Friendship and creativity come together when three girls open their own styling studio in this new graphic novel series that's perfect for fans of Click and Smile. Shy Mariana is looking for her chance to shine. She's having trouble making friends after a cross-country move to Ohio, plus, her dad refuses to let her help out at his hair salon, despite the fact that she's a social media expert! So when she meets science whiz Zoe and creative maven Everly, and the three decide to start their own hair styling studio, she finally finds the friends-and the calling-she's been searching for. The trio's studio, True Colors, is a smash hit, and the girls are having a blast. Not to mention, Mariana loves helping her fellow middle-school clients express themselves. But with the town Harvest Fest on the horizon and a line of customers always at the door, the friends have to scale up quickly, and they don't always agree on how. Can Mariana find the courage to speak up for what she wants? And does True Colors have what it takes to succeed in business and friendship? Editorial Reviews "Brightly colored expressive art, diverse main characters, and a story full of heart, humor, and the power of having supportive friends, make this title stand out among graphic novels with similar themes. Pair with Kayla Miller's "Click" graphic novels." - School Library Journal "As well as sympathetic human frailty, the characters model growth, empathy, and patience in their interactions. Touching in its vibrant and earnest depiction of vulnerability and being true to who you are." - Kirkus Reviews - From the Publisher 04/21/2023 Gr 4-8--When Mariana and her papá move from California to Ohio, Mariana would much rather text with her old friends and follow them on the Telepik social media platform than fully engage with her new life. Making new friends can be hard, and while Mariana wants to talk to people, as evidenced by her inner monologue, she can't always work up the courage to do it. At home, she wants to help take her papá's barber shop to the next level by creating a social media page for them, and is disappointed that he's not interested. Both miss Mariana's mom, who died. Everything changes when Zoe and Everly, two girls from her science class, walk into the shop and try to sell their homemade hair dye. Mariana befriends the duo, and the now trio decide to create True Colors--their own startup hair salon. When the salon gets too popular and creative differences threaten their friendship, Mariana will have to find the courage to speak up about what matters to her. Spanish phrases seamlessly integrate into the dialogue. Brightly colored expressive art, diverse main characters, and a story full of heart, humor, and the power of having supportive friends, make this title stand out among graphic novels with similar themes. Pair with Kayla Miller's "Click" graphic novels. VERDICT A first choice for all public and school middle grade graphic novel collections.--Marissa Lieberman - School Library Journal 2023-03-14 A cross-country move from California to Ohio leaves Peruvian American Mariana Gutiérrez anxious about starting over and uncertain where she fits in. Following the death of Mariana's mother, her barber father, Carlos, decides they should relocate in a bid to be closer to extended family. Life is a struggle for Mariana after the move--she misses her old friends but vows to make new ones if she can only overcome her nerves. When inquisitive, artistic classmates Zoe and Everly stop by Carlos' shop to try selling the natural hair dye they invented, Mariana gets her chance. Before long, the trio find themselves working to build their own hairstyling business with the help of Mariana's abuela and tío. Misunderstandings occur between multiple characters, often resulting from a lack of communication or listening. Mariana, in particular, maintains her guard around others, including her father. As well as sympathetic human frailty, the characters model growth, empathy, and patience in their interactions. Many panels utilize clean, bright, color-blocked backgrounds that reflect the girls' infectious enthusiasm, while creative techniques are used to direct focus: The foreground is blurred, panels are broken or borderless, and tertiary pop-art coloring is used. Spanish is sprinkled throughout. Everly is Black, Zoe presents as White, and there is racial diversity among the background characters. Touching in its vibrant and earnest depiction of vulnerability and being true to who you are. (Graphic fiction. 9-13) - Kirkus Reviews