Publishers Weekly Review
| Transportive watercolor panels, middle school sports drama, and a touch of legend combine in Chau's fantastical narrative, following a wheelchair-using paraplegic athlete in Indonesia. Basketball team captain Jordan Winarta--named after Michael Jordan--loves coaching and practicing with her teammates, ever since an undisclosed accident two years ago has left her unable to play in official matches. Early in fall term at Kahawaii Multicultural School, Jordan hears crying on the playground, discovering an injured white baby elephant. Dubbed Marshmallow, the uncanny blue-eyed pachyderm becomes Jordan's sidekick and team mascot. After Marshmallow digs Jordan a swimming pool, Jordan joins the water polo team on her basketball coach's recommendation, though she struggles to sustain old friendships and impress newfound cynics ("Does she know this is a leg sport?" one asks) as she develops her skills. Predictably, Jordan excels; in a less foreseeable twist, Marshmallow's identity reveals a link to water and solutions to drought in the Lesser Sunda agricultural region. Indonesian terms and customs abound amid the cast of varying cultures, religions, and skin tones, and a tropical palette balances energetic action sequences and quiet wordless imagery in this feel-good graphic novel with sequel potential. Back matter features an author's note, visual development paintings, a glossary, and Indonesian food recommendations and facts. Ages 8--12. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (Oct.) |
School Library Journal Review
| Gr 4--7--Jordan is a young basketball star in Indonesia. She's named after Michael Jordan and even sports the number 23 on her jersey. An accident left her paralyzed from the waist down, and Jordan now uses a wheelchair. She's allowed to play with her team at practice but not at games, a restriction that Jordan and her teammates find frustrating. Post-practice one day, she finds a wounded white elephant who follows her home. Everyone is charmed by Marshmallow, as Jordan names the adorable creature. She prays to Lord Ganesh, a Hindu deity with the head of an elephant, to help Marshmallow get better. The elephant becomes something of a mascot to the team and helps Jordan figure out how much she loves swimming. Her coach recommends her for an open spot on the water polo team, but the girls don't immediately take to her and question her capability at the sport due to her disability. There's a bit of friendship drama, but nothing an honest conversation can't fix. Marshmallow and Jordan remain very close, even when it comes to light that Marshmallow might have an astonishing backstory. Vibrant shades and precise watercolors define Chau's gorgeous illustrations. Jordan and most of the other characters are brown; some students are white. The story's back matter contains a short glossary of Indonesian terms, food recommendations, and a note on how the climate crisis is affecting the area. VERDICT An enchanting graphic novel about a girl and her elephant with truly lovely artwork. Highly recommended.--Gretchen Hardin, Bee Cave P.L., TX |
Horn Book Review
| In a graphic novel with broad appeal set in Indonesia, wheelchair user Jordan remains the captain of the Kahawaii Multicultural School basketball team after an accident two years ago but is no longer permitted to play because the league does not allow mobility devices. One day when she is feeling particularly discouraged, Jordan finds an injured baby white elephant at a nearby playground, brings him home, and befriends the dejected pachyderm, whom she names Marshmallow. This new friend helps her discover water polo, a sport she can play for her school -- but she has to sacrifice basketball. While the story includes light fantasy elements -- the anthropomorphized Marshmallow is loosely based on Airavata, a Hindu god of clouds and rain -- there are no magical solutions for Jordan. Though she is an exceptional athlete, she must work diligently to master her new sport even as it causes friendship fallouts and other tween turbulence. From the first page, author-illustrator Chau's background in animation is clear: her soft and saturated watercolors immediately situate readers in the story's setting and close-knit community, with little text. Clever compositions and notable lack of motion lines give readers what only the pause button can: perfect suspensions of climactic sports action. Extensive back matter includes facts about Indonesia and its regional foods, an author's note, a glossary of Indonesian words, and more. Niki Marion November/December 2021 p.99(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. |
Kirkus Review
| Following an accident that leaves her partially paralyzed, Jordan can't play on the basketball team anymore, but a small white elephant has some ideas. Named after Michael Jordan, Jordan excels at making shots in basketball, although an accident two years ago means she now uses a wheelchair. Jordan remains the middle school team captain but can no longer compete. One day, she rescues an injured baby elephant and names him Marshmallow. Marshmallow grows close to her, living with her family and accompanying her to basketball practice. Seeing how much Jordan loves athletics, Marshmallow hints that water polo might allow her to get involved in sports again. While Jordan is determined to succeed, joining the water polo team brings new challenges, as she must learn new skills and balance responsibilities and friendships on both sports teams. Beautifully illustrated panels with the delicate, luminous feeling of watercolors bring to life Jordan's multicultural school, her Balinese community, and the incredibly endearing Marshmallow. Indonesian Jordan plays on teams with girls of a range of ethnicities and exists in a world that subtly displays the diverse religious and cultural identities found in Indonesia and particularly in Bali. Full-page illustrations that set the scene or mark transitions in the story are especially rich in detail and serve to flesh out the narrative. A sweet story greatly enhanced by whimsical, heartfelt art. (author's note, concept art, glossary, Indonesian food and facts) (Graphic fiction. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission. |
