Jessixa Bagley and Aaron Bagley, the team behind the award-winning Duel, return with Dear Jackie, a standalone middle-grade graphic novel that tackles the awkward transition into sixth grade. Jackie and Milo have been inseparable since birth, bonding over comic books and treehouse missions, but starting a new school threatens to pull them apart. While Milo drifts toward the soccer team, Jackie falls in with Adelle, a trendy classmate who pressures her to ditch her old self for a more stereotypical “girl” image. Desperate to reclaim some control and fend off the teasing, Jackie types an anonymous love letter to herself, only to have the plan backfire when the whole school becomes obsessed with her mysterious admirer. Amidst the drama, she relies on her nonbinary older sibling, Jabari, to help sort through the confusing mess of gender expectations and shifting friendships.
For educators supporting English learners or students intimidated by dense text, this book is a strong candidate for your shelves. Kirkus praised the story for its “heartfelt look at growing up,” and the format makes those themes laden with angst accessible. The text relies largely on simple and compound sentences, avoiding the complex idioms that often trip up non-native speakers. A distinct feature is the use of typewritten narration boxes to show Jackie’s internal monologue; this visual cue helps readers distinguish between what a character thinks and what they say aloud, clarifying emotional subtext without needing advanced vocabulary. The full-color panels carry the weight of the narrative pacing, allowing visual learners to follow the emotional arc even if they miss specific words. By balancing mature topics like body image and self-acceptance with straightforward language and engaging art, the Bagleys have created a resource that respects a middle schooler’s maturity while accommodating their reading level.
