Izzy, who exudes boldness and is determined to make her mark. While Marcus's demeanor is quite unremarkable, Izzy’s personality is a whirlwind of energy, often bordering on being a control freak. Their opposing traits create a delightful tension that enriches the narrative.
However, I must admit I found Ted rather off-putting. His rudeness and air of superiority made it hard to warm up to him. On a brighter note, the artwork throughout the book bursts with vivid colors, perfectly mirroring the lighthearted tone of the story. Every page had me chuckling, leaving me in high spirits.
Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone in search of a charming and heartfelt friendship tale.

What a cute middle grade graphic novel! Izzy wants to stand out, while Marcus wants to blend in. When Izzy and Marcus are paired together in gym class, their clashing outlooks seem impossible to overcome. As the pair learns to work together, they also learn the value of friendship and spending their time on people and activities that they enjoy. I'll definitely be adding this to my classroom library!

Marcus plays soccer though he hates it; Izzy loves designing clothes and has decided that she doesn’t care if anyone likes what she wears or not.

The two are thrown together because they are not doing well in P.E., and to keep their grades up they must learn a swing dance, and do it for the talent show, and place. If they can do that, they can bring their grades back up.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC - my 12 year old really enjoyed this book!

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Audrey Meeker for the opportunity to read this e-ARC!

Marcus plays soccer in the shadow of his superstar athelete older brother. Izzy is a hard-working student under the pressure of her mom.

They get paired up in gym class on the first day of 8th grade to perform a swing dancing routine in the class, but when it goes horribly wrong, they need extra credit to boost their grade. Their new assignment: prepare a routine for the school talent show.

Marcus struggles with trying to please his parents and a relentless "friend" who doesn't really act like a friend should. Izzy struggles against the pressure from her mom who doesn't understand that she wants to be a fashion designer.

The two find each other at a time when they need support from outside influences and help each other stand up for what they need.

This was a quick read, but relatable with peer pressure and parent pressure that middle schoolers face. And I love that it introduces swing dancing!

"Swing" by Audrey Meeker is a great graphic novel featuring Marcus and Izzy who are paired to do swing dancing for a gym project. Navigating social pressures of middle school by either trying to fit in or stand out, this is an unlikely pairing. I really appreciated Audrey Meeker's writing and illustration. This book captures many aspects of middle school including trying to follow one's passions, pressure from sports, issues of bullies and dealing with family expectations. Although this book was tense at time, I enjoyed it and appreciated Meeker's message. Thanks to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC.

This was cute and fun! A story about the pressures that come from sports, school, family, and the struggle to fit in. I liked that both of the main characters stayed pretty awkward the whole time, they didn't just instantly get cool when they realized they could be friends.

Marcus is trying so hard not to disappoint anyone that he keeps disappointing himself. Izzy is his partner in dancing, but Marcus thinks he needs to do soccer more, and he can't do both. I loved how much he learned about himself and how much better it is to express his real personality. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this sweet and heartfelt teen graphic novel

This is a beautiful graphic novel, not only artistically but message wise. There is so much pressure as a teen trying to figure out where you fit. Trying to fulfill everyone expectations can be exhausting, especially when you are not doing things that fill you with joy. Sometimes though it feels like your joy has to take a back seat if you are going to make your parents or peers happy. I love that both Marcus and Izzy are both on their own journeys one to fit in and the other to stand out. I think that the progression of this story is perfection and one that will resonate with kids. That Marcus realizes that standing out is not always bad by the end of the book is just everything. So many times boys really get pigeon holed and Marcus breaks that mold and I appreciate that he does it with such grace. Thank you so much to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

This book was great! Believable characters- not too heavy- but a good portryal of middle school pressures. I will be adding this to my school library collection for sure!

Marcus doesn't want to disappoint anyone, even though that means he has to bear something he doesn't like. Izzy, on the other hand, is too confident with her bold fashion choice that her schoolmates bullied her until she has no friend left.
they met at the gym class and paired together to perform swing dance routine. it went disastrous. rough start, but there they friendship began.

i think it's a beautiful story, not an easy topic but delivered with such fun and heartwarming way. i loved it

Swing by Audrey Meeker has a lot of heart, tackling important topics like friendship, individuality, and challenging societal norms, especially around gender roles. The illustrations are charming, and the graphic novel format adds a fun, visual element that will likely resonate with its middle-grade audience.

Marcus and Izzy’s dynamic is the highlight of the story. Marcus, trying to fit in, contrasts well with Izzy, who embraces her uniqueness. Their journey of working together, especially with the twist of Izzy wanting to take the lead in their swing routine, feels fresh and encourages readers to think about expectations and stereotypes.

That said, the story sometimes felt rushed, particularly in the development of their friendship. While the concept is strong, I found myself wanting more depth in how their relationship evolved from reluctant partners to something more meaningful. Additionally, some of the secondary characters, like Ted, could have been fleshed out more to add layers to Marcus’ inner conflict.

Overall, Swing is a solid debut with a creative premise, though it could benefit from more character development and pacing. It’s a light and enjoyable read, especially for young readers interested in themes of self-expression and standing out.

Marcus wants to fit in so much that he’s still playing soccer and hanging out with his friend Ted, despite not liking either very much. Izzy wants to be a designer some day and takes pride in demonstrating her own style, but that means that she stands out, and not always in a good way. When Marcus and Izzy are paired up for a dance project in gym class, it is a disaster, so they have to perform in the school talent show as extra credit to save their grades and avoid taking gym all over again.
I had a hard time buying into this book because some of the plot points were so heavy handed, like a major gym project, the school talent show, and the rivalry soccer game all taking place in the first month of school, not to mention a make-or-break class project based on students teaching themselves how to dance. Also, some of the main characters were caricatures, like the bully Ted or the spineless Marcus, lacking nuance to make them truly compelling characters. Despite my complaints, it is a sweet story with a good message, and I expect students who are experiencing slightly more realistic versions of this story will enjoy it.

* reviewed from uncorrected eARC via netgalley

children's middlegrade graphic novel (ages 9-12 suggested by publisher) - 8th graders Marcus McCalister (who is definitey not as excited about soccer as his mom seems to be) and Izzy Briggs (not excited about taking the AP courses her mom wants her to sign up for, but excels in English and sewing/designing clothes) become reluctant dance partners for PE (despised by both kids).

Aw, this was so cute! It's not an easy path to friendship, but one that they can both be glad for at the end. It was sweet to be able to see kids be happy being themselves, even if other kids made fun of their bending gender norms. 😭🧡 💛 💚 💙

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this book!

This is such a cute graphic novel. I originally picked it up because it was about dancing and I used to dance. This graphic novel is so great because it shows that boys can dance and have fun too, not just girls. And it’s ok not to want to play sports. I really think that this graphic novel shows a good message for all young people.
There are also some other heavier topics at hand. The girl main characters mom is controlling of her daughter’s free time. The boy main character is feeling like he has to play soccer and be like his varsity star older brother, and deal with his annoying friend.
In the end, the true message is just be yourself and you will find happiness. Being yourself is more fun than being what others want you to be.

High school life kind of story that has bullying, being pressured to do or say stuff you don't mean. Doing something you don't enjoy because of pressure not only with your family but friends. This book covers a lot of things that teenagers can deal with while they are in high school. The story does have a happy ending where our main character grows as a person.

A wonderful message about being try to who you are. I enjoyed watching the story unfold and the main characters stand up for their interests. Students would enjoy this read and may find it relatable due to the bullying the characters experience. But their resilience and the support of friends encourages readers to do the same.