Reviews

Curveball by Pablo Cartaya

lukewhenderson's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

lkstrohecker's review against another edition

lighthearted fast-paced

juanitamfm's review against another edition

funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Thank you NetGalley and Disney Hyperion for an advanced copy of Curveball by Pablo Cartaya. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and I'm sure my students will too! Pablo Cartaya does a great job again of showing a complex relationship between middle grade kids and their mothers. This book has lots of diversity of characters and it does a good job of showing a character overcome obstacles. 
The main character, Elena is super managed by her mom who only wants her to play baseball (which was her dream for herself). When Elena finally gets a break from baseball she sees that she hasn't had time to make friends and she has no imagination. With the help of her younger brother, LARPing and his friends she is able to grow a lot, even to the point of finally letting her mom know how she feels about baseball. It's a fun read.

nightwing's review against another edition

3.25

Thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwide and NetGalley for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book was fine--the art was very solid and cartoony. I wish the mom's design didn't look exactly like the main character, but still. It brings a lot of different themes and tackles half of them. I wasn't really a fan of the main character or her rather obnoxious brother so it made it harder to read. 

moholub's review

3.0

Curveball is a short and sweet middle grade graphic novel that focuses on imaginative exploration vs strict rule following--in this case, under the guise of a star baseball player learning to enjoy live action roleplaying. Elena is a preteen focused on breaking barriers as the first girl to play on the high school varsity baseball team. Baseball is her entire life for better or for worse, until a minor injury gives her a chance to remember what it's like to have fun and play for the sake of playing. The premise for this one hooked me right away, but my initial intrigue hit a wall of stiff dialogue and underdeveloped relationships. While for me, the character development fell flat and the plot was too thin, Miguel Diaz Rivas art was enough to keep me going.

mrsclarkcatlady's review

adventurous hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

rikkir77's review

lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.0

glindathegolden's review

3.0

Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an ARC of this title

This story was very relatable. I enjoyed the concept and the LARP was so well explained. I think many people can relate to both the MC as well as the other characters at some point in there life