Magoon, Kekla. Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem. Molly Murakami, Illus. Addl. Creator Cynthia Leitich Smith. The Blue Stars. Candlewick, 03/2024. 176pp. Graphic. Trade $22.99. 978-1-5362-0499-5. Paper $12.99. 978-1-5362-2866-3. GRADES 3–6. OUTSTANDING.
In this first book of a new graphic novel series, cousins Riley and Maya haven’t seen each other since they were three, and now they’re sharing a room in their grandma’s house in the fictional town of Urbanopolis. The girls are very different, but as they start middle school, they realize they have a common enemy. Vice Principal Balderdash plans on slashing the budgets for athletics, arts, and STEM so that he can invest in portables to be used as school detention centers. Now they need to team up as superheroes to thwart his evil plan. The girls are both mixed race and have backstories that include living on Native American lands (Riley) and abroad as a blue star military family (Maya). Riley’s dad is Black and her mom is Native American; Maya’s mom is white and her dad is Black. Their grandmother is Black. Other characters in the book are drawn with a variety of skin tones and hairstyles.
Rachael Reiley—Hillcrest Elementary K–8 / Oakland Unified School District