A searchable database of books recommended by the CCBC.
(More information on CCBC book recommendations)
Cross My Heart and Never Lie
Tuva (white) starts seventh grade assuming nothing has changed with her two best friends, Bao (Vietnamese) and Linnea (white)—until Linnea announces that she has a boyfriend. Bao is first annoyed and then angry when it becomes clear that Linnea has new priorities. Tuva, meanwhile, feels torn: She doesn’t want to give up the childlike games they’ve always played, but she’s intrigued by the idea of romance. The problem is she can’t think of a single boy she likes. Then she meets new student Mariam (brown-skinned) and develops a crush. Bao has no problem with Tuva liking a girl, but a big problem with Tuva being yet another friend obsessed with love. Tuva hopes a birthday sleepover at Linnea’s will be a chance for the three friends to make amends, but Bao ends up outing Tuva to the group in a moment of hurt. This spirited graphic novel examines the sometimes-challenging transition between childhood and adolescence among a group of best friends. With hand-lettered text and light-hearted illustrations ranging from full-page to panel to spot images, the fresh, diary-style storytelling includes the wonderful, often droll relationship between Tuva and her single-parent dad. While explicit acknowledgment that outing someone is never okay would have been welcome, it is implied in a story that concludes with a terrific author’s note discussing the inspiration of her childhood friendships, and what she’s learned from seeing her book translated into different languages. ©2023 Cooperative Children’s Book Center
Illustrated by
Nora Dasnes
Translated by
Matt Bagguley.
Translated from the Norwegian. Originally published in Norway.
CCBC Age Recommendation: Ages 9-13
Age Range:
Grades 3-5 (Ages 8-10)
Grades 6-8 (Ages 11-13)
Format:
Graphic Novel
Subjects:
Change
Diaries and Journals
Fathers
Friendship
LGBTQ+ Persons
Love and Romance
Translated Books
Vietnamese and Vietnamese Americans
Diversity subjects:
Asian
Brown Skin Unspecified
Publishers:
Astra, Hippo Park
Publish Year: 2023
Pages: 239
ISBN: 9781662640544
CCBC Location: Non-Fiction, 741.5 Dasnes