Actor/author/athlete Terry Crews digs into his childhood in Flint, Michigan, to tell a story of fitting in and finding your place in his showstopping debut middle-grade graphic novel, the start of a series. "Terry's Crew is a true delight from beginning to end. It's sure to provide a much-needed mirror and sliding glass door for countless kids." --Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give "A delightful, powerful, readable retelling of Terry Crews's adolescence. Readers young and old will be captivated." --Sharon M. Draper, author of Out of My Mind "A must read for all those kids who allow themselves to dream in a variety of big ways. Bravo!" --Pablo Cartaya, author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora Young Terry Crews has a Big Dream Plan: He wants to become a MULTIHYPHENATE. That means he wants to be an artist. And a football player. And a musician. And maybe a NASA scientist, too! OK, maybe it's ambitious, but his parents worked hard so he could go to a new school--Rock City Academy, a prestigious institution (read: rich kids go there) where he's sure he can make his mark at the talent show. He plans an elaborate performance with his new friends, Rani, a passionate engineer, and Xander, a shy kid with a head like an encyclopedia. Along the way, Terry's plan is threatened by his grades, which slip below Mom-and-Dad-approved levels, as well as the schemes of the school's football star, Rick, who won't stop until Terry quits the talent show altogether. No matter what challenges he faces, though, Terry knows that he always has his crew to back him up. Editorial Reviews 10/10/2022 Entertainer and debut creator Crews and illustrator Thomas (Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan) craft an upbeat graphic novel that draws inspiration from Crews's childhood, as detailed in an author's note. Terry, portrayed with brown skin and an infectious grin, is the newest freshman at Rock City Academy, an elite, predominantly white private school. He believes that the new school is his ticket to realizing his big plans: he wants to become a multihyphenate by excelling in science, art, and sports. But his guidance counselor Mr. Montgomery disregards Terry's myriad passions, and by way of reductive racial stereotypes, tries persuading him to focus on sports ("This isn't the world someone like you belongs in," the counselor says about art; "lots of kids like you in the NFL"). Discouraged, Terry withdraws and starts hanging out with a popular athlete who encourages bullying, and he struggles to keep his dreams alive while navigating high school social politics. Using simple but effective facial expressions and gentle swathes of color, Thomas compassionately depicts Terry's trials and triumphs. Through the protagonist's refusal to dream smaller, Crews tells a familiar and affecting story of one kid's determination to find his place in the world. Ages 8-12. Agent: Albert Lee, United Talent Agency. (Nov.) - Publishers Weekly Terry's Crew is a delightful, powerful, readable retelling of his adolescence. He captures the complexities and confusion of middle school, the challenges of navigating peers and parents, and the joys of discovering success in the face of struggles. He deftly tucks all of this into a kid's book bag. Readers young and old will be captivated."-Sharon M. Draper, author of Out of My Mind "Terry Crews has many, many talents, and this story is yet another example of his great skill. Inspired by his life in Flint, Michigan, Terry's Crew is a testament to the power of not putting yourself in a box and to surrounding yourself with people that cheer on the multihyphenate skills that make you shine. With wonderful illustrations by Cory Thomas, this novel is a must-read for all those kids who allow themselves to dream in a variety of big ways. Bravo!"-Pablo Cartaya, author of The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora "Terry's Crew is a true delight from beginning to end. Funny yet honest, vibrant yet warm, it's sure to provide a much-needed mirror and sliding glass door for countless kids."-Angie Thomas, author of The Hate U Give - From the Publisher 2022-08-31 Former NFL player Crews draws inspiration from his early years for this graphic novel about a Black boy attending a new school in a different neighborhood. Terry, who dreams of moving out of his working-class neighborhood and making it big, is excited for his first day at the prestigious Rock City Academy, where he'll be able to pursue his passion for art (which he balances with a love of sports). At first, Terry loves the school, but a week later, he feels out of place and begins to have doubts, though the chance to participate in an upcoming talent show buoys him. Rick, a popular student, offers to let Terry join his team for the show, but first Terry must bully Xander, another student. Terry does, but he instantly has regrets, and eventually he, Xander, and Terry's class guide, Rani, form their own team for the talent show. Though the three are different, as they work together, they become closer. But when Terry's grades begin to suffer, his mother wants him to stop working on the show. However, with the support of friends and family, Terry finds a solution. This story is thematically similar to Jerry Craft's New Kid (2019) but is simpler and presented with less polish. Still, the friendships and family interactions are realistic, and the colorful drawings pair well with a story where art is a major component. Rani and Rick are brown-skinned, Xander presents White, and characters in both Terry's school and neighborhood are diverse. A worthwhile read, especially for kids with grand aspirations of their own. (Graphic novel. 8-12) - Kirkus Reviews 01/20/2023 Gr 5-8--In this semi-autobiographical graphic novel, Crews tells the story of brotherhood, temptation, friendship, and the importance of kindness. Terry is excited to win the lottery to attend a new prep school, but he faces self-doubt when stark class differences at the school reveal themselves. Everything seems to be moving in a good direction for Terry until Rick, the winner of last year's talent show, invites Terry to join him in his act. Rick pressures Terry into bullying Xander, the bookworm, to prove that he's cool and committed to the team, and when Terry succumbs to the pressure, he loses Rani, the only real friend he's made so far. Rani and Xander eventually forgive Terry, and the trio gets involved with the talent show in their own way. Terry finds the courage to stand up to Rick and stay true to himself. Crews carefully works in mature issues that tweens may encounter without explicitly describing experiences of substance abuse and drug dealing. Even while maintaining a lighthearted plotline, Crews crafts scenes that demonstrate how classism can impact students from all walks of life and places a heavy emphasis on the importance of staying true to oneself. The diverse range of characters presents relatable situations for all readers. The vibrant cartoon-style art keeps the readers' eyes moving from spread to spread, including a variation of page and panel styles. VERDICT A great selection for fans of Jerry Craft's New Kid and Johnnie Christmas's Swim Team, deserving a spot on shelves of school and public libraries.--Angie Jameson - School Library Journal