We love an age appropriate middle-grade story! My only issue with this is unless you’ve got a Caribbean family or are really good at putting on accents the text block with Grandma’s speaking (while I enjoyed it) could be really challenging for younger readers to decipher. Outside of that I really think this is a great addition to a classroom or school library from a graphic novel perspective. Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

This was a short and sweet story about a young teen wanting to be the best at something but stumbling on how to. Namsi makes mistakes throughout the book trying and failing to be better than her competitor, Tania. I hadn’t known about the “African Trickster” character of myth before reading this book, but I understand now how it was weaved through the story and it lends a lot to it.

While reading, I was at times frustrated at how Namsi kept missing the point at every turn, but I think this is a very realistic portrayal of how children “live and learn.” To gain wisdom, you have to fall down, get back up, and maybe try a different way. Namsi falls down a lot, but with the help of her community she’s able to realize how important the internal work is. She learns that you have to put in what you want to get out, not through magic remedies like a new pair of sneaker, a cloning device or a get rich quick scheme, but through hard work.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved how Nansi’s Jamaican identity was woven naturally throughout the story, it never felt forced or awkward. The overall composition of the illustrations and text was also a highlight. As a reader, my eye moved smoothly from panel to panel, which isn’t always the case with graphic novels. I never felt confused about what to read next.

What I appreciated most were the deeper messages at the heart of the story. Beneath the fun and relatable surface, there are meaningful lessons about doing things with integrity, something valuable for readers of all ages.

Nansi’s relationship with her siblings and grandma was another standout. The family dynamics felt raw, authentic, and refreshing to read.

Overall, this book was both entertaining and thoughtful. It had some real gems, and I’d recommend it to young readers and those who are young at heart.

Nansi is a 7th grader who loves to run. In fact, her grandma says she has taken off running since the moment she was able to walk. Nansi’s dream is to be an Olympics gold medalist one day. For now, her focus is on the upcoming middle school track team meet. She is confident that she will be fastest, leaving the other runners in the dust and a trail of flames in her wake. In fact, she is so confident that she doesn’t practice, eats too much of her grandma’s delicious food plus some junk food, stays up late texting and reading, resulting in not having enough sleep. Next thing you know, she doesn’t end up being the fastest during the track team’s 200-meter race. It’s Tania, her nemesis! Tania claims it’s due to the fancy new running Endorphics fly shoes. Nansi is convinced if she can get those exact same fly shoes, she will be the best and outrun Tania. The trouble is that the shoes cost only a mere $340!! How in the world is Nansi going to be able to afford those shoes? She knows no amount of drastic pleading and begging from her parents will convince them to spend that amount of money for shoes. She must get a job!

I absolutely love the theme of girls who are strong in sports particularly from a male author. It does set an empowering precedent. The story is strong and positive, nothing too outrageously mean-girlish. The illustrations are wonderful! I absolutely love how some of the full scenes on the page are divided into 2 or more panels. The facial expressions are spot on. One thing I do dislike about particular comics and graphic novels is the extraordinary amount of detail. In this book, the illustrations are simple but not childlike – the illustrations convey the thought or moment with precision. Colors are bright and beautiful. The font was easy on the eyes.

This is a winner of a debut graphic novel. I would love to see more, either Nansi in a continuing series (which is a possibility due to the verbiage on the last page – no spoilers!) or another graphic novel by the author and illustrator duo.

I loved the Jamaican representation in this book, and the characters were great! This is a perfect middle grade graphic novel and I loved the illustration styles

The graphics in this novel were pretty well done. Very colourful. The story was just okay for me. It was easy to read and I finished it quickly. I would recommend to teens. It has a really great message.

"A clear heart and mind makes you lighter than any shoe can." That line hits home—and captures the spirit of this energetic, heartfelt debut.

Way Off Track gets so much right. The title is clever, the story engaging, and the themes hit that perfect sweet spot: relatable to middle-grade readers and adults. At its core, this graphic novel explores how pride, distractions, and shortcuts can derail us—and how real growth comes from owning up and putting in the work. There’s humor, heart, and a whole lot of running, but what lingers is how the story tackles responsibility in a way that’s honest and accessible.

One standout detail is the authentic voice throughout the book. The Jamaican dialect woven into Grandma’s dialogue adds richness and flavor. That said, including an English translation outside the dialogue box—like the technique used in Love Languages—could make the text more inclusive for younger or unfamiliar readers.

The artwork is vibrant, the pacing sharp, and the emotional beats land with sincerity. Without giving too much away, the story’s turning point delivers a satisfying message: sometimes what holds us back isn’t what we lack—but what we carry inside.

Perfect for fans of sporty slice-of-life stories with a strong, flawed, but lovable heroine. This one goes the distance.

“Way Off Track” follows the story of Nansi, a 7th grader who dreams of becoming a runner. After losing a race, she convinces herself that her failure stems from not having the right shoes and sets off on a questionable plan to get them.

Nansi came across as unlikeable and selfish for much of the story. However, the character did grow by the end.

The art style was alright, though nothing particularly standout.

Overall, this was an okay read and worth checking out if you're into middle grade stories about sports.

Actual rating 3.5 stars

A modern take on the classic African trickster story.

Way Off Track weaves culture seamlessly in a story of Nansi vying for the best sneakers on the market in order to be the fastest runner in the world. Readers will relate to Nansi who is funny, inventive, and competitive. But she is not without faults and through some hard truths, she learns that she can truly succeed if she works hard for her dreams.

This was a fantastic graphic novel, and a great opportunity for my daughter to try a new book in exchange for a review.

Way Off Track is a super cute graphic novel that is really relatable, even though it is a middle-grade based. Nansi reminds us that even if we have enough confidence carry us through, there will be times when we're put into a tough situation. And those situations need help from not only our friends but also our families to help us get through. There's a lesson learned in every step.

I used to run track in school, and there was never anything I could relate to, so I'm happy there is now.

Nansi and Tania are competing to be the fastest on the track. Nansi wants the newest running shoes to up her game. But with a $350 price tag it’s beyond her reach.
Subterfuge, practice and some hard learned lessons lead to an epic track meet. Kids who love the Ghost Series by Reynolds will love this book. I know my track star loved it. Loved the Black representation, but had a hard time understanding what the grandmother was saying.
My thanks to Kids Can Press for a digital ARC. All thoughts my own.

Not particularly to my tastes, but I can absolutely imagine readers who would love this. Suitable for both young people and adult English learners

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC. I wasn't a big fan of the art and I thought that the way that the kids were talking didn't sound natural. I could tell what the author was doing and the plot was pretty straightforward, making the topic and book easily digestible for readers.

Overall, a great graphic novel that I think upper elementary and middle school students will enjoy. It had a good message, and there was some great character growth for Nansi. This is a really cool take on the African trickster story, and there was lots of culture included in many different ways.
My main qualm with this is that while I appreciated the attempt for writing out grandma Junie's accent, it was hard to decipher, and I think it will be an obstacle for some readers. I thought the illustrations were well done, the text was all readable, and overall this is a great middle-grade graphic novel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Nansi is a track star and trickster. She's got raw talent, but even naturals need training. When she doesn't win a race, it's not her lack of preparation she thinks needs changing, but her shoes. The winning runner had $$$ shoes that Nansi MUST have. It's the only way she'll win for sure. She'll do anything to get them, even some trickery. When that leads to problems, Nansi has to learn that it's not the shoes that make a runner.

I found this middle-grade graphic novel to be a fun and humorous read. I especially liked how the dialogue was written to reflect realistic Jamaican dialect and the use of more cartoonish illustrations to represent thoughts and dreams.

A great book for competitive kids. Nansi is a teenage who runs track and is very good at it and very competitive! But once another girl beats her in a race she's sure it's because of her expensive shoes, not because she was so sure of herself she skipped training.

As a kid I love reading and I loved sports competitions but never found any books about it so this was an amazing find and would be a great add to a school library. The drawings are nice and I particularly liked the little cute comic style that appeared when Nansi was dreaming or daydreaming.

The grandma and her friend speak a different language/dialect (Jamaican?) and it isn't translated so some readers like me will miss some of the discussions. The font is easily readable for me reading on a tablet. The pictures on my copy were pixellated behind the vector text but I imagine it's because it's an advanced reader copy and not a final edition.

Way Off Track by Carl Brundtland and Claudia Dávila is about Nansi, a seventh-grade girl of Jamaican descent who loves track. When she starts underperforming, she decides the new shoes her main competitor has are her way to get back on track.

This story was hilariously amazing. I loved Nansi’s relationship and interactions with her family and friends, specifically her relationship with her siblings were very relatable to me. I also loved how different real-life elements were conveyed very realistically. The mean girls in the graphic novel sounded exactly how I found them in middle school, not like they’re usually over dramatically represented in the media. I also enjoyed how realistic everyone's talking was, slang never felt forced or out of place. I loved the different approaches used to convey the story as well. Specifically, I liked the use of chibi-style art when recounting a story or when we see her dreaming. I also liked how the grandma’s accent was specifically written out, it’s not something I’ve seen in a book before but it's good and needed representation.

This book was a lovely surprise and super fun to read, and I can’t wait to see what else Nansi gets up to in her track and middle school career!

Although the story has merit and there are a number of good moments in the book, overall, it fell a bit flat which is why I wasn't able to bump it up to a 4 star graphic novel read. The illustrations are nice, although there was something a little off proportion wise throughout. But my main reason for not liking this is because Nansi was unlikeable. She wants to be the fastest in school, having been the fastest before, but doesn't really want to work hard to improve or even practice. She fixates on the shoes as a way to improve her time and beat her rival, and this drives her for most of the book. She ignores the advice of those around her and takes advantage of her grandmother's friend who gives her a job, and somehow it all works out. Sure, she gets some punishment, but it feels almost like a slap on the wrist for deceiving everyone. I get that they knew something was up, but it still feels so wrong. As does the fact that her brother seems to be forgiven for his part in the deception. Add to that the way that she treats her friends and her family, and I had a really hard time rooting for her to succeed. And I'm not sure that the lessons she learns will resonate because she doesn't seem to get that she did a lot wrong.

That being said, there is a story here, and the way that some of the cultural elements are incorporated into the graphic novel and the story are interesting and fun. I liked the grandmother's accent, although it was definitely a challenge to read as it was presented phonetically.

All in all, this was entertaining. Not sure I would pick up the next book in the series, but maybe it will get stronger as the authors hit their stride (pun intended).

The importance of hard work and humility gets well-depicted in this short weekend charm of a read. Fantastic artwork all around as well.