Finest pals Grace and Lola are on a mission to know love! In quantity one, the ladies resolve to analysis the subject, interviewing individuals in school to be taught extra in regards to the elusive and complicated emotion and protecting their findings in a pocket book known as The Love Report. In volumes two and three, they produce other issues occurring: new pals and enjoyable adventures, together with a beachy journey to Sardinia. In every single place they go, although, Grace and Lola discover causes to marvel about love. Boys flirt with them, however what are their intentions? Ought to Grace confess her emotions to her new crush?

The ladies are extra informal now about their investigation; no extra pocket book or interviews, simply a lot of conversations and musing. And love isn’t the one factor on their minds. A boy in school is bullying and harassing individuals, together with a few of Grace and Lola’s pals. Grace is annoyed with shuttling between the households of her newly divorced dad and mom. Lola struggles with physique picture points. Their buddy Adele has a tough house life, however is instantly discovering main success as an artist. However in and round all that, there’s sufficient romantic drama and intrigue to maintain Grace and Lola asking questions in regards to the nature of affection.

Sturdy feminine friendships are the throughline of this collection. Grace and Lola have some challenges to their bond in quantity one, however come by means of them nearer than ever. In addition they befriend Adele, Felicity, and Charlie, who all get extra consideration within the second and third volumes. Typically, the story follows one in all them for awhile, exhibiting the reader issues that Grace and Lola don’t know. This expands the world of the story, since their experiences are very completely different—and typically creates juicy drama, as when the readers be taught a secret Charlie is protecting from the others. All of those women imply effectively and care about one another, and they’re all spunky and keen to get inventive to tackle bullies or assist their pals.

These books are translated from French (BeKa is a France-based two-person writing group). The interpretation is polished – minor errors famous in my evaluate of quantity one appeared in an advance copy, and have been corrected. The primary two English volumes every accumulate and translate two of the shorter French volumes, whereas the English e-book three interprets just one quantity, so these three books include volumes one by means of 5 of the French model of The Love Report.

These books contact on some heavy matters. A number of characters have physique picture points, and a number of other have strained relationships with their dad and mom. The varsity bully is consistently harassing individuals, particularly women, each in individual and on-line. He even will get scandalous photographs of a classmate (sporting a bra however no shirt) and reveals them to different classmates. There’s some harsh language (e.g. slut, bitch), which is used very not often and never by the protagonists. Intercourse is simply referred to often, with no specifics. Refreshingly, the one queer couple is rapidly accepted by a lot of the characters.

The manga-inspired artwork is detailed and stuffed with wealthy, exuberant colours. Every character has a unique private type and reveals it off with a lot of enjoyable, assorted outfits and hairstyles. There are various completely different settings, from college to Adele’s artwork studio to the seashores of Sardinia, and so they all add visible curiosity with out stealing the highlight from the characters.

This collection will attraction to readers who like a lot of emotion and drama. Grace and Lola are curious however tentative and nervous about love and romance, which shall be relatable to some younger readers. Hand it to followers of faculty tales and friendship tales, particularly those that like high-drama manga.

The Love Report
By BeKa Willcox
Artwork by Maya Willcox
Hippo Park / Astra Books for Younger Readers, 2024
ISBN: 9781662640605

Firm Age Score: 10 and up

NFNT Age Advice: Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
Creator Illustration:  French, Italian,
Character Illustration: Queer,