Reviews

Bounce Back by Misako Rocks!

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xavierdm's review against another edition

lighthearted relaxing sad medium-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

It's been a bit since I've read this, but I remember it's amazing. I'm currently reading the sequel, There's no such thing as perfect, and so far, it's just as good. I can't say too well about what stands out, I think it's just how the story flows so well, especially with

the cat, Nicco, magically having the ability to speak by a guardian angel. It gives that cool twist in the story telling you, this isn't realistic fiction.

Overall, good book.

bickie's review against another edition

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4.0

Adorable manga-type (reads left-to-right like English) graphic novel. At the beginning, there is a lot of Japanese in the background, but communication among characters is just written in English, with no delineation between translated-for-reader and actually characters speaking English.

Lilico is the captain of a girls' basketball team in Osaka that has its sights on winning the championship when her parents tell her the family is moving to New York City for an important opportunity. She doesn't want to go and doesn't want to leave her friends.

Lilico's first few days at school are rough, mostly due to a mean girl named Sadie (depicted with brown skin) who also happens to be the captain of the girls' basketball team. Lilico tries to join the team but is thwarted. Japan-philes Nala (depicted with brown skin and wearing a variety of anime-looking wigs of various colors; also shown with a bonnet one night) and Henry (depicted with white skin and ginger hair, presumably natural) befriend Lilico. While they develop a great friendship, Lilico really misses playing basketball. Noah, a popular white boy on the boys' basketball team notices Lilico's skills and suggests some one-on-one practices.

As Lilico develops relationships outside of her original two friends, she learns lessons about what being a friend is all about. She also finds a way to become the leader that she was in Japan

Spoiler

among her new teammates

.

Diverse student body in middle school. One pretty chaste kiss on the lips between two characters.

NOTE: Not knowing anything about Dragon Ball Z, I found it jarring when Nala and Henry greeted each other with "Kamehameha!" I wondered whether they were aware that it is the name of the Hawaiian king who united the islands in the late 18th century. I wish the author had chosen a different catch phrase for them.

neffcannon's review against another edition

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lighthearted 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? No

3.5

ashleyreadsanything's review

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emotional funny lighthearted relaxing slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

kelleemoye's review against another edition

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4.0

This is graphic novel was one of Trent’s favorite recent reads, and I can see why–it is a slice of life middle school story about remembering your passion, finding true friends in a new situation, and adapting through change. Oh, plus basketball and a talking cat!

droar's review against another edition

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3.0

This one's a swing and a miss for me. I like that it's relatively basketball focused and has a Japanese girl for a protagonist, but the plot and mood ricochet wildly (I know teens do that too, but this didn't feel intentional rather underdeveloped). I do think the art is super cute and that the youngling teens will really enjoy reading it, it's just a little too long and a little too drama llama for me to enjoy.