Svetlana Chmakova

Following the overwhelming success of AWKWARD and BRAVE, Svetlana Chmakova's award winning Berrybrook Middle School series continues with its next installment - CRUSH! Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?

Crush

Sarah Sammis

Crush by Svetlana Chmakova is the third in the Berrybrook Middle School series. This time it focuses on Jorge the biggest kid in school with a reputation for being scary. In reality he's shy and he tries to keep the real bullies at bay by intervening. And then he gets a crush on a girl who is already in a relationship.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2020/comm...

Maggie Gordon

I really love Chmakova's series of middle school graphic novels. The art is ridiculously cute, and the stories have some really good lessons for the younger crowd. I think it could have been stronger on the didactic aspects this time round, but an enjoyable and useful read nevertheless.

Ken Yuen

Loved it. What a great cast of characters. The character designs are so cute, and there's a good chunk of representation.

Some same stay the same, there's still jerks, victims, jocks, nerds, but there's a modern day twist on the old formula. We've got Zeke who's a "nice guy" jerk. I like that the protagonist is a big jock-type, but also strong and silent because of his insecurities. His friend Garrett goes on a real character journey.

I also like the new moral future, with a greater emphasis on respect and boundaries. A lot of great stuff that kids are learning now that I wish they taught when I was growing up. Like Internet etiquette and so on. Anyway, thought the whole thing was very fun.

Nadine 

This is probably the best of the 3 books - it is so spot on about young teen relationships and crushes and the dynamics of popularity and pecking order.
The protagonist Jorge is a sweetheart with all the right values.
Some excellent exposition on gender, consent etc. as well done very sensitively without being preachy. 
Absolute winner.

Yoomi

I don’t know how she can make the awkward years of middle school look so cute but still so real and relatable. Her characters are diverse but not stereotypical. I hated junior high in real life but I love living in these stories.

Crush

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