Abuzz

Gr 10 Up–A colorful, fun romp through high school halls through a diverse queer modern retelling of Much Ado About Nothing. In Chase’s version, Hero, who uses they/them pronouns, is a “freshie” at Messina High where their cousin Beatriz is a senior. While trying to make friends with their crush Claudio, they get twisted, along with many of the other characters, into Beatriz’s old feud with her ex-boyfriend Ben. Meanwhile, a trio of kids led by DJ are out to make trouble for the school at the expense of Hero and Claudio. Readers don’t need to read the original play to enjoy and understand this graphic novel, though it mirrors the original text well and could be used for a school project about adaptations. Readers will find the story relatable as it explores friendship, identity (including discussion of ace/aro identities), bullying, and the complex dynamics of communication. The art is bright and vibrant, which complements the comedic tone of the work. The style and panel shapes change to match the feeling of each scene, and fun social media posts and school posters are sprinkled throughout. The cast is diverse with a variety of skin colors and body types. The back matter contains LGBTQIA+ resources.