Frizzy

By Claribel A. Ortega

Book Overview

New York Times-bestselling author Claribel A. Ortega and star debut artist Rose Bousamra's Frizzy is about Marlene, a young Dominican girl whose greatest enemy is the hair salon Through her struggles and triumphs, this heartwarming graphic novel shows the radical power of accepting yourself as you are, frizzy curls and all.

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool T a Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair".

But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby--she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

Also available in Spanish under the title Rizos.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1250259622
• ISBN13: 9781250259622
• Release Date: October 2022
• Publisher: First Second
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 1.06 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.4"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

I love it so much 😍

I love the concept love you're hair and you're body such good graphic novel highly recommended 😍

Fantastic important graphic novel

Frizzy follows Marlene, a middle schooler of Dominican heritage who has curly hair from the Black side of her family. Every week, her mother hauls her to the salon to have her hair straightened so that she can have "good hair" and "look presentable". She loathes the salon visits and feels that she can't look like herself. Marlene is tormented by her family over her hair and compared to relatives who have "good", straight hair. The kids at school bully her about her frizzy hair. With the help of her friend Camilla and her Tia Ruby, Marlene learns to care for her hair and to tell her mother how much she hates the salon and being made to feel ugly and unacceptable. The reason for the value Marlene's family places on straight hair is explained by Tia Ruby as the internalization of society's anti-Blackness. It is so important that we all understand from an early age how racism has affected beauty standards. I loved reading about Marlene's brave journey to self-acceptance and self-advocacy, Tia Ruby's wisdom, and their big, complicated family. The illustrations convey Marlene's struggle so perfectly. Frizzy is about hair, but so much more than hair. It's a fantastic book.

Fun Read

I truly loved this graphic novel. This is a young middle grade book that focuses on a subject that’s very important for this audience and that is body image. The idea of loving yourself and all the differences that make you, YOU! Marlene is struggling to love her hair, because she is told from a young age that curly hair is not as beautiful as straight hair. She must go to the salon every Sunday to have it worked on. Marlene grows to hate this Sunday outing and has trouble understanding why her mom won’t just let her be. In my Hispanic culture there is a lot of this negative views of beauty from our female figures, sometimes they may not even know they are doing it. Even small comments on weight and certain features you have can be taken very seriously by a young developing woman. It’s a good reminded for mothers to mind what comments they make on their young daughters looks. I have a niece with beautifully curly hair, and I know there are times she loves it and sometimes she needs a little encouragement, I will be passing this book on to her I think it is an important message and it’s told in such a fun way as the art is so beautiful. I love the pink shading used.

Graphic Novel

This is a Young Middle Grade Graphic Novel. I really loved all the drama with the main character's hair. I loved the message in this book. The pictures are cute in this graphic novel. I do think this book is on the young side of Middle Grade. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are. I have brought a copy of this book since.

It was adorable

I absolutely loved this book! It was so adorable and I think it’s great for young girls who are insecure about their hair or anything else about them.As someone with pretty curly hair, I loved all the positivity about accepting yourself and your hair even if you’re having a bad hair day. I also loved all the illustrations and pictures. They were really well done and pretty accurately portrayed what it’s like to have curly hair.I thought the main character was super relatable and pretty funny. I also loved her aunt since she was actually really helpful and supportive. The storyline was also pretty good and overall just really cute. I really wish I had this book to read when I was younger cause I could’ve really used it since I was always insecure about my hair as a kid. Overall it was a great book and definitely something I would recommend for younger girls.