A cute graphic novel that shows the importance of being honest and working hard. Nansi's family and family friends help to teach these important lessons. Nansi is focused on buying the best running shoes in order to win the track tryouts, how are is she willing to go?

This graphic novel was a quick read and would be enjoyed by many middle-grade kids.

This is a good and funny middle-grade graphic novel, for me at least.
Nansi was so relatable. Childish, competitive, silly, and have a good heart at the same time.
I loved Nansi's supportive system. Her family and her friends were funny. They would tell Nansi if she did "bad" things but left it to Nansi to make decisions.
What I was struggling with when I read this book was the written accent when Nansi's grandma and Aunt Berry talked. I could understand the overall meaning of what they talked about, but still, it was kinda bothering my reading experience with this book. Especially when Nansi's grandma said something that was supposed to be important and meaningful.

Thank you to Carl Brundtland, Kids Can Press Publisher, and NetGalley for the copy.

Oh, this was a joy to read! Carl Brundtland and Claudia Dávila have done a wonderful job making this graphic novel! I love the plot, the characters and how it all comes together. The message of the story is not at all on the nose, and I love the chemistry and bond that all the characters share, the friends, family and the frenemies!

The art is so amazing, expressive, exaggerated perfectly where needed, it was a joy reading this graphic novel! I especially enjoyed and appreciated how anxiety is introduced in the story, its impact on Nansi and how her family and friends help her through it. This was a very

I hope we see more of Nansi and what adventures she gets up to, and what sort of troubles too! A wonderful story, well-fleshed characters, and beautiful art! And the title fits the story perfectly!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4/5⭐️

In the words of my 10 year old:

“I thought Way Off Track was pretty good. Some parts were a little hard for me to follow—especially when the mom and the aunt were talking. The way they spoke was written differently because of their background and culture, and as a kid, that made it a bit tricky to understand sometimes.

But I really liked the story about the girl and the race. At first, she thought the special shoes would make her faster, but then she learned that it’s not about the shoes—it’s about her own effort and believing in herself. I think that’s a really good message.

I’d give this book a 4 out of 5. Even though some parts were confusing, I still enjoyed it overall. I would recommend it for kids around 9 or 10 years old or older, depending on their reading level.”

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.