School Library Journal Review
Gr 5 Up--The sequel to the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Go with the Flow begins where the previous volume left off. A series of wordless panels show pad and tampon dispensers being placed throughout the women's bathrooms at school, thanks to the efforts of Abby, Christine, Brit, and Sasha. Abby hopes to make these necessities available at a wider level, working with the principal and the school's Unicorn Club so they can also be installed in the men's rooms. Brit is home recovering from her endometriosis surgery, and once back at school, has two very different classmates interested in being her boyfriend. Sasha is learning to balance schoolwork and having a boyfriend, and Christine struggles with telling Abby that she likes her more than a friend. The art is colorful, bright, and eye-catching; characters reflect a variety of racial and body diversity. As with the first book, this is an engaging, realistic, positive, and inclusive slice-of-life story about navigating high school, friendship, and crushes. Pair with Cathy G. Johnson's The Breakaways and the "Lumberjanes" series. VERDICT A standout graphic novel that should be in every library.--Marissa Lieberman
Publisher's Weekly Review
Collaborators Williams and Schneemann return to Hazelton High, where besties Abby, Brit, Christine, and Sasha, the protagonists from Go with the Flow, encounter myriad challenges as they navigate their junior year. Abby advocates to expand menstrual product access in all bathrooms because "trans, genderqueer, and nonbinary students all deserve to feel included"; Brit finds herself caught in a Darcy-and-Wickham-type love triangle with peers from her AP English class; Christine fears coming out as queer to Abby, whom she's been crushing on; and Sasha struggles to balance her new relationship and increased schoolwork. Via the tweens' nuanced dialogue, Williams crafts explicitly trust-filled friendships in which the girls meet each other's anxieties and blunders with actionable solutions and gentle but firm suggestions for accountability without judgment. Schneemann's character-focused illustrations deepen the intricacies of the friends' conversations by zeroing in on facial expressions and body language; reds and pinks effectively denote each figure's feelings of frustration, fear, and joy during critical emotional moments. Back matter includes an authors' note that reaffirms the creators' commitment to reducing period stigma no matter one's gender identity, and to "leaving the world a kinder and gentler place… by being good to the people around us." Ages 10--14. (Oct.) ■
Kirkus Review
Four friends grapple with everyday challenges. For Hazelton High juniors Sasha, Christine, Abby, and Brit, the new school year brings new trials. Sasha struggles to balance her love life and academic aspirations. Scholastically minded Brit finds herself in a love triangle between a good-hearted grump and a handsome playboy. Abby feels anxiety about her once-popular blog and putting a label on her sexual orientation when confusing new feelings emerge. Christine fears coming out to Abby (although she is out to Brit and Sasha), on whom she's harbored a long and tortuous crush that she worries will destroy their friendship. The girls navigate timely and important issues like establishing and communicating boundaries, defining one's sexual orientation, righting miscommunications, and (staying in the vein of its predecessor, 2020's Go With the Flow) menstrual equity. Williams and Schneemann's warm and engaging graphic novel is a welcome return to this world, with vibrant art; short, episodic chapters; fast pacing; and the right blend of tension and sweetness. The group's dynamics and communication skills as they work through their issues are commendable, modeling openness and honesty and leaving aside cattiness and drama. The main cast is diverse and inclusive, showing a range of skin tones, body sizes, and sexual orientations. A warm hug of a tale. (authors' note) (Graphic fiction. 11-16) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Schneemann and Williams reunite Sasha, Brit, Christine, and Abby in this endearing sequel to the Eisner-nominated graphic novel Go with the Flow (2020). After sparking a period revolution at Hazelton High, the four friends face new challenges: endometriosis, junior year, overwhelming crushes, and more. With Brit caught between two polar-opposite boys and Christine's feelings for Abby bubbling up, will their friendship help them endure eleventh grade? Veering from the monochromatic crimson of Go with the Flow, this sequel bursts with movement, featuring bold outlines and colored--pencil shading. Williams' art style adds a gritty, realistic touch to the characters. The story follows a familiar trope, in which four friends navigate distinct life lessons, coming together to support one another's growth. The authors leverage this familiarity, including references to the 2005 film adaptation of "Pride and Prejudice," to create a relatable and charming bond between readers and the characters. This Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants--esque story will have readers laughing and cheering for Sasha, Brit, Christine, and Abby.
