PAWS: Mindy Makes Some Space

by Nathan Fairbairn, Michele Assarasakorn (Illustrator)

Overview

Are you a fan of Raina Telgemeier or Shannon Hale? Then you won’t want to miss the second book in this graphic novel series that’s the Baby-Sitters Club for pets! Your favorite dog-walkers are back with even more cute animals—and even more friendship and family drama—in this funny and heartwarming story perfect for fans of Real Friends, Roller Girl, and Allergic!

Best friends Mindy Park, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta are back in business! After a few ups and downs, their dog-walking business is booming and the girls are closer than ever. It’s a dream come true!

But for Mindy, things at home are beginning to feel like a bit of a nightmare. Her mom just started dating someone, which has Mindy feeling like the odd one out. For as long as she can remember, it’s been just the two of them and she doesn’t want that to change. (So what if her mom’s boyfriend has a cute pet cat, and all of Mindy’s friends seem to think he’s pretty cool?)

And things only get worse when a new student named Hazel arrives in class and seems totally into joining PAWS. Sharing her mom feels bad enough, so there’s no way Mindy’s is going to share her best friends and her business, too! But when Mindy’s stubbornness starts to hurt everyone around her, will she be able to overcome her fears and learn that change doesn’t have to be a cat-tastrophe?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593351932
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	11/15/2022
Series:	PAWS , #2
Pages:	176
Sales rank:	77,662
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	GN400L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Nathan Fairbairn is a New York Times bestselling and Eisner-nominated creator who has worked as a colorist for such iconic characters as Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, and Scott Pilgrim. He’s also co-creator, writer, and colorist of the graphic novel Lake of Fire. He started writing PAWS, his middle grade debut, as a way to share his passion for comics and storytelling with his daughter. Nathan lives with his family in Vancouver. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@NathanFairbairn) and see more of his work at nathanfairbairn.com.

Michele Assarasakorn (also known as MSASSYK) is colorist who worked on comic series such as Eisner-nominated Isola, Gotham Academy, and the Magnificent Ms. Marvel. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Michele now calls Vancouver home but also likes to travel the world working remotely as an artist. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@Msassyk) and see more of her work at msassyk.com.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for the PAWS series:

★ "Reminiscent of Ann M. Martin’s The Baby-Sitters Club, this series starter will be a surefire hit with Raina Telgemeier fans and any reader seeking a solid friendship story. Laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart." —School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Wholly relatable, perfectly capturing the angst and turmoil of transition. Much like Ann M. Martin’s Baby Sitters Club, this series is poised to feature a different PAWS member in each volume; expect appeal to be similarly high. An honest, heartwarming look at friendship." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"The story is refreshingly inclusive in its depiction of its distinctive characters and their families, offering a reflection of the world that many readers will find familiar. With expressive faces and body language, the artwork poignantly emphasizes the ups and downs of the girls' experiences. This truly heartwarming story about friendship (and lots and lots of dogs) is a great choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale." —Booklist

"It's fantastic, it's cute, it's drawn and colored gorgeously, and I think it's going to win a lot of fans. PAWS is here to stay!" —Bryan Lee O’Malley, #1 New York Times bestseller and Eisner Award-winning creator of the Scott Pilgrim series
 
"PAWS is an adorable graphic novel filled with bubbly, beautiful artwork, sharp writing, heart and humor. It's the comic I wish I'd had when I was an animal-loving kid!” —Faith Erin Hicks, New York Times bestseller and Eisner Award-winning creator of the Nameless City series

"What's a bigger, tougher balance of fun and responsibility than animals? Friends, maybe. And I was really rooting for the three girls from PAWS as they struggled to navigate both. I liked this book a lot!" —Dana Simpson, New York Times bestselling creator of the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series

"PAWS is full of humor, personality, and wonderful characters. I couldn’t put it down. You’ll have a barking good time reading PAWS!" —Johnnie Christmas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Swim Team

"I love this story. Funny, aspirational, and heartfelt, I was hooked from page one and enjoyed every wonderfully illustrated panel!"—Kris Pearn, director and executive producer of The Willoughbys

"A really beautiful and engaging story. The best thing I can say about PAWS is that my daughter likes it better than anything I've ever done, and I'm not arguing the point." —Karl Kerschl, Eisner Award-winning creator

"[A] lively graphic novel. The characters feel bouncy and rounded. Animal lovers, burgeoning entrepreneurs, and fans of friendship sagas should look forward to planned future installments." —The Horn Book

From the Publisher

12/01/2022

Gr 3–6—Mindy and her best friends Gabby and Priya have fallen into a steady routine with their successful dog walking business, P.A.W.S. But a new classmate, Hazel, and Mindy's mom's new boyfriend, Michael, flip Mindy's world upside down. While her friends are eager to invite Hazel (who uses a wheelchair) into the group, Mindy hesitates out of fear of being replaced. Starting with a short summary of the first volume, this inviting sequel focuses on Mindy's experiences and could be read as a standalone. The authentic tween voice and expressive character designs make for a gentle, slice-of-life story that touches on some big feelings. The main trio are each BIPOC, while Hazel presents white. While Mindy does exhibit some ableist behavior that peers confront and correct, Hazel's role in Mindy's character growth tiptoes toward disability trope. VERDICT A mostly successful entry in a series that will only grow in popularity—and cuteness.

School Library Journal

★ 2022-10-12
Eleven-year-old Mindy Park is not pleased that her relationships are changing.

Things are going great for Mindy and her best friends, Priya Gupta and Gabby Jordan, who run the dog-walking business PAWS (Pretty Awesome Walkers). But soon Mindy finds her life in upheaval. Her divorced mother, Sunny, meets Michael, and the two begin dating. Mindy quickly decides she does not like him, feeling put out when he begins to encroach on their relationship and routines. Then, Priya and Gabby befriend new girl Hazel and invite her to join PAWS. Unhappy with this change, Mindy gives Hazel (who uses a wheelchair) an unfair assignment: to walk Michael’s overweight and lazy cat, Chonk. Things go awry, and confrontations in the PAWS group and with Mindy’s mom ensue—can Mindy make space in her life for all the new changes? Fairbairn’s tale is wholly relatable, perfectly capturing the angst and turmoil of transition. Mindy, though flawed, comes to understand and apologize for her outbursts, especially in her treatment of Hazel. Much like Ann M. Martin’s Baby Sitters Club, this series is poised to feature a different PAWS member in each volume; expect appeal to be similarly high. Assarasakorn’s illustrations are bright and expressive. Mindy is Korean, Hazel is White, Priya is South Asian, and Gabby is brown-skinned.

An honest, heartwarming look at friendship. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews