children's diverse graphic novel (middlegrades and younger) - "trailer park" 11 y.o. girl Jo befriends "junk yard" high school senior boy Rus when she struggles to make friends with mean middleschoolers. Hooray for the diverse group of kids he introduces her to; they are sincere and kind and welcoming and just what she needs--she also manages to easily make some friends when she joins the school band.

For his half of the story, Rus dreams about becoming an astronaut but worries about being able to afford tuition at his chosen university (to which he gets accepted), but fortunately after a brief treasure hunt at the junkyard the kids are able to unearth a suitcase full of cash (and another suitcase full of baseball cards, which I think could actually be worth more, depending).

I liked learning about how the junkyard (u-pull-it) lot operated, and the splicing of the storyline with the tv shows that the characters watched was neatly done. The conflicts wrapped up a little too quickly and easily for me--I think you could spend an entire series on each of the characters and their challenges, and still have room for more, but this was a quick, positive story and something that many kids will enjoy. A spin-off featuring one or more of the other kids would not be out of the question, but anyway I do look forward to seeing more heartfelt stories from this new author. ( )

The illustrations are lovely, and the male lead (and his friends) are wonderfully wholesome and caring. Jo’s grandma certainly did not care because Jo was up and down town with people I don’t even know if her grandma knew. Still, these are some kind, well-adjusted high schoolers because most are not going to take interest in a middle-schooler they are not mentoring, related to, or is one of their friend’s siblings.

Anyway, I thought the story felt thin. Although Jo’s wanting to make friends and being bullied are relatable, I didn’t care about her. Rus’ concerns about paying for college were also relatable. The ending felt too good to be true it would’ve been more realistic if he had won a scholarship than a suitcase of money. I mean there was no foreshadowing for it.

Overall, a great, lighthearted read! ( )