Jo lives in a trailer park with her grandmother, her main entertainment an old anime show called Magic Cat. Just as Magic Cat makes a difficult journey, Jo is embarked on an equally hazardous quest - trying to survive middle school, and the bullies and mean kids who taunt and harass her. When she follows a one-eyed cat through the woods, she discovers the cat is mothering a whole group of kittens in a junk yard - and she also discovers Rus. He's a high school kid who loves his family, friends, and home, but has dreams of traveling farther. With the friendship and support of Rus, his friends and family, and her own efforts, Jo finds a community and the determination to weather whatever life throws at her, even if it means saying goodbye to Rus as he moves on.
The ending is abrupt and definitely on the wish-fulfillment side, as Rus finds a buried cache of money that will enable him to attend college, but readers will be so invested in this loving community that they can't but cheer as he reaches his dreams. I can't think of any other graphic novel (or middle grade novel really) that portrays a genuine and supportive friendship between a high schooler and middle schooler, and this was really sweet. Rus has been where Jo is - he still gets harassed for being Puerto Rican, for living and working in a junkyard, but he's built his own supportive family and community and generously shares these with Jo, while encouraging her to build her own support network, which she finds by joining the school band.
The art is primarily earth colors and shows a diverse cast with a variety of skin tones, genders, and heights, although all are the same slim body type.
Verdict: This is a refreshing story, depicting a genuine friendship and community that will comfort readers going through their own challenges and difficulties.
ISBN: 9781684156108; Published February 2021 by Kaboom!; Borrowed from another library in my consortium
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