2022
WISE Score
Cory’s NYC dance crew is prepping for a final showdown when he gets grounded and discovers his tutor is a secret yo-yo master.
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Freestyle is a top-tier graphic novel that manages to be about breakdancing without being cringey. It’s a smart, vibrant look at the moment when your childhood friend group starts to splinter and you have to figure out who you are outside of the 'crew.'
If your kid devoured the graphic novel versions of The Baby-Sitters Club, this is the logical next step. It’s got the same warmth but with a more modern, urban edge and a plot that moves as fast as a yo-yo trick.
Perfect for the 8–13 crowd. It hits that sweet spot for kids who have moved past early chapter books but aren't quite ready for the heavy themes of older YA.
Gale Galligan is a master of the emotionally intelligent middle-grade narrative. The book models healthy (if messy) conflict resolution and the realization that growing up means your interests might change, and that's okay.
The mashup of breakdancing culture and competitive yo-yoing is fresh and specific. It treats these hobbies with the technical respect they deserve rather than just using them as background flavor.
Standard middle-grade graphic novel territory. There is some social friction and mild academic stress, but it is extremely safe for the target age group.
Excellent themes regarding the 'last summer' of a friend group, the pressure of parental expectations, and finding the courage to be honest about what you actually enjoy doing.
Gale Galligan became a household name in the kid-lit world by taking over the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novel adaptations from Raina Telgemeier, but Freestyle is where she really shows off what she can do with her own characters. The story follows Cory, a kid who lives and breathes for his dance crew, Eight Bitz. They’re facing their last big competition before high school applications scatter them across New York City, but Cory’s grades have tanked, and his parents aren't playing.
Enter Sunna, the tutor. At first, she’s just the obstacle between Cory and the dance floor. But when he catches her practicing high-level yo-yo tricks, the dynamic shifts. It’s a great subversion of the 'nerdy tutor' trope—Sunna is just as disciplined and talented as the dancers, just in a different lane.
What makes the book work is how it handles the 'hustle' of being a kid in NYC. The stakes of the competition feel real, but the stakes of the high school admissions process feel even heavier. It’s a great mirror for kids who feel like they’re being pulled in ten different directions by coaches, parents, and friends. The art is the standout here; Galligan uses manga-inspired speed lines and creative paneling to make the dance sequences feel like they're actually moving. It’s a high-energy read that doesn't sacrifice character depth for its cool factor.
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