Freestyle

Reach for this book when your child is struggling to balance their extracurricular passions with school responsibilities, or if they are feeling the sting of academic embarrassment. It is a perfect choice for the student who feels like their hobbies are their whole identity and fears that needing a tutor makes them uncool. The story follows Cory, a dedicated dancer whose grades are slipping, leading his parents to hire Sunna, a perceived nerd, to help him with geometry. Through vibrant and energetic graphic novel illustrations, the story explores themes of hidden talents, the complexity of middle school friendships, and the courage it takes to be honest about one's needs. It is highly appropriate for ages 8 to 12, offering a grounded and modern look at how children navigate peer pressure and parental expectations. Parents will appreciate how it models the dismantling of stereotypes and emphasizes that competence in one area, like math, doesn't negate coolness in another, like yo-yoing or dance.