Fresh Start – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Fresh Start

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2025

91%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A diplomat’s kid who’s perfected the art of ghosting before she gets ghosted learns that maybe, just maybe, staying put isn’t the worst thing.

Fresh Start

book

2025

91%

WISE Score

4.4

Amazon

A diplomat’s kid who’s perfected the art of ghosting before she gets ghosted learns that maybe, just maybe, staying put isn’t the worst thing.

4.4

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4.4

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Screenwise Verdict

Gale Galligan (the talent behind some of the best Baby-Sitters Club adaptations) hits a home run here. It's a graphic novel that understands the specific terror of middle school: the moment you realize you can't just run away from your embarrassing mistakes anymore.

It’s vibrant, culturally rich, and treats its audience with respect. If your kid is into manga or school-based graphic novels like 'Smile' or 'Real Friends,' this is a mandatory addition to the shelf. It’s the opposite of brain rot—it’s a mirror for kids trying to figure out how to be themselves when they’re stuck in one place.

Age Fit

This is a bullseye for the 8-12 crowd. It’s sophisticated enough for middle schoolers but accessible enough for 3rd graders who are starting to navigate more complex friendships.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Models healthy family dynamics and the messy but rewarding process of making real friends. It treats cultural identity and the awkwardness of puberty with sincerity and warmth.

Imaginative

The protagonist's coping mechanism—imagining her life as an anime—is visually inventive and captures the creative inner life of many modern tweens.

Safe

Extremely safe for the target age group. Realistic middle school social friction and a natural mention of a first period are the only 'content' notes, and they are handled gracefully.

Enriching

Provides great insight into the 'third culture kid' experience and the specific challenges of Thai-American identity, vulnerability, and personal growth.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Captures the 'new kid' anxiety perfectly without being a total downer.
Vibrant Thai-American representation that feels lived-in and real, not like a checklist.
Gale Galligan’s art is kinetic, expressive, and a total magnet for kids who love the Baby-Sitters Club graphic novels.
It’s actually funny—the anime-inspired daydreams are a highlight for any kid who’s ever felt 'othered' at school.

⚠

What to Watch For

There is a brief, natural mention of the protagonist getting her first period; it's a great 'life happens' moment, but good for parents to know is there.
Typical middle school social drama, including a 'popular girl' antagonist, though it avoids being unnecessarily cruel.

Conversation Starters

"Ollie uses anime daydreams to deal with embarrassing moments. What do you do in your head when things get awkward?"
"Why do you think it was scary for Ollie to find out her family was finally staying in one place for good?"
"Have you ever felt like you had to act a certain way to please your family, like Ollie does with her 'proper Thai daughter' expectations?"

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