This is a Middle Grade Graphic Novel, and this is the first book in the Nansi series. I found the pictures so cute. I have a teenage daughter that runs track and cross country, and this book made me think about her. I found this book to be cute and fun to read. Yes, track shoes can be so pricey. I have got my daughter shoes that were pricey for her birthday. I think this book can teach kids a great messages. I did feel some parts moved slow and kept going over the same things, so I got bored in parts. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.

The main character in this story knows she’s fast—she’s won every race she’s ever participated in... until one day, she loses. Unprepared for the race, she’s beaten by another girl at school, and instead of accepting it, she becomes obsessed—with the other girl’s shoes. She convinces herself that the shoes were the reason she lost, even though deep down she knows that’s not true.

Determined to get a pair for herself, she gets a job, but along the way starts making some questionable decisions. Through her journey, she learns a valuable lesson about effort, self-worth, and what really makes someone “fast.”

The art style fits the tone of the story perfectly, and I really loved the message this book shares. It’s a great read for kids and teens learning to deal with competition and setbacks.

Light-hearted young graphic novel where a girl is determined to beat the posh little madam from school in the 200m trials – but seems to come up against a faster girl. What's more, the posh little madam is a faster girl with newer trainers – and our heroine must manage somehow to raise the funds for a pair of her own. For sheer hard work and natural talent won't get her to the winning position, right?

In this there is a clear element of what she does to get race-ready that means she is actually handicapping herself in the process, so there is a moral side to things. But generally this is lighter and quite frothy – two bessies are there for fake mind reading and Greek chorus purposes respectively, and the whole thing does have a habit of breaking out into Jamaican patois. I can see this being appreciated by fans of running track – the earlier scene of the world's worst meet prep will be very recognisable – but this won't set the world alight. It's perfectly decent, but no more – three and a half stars. For one, why would they only stick to the one distance?

This is a really cute middle grades graphic novel with a protagonist that many students will relate to. Nansi is determined, and she can get a little overly-focused on her goals (but not always the best planner). She has wonderful friends, and a really lovely relationship with her family. Perfect for 4th-7th graders!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Nansi is such a fun character. I love how competitive she is and that she learned that you have to work hard to continue to be great. I’m looking forward to more adventures with her.

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. A great new graphic novel for kids with characters of color who are figuring out life in middle school and how to come out on top.

Way Off Track gives the reader giggles, and most to reflect upon. How important is it to honor your word and be honest? Is it more important to do something you want or honor your word?

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.