A review by droar
Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee

4.0

Favorite of the most recent middle grades graphics reads, Growing Pangs features another homeschool tween getting into friendship woes, growing up a bit, and exploring mental health. I quite like the way Ormsbee portrays OCD/intrusive thoughts with little creatures (Katie has bussing bee thoughts). I very much enjoyed the way the story explores those shifting waves of friendship that can be especially difficult as a tween, which the story is firmly situated in the moment there are these occasional windows that feel like author reflecting back a wee bit, adding an insulating layer of calm which I appreciated. Certainly worth putting the hands of the tweens and maybe even a bit younger.