Fresh Start
Graphic Nov.
Sale price
$1398
Chapter Book · Graphic novel · Ages 8–12 · 2025 · Est. 2 hour read

Fresh Start

By Gale Galligan

Ollie must navigate staying put and making friends when her family decides to settle down.

4.2/5 Goodreads · 1,280 ratings
288 pages· 9,420 words· Est. 2 hour read
$14.99Save 7%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Ollie Herisson, used to constant moves due to her diplomat dad, faces a new challenge when her family decides to settle in Virginia. With no more fresh starts, Ollie must confront her quirky reputation, a popular class rival, and her mom's expectations of being a proper Thai daughter. Can she find a way to be herself and make lasting friendships when running away is no longer an option? Discover how Ollie navigates the complexities of belonging and identity in this vibrant graphic novel about friendship and self-discovery.

From the publisher

From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging.Ollie Herisson’s dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn’t worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she’ll get a fresh start somewhere else. A complete reset. It doesn’t matter if her classmates think she’s weird for pretending that she lives in the world of an imagined anime, or if she makes an enemy out of the most popular girl in her class, or ifshe does something hugely embarrassing! And it definitely doesn’t matter that all her mom wants is for Ollie to be more of a proper Thai daughter.But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can’t run away from her life?

Awards

Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature Honor (2026)
At a glance
Format
Paperback
Pages
288
Words
9,420
Reading age
8–12
Audience
Middle Grade
Lexile
GN420L
Themes & topics
Books about friendshipBooks about belongingBooks about movingBooks about familyBooks about LGBTQ
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The fine print

Book details

Reading levels
ATOS
~2.9
F&P level
~L
Publication
Published
January 7, 2025
Publisher
Graphix
Edition
Language
English
Type
Chapter Book · Graphic novel
Identifiers
ISBN
9781338045840

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