Curlfriends: Back in Business Graphic Novel Review
A grandmother's take on Curlfriends: Back in Business, the graphic novel series teens are passing to each other. Positive message, great art, gift-ready.
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Quick Verdict
This is the graphic novel my granddaughter is going to plow into over the holidays, and I already know she’ll be excited. Curlfriends: Back in Business carries a serious message about fitting in and feeling confident, wrapped in art that looks like a comic book. A very positive gift.
Buy if you:
- Have a tween or teen who reads through books fast
- Want a story with diverse, girls-of-color characters at the center
- Are shopping for a gift with a confidence-building message
- Collect graphic novels and want to support an award-winning creator
Skip if you:
- Are jumping in cold and want the full arc; this is book 2, not book 1
- Prefer dense prose novels over comic-style panels
- Want a title aimed at younger picture-book readers
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The Book That Made Me Think of My Granddaughter First
My granddaughter devours books in two sittings, so when I picked up Curlfriends: Back in Business and couldn’t stop reading it myself, I knew this was the one to hand her first. It’s the second book in a series teens are passing around and recommending on their own, and I nearly finished it in one sitting before I even thought about handing it off. Check the current price on Amazon here.
This is the first book in the series I’ve tried, and it hooked me on the message before I even got deep into the story.
What Curlfriends: Back in Business Actually Is
This is book 2 in the series, a YA graphic novel by NAACP Image Award winner Sheree Miller built around girls of color navigating confidence and fitting in. Miller won the NAACP Image Award for a graphic novel, which is the credential that made me trust picking this up sight unseen. The series centers girls of color, but the fitting-in-and-confidence thread is wide enough that any tween who’s ever felt like the odd one out will find something in it.
Why the “Safe Space” Angle Works
The series works because it pairs comic-book panels with a serious confidence-building message, fast enough to hook reluctant readers, deep enough to land with tweens wrestling with belonging. That’s what pulled me in reading through it. The graphics almost look like comic books a little bit, but there’s a serious message riding along with the fun. I love that there’s a positive message and a positive feeling on every page instead of just filler action. For a kid who’s wrestling with confidence, that combination of easy-to-read panels and a real story does something a heavier prose novel can’t do as quickly.
I can’t wait to see if my granddaughter catches on to the theme and whether it actually helps her with her confidence, too. That’s the real test for a book like this.
It’s Book Two, and That Tripped Me Up
Start with book one if you read series in order; jumping into book 2 works but you’ll meet the characters already in motion. I picked it up as my first Curlfriends title, so I was meeting beloved characters partway through their story instead of at the beginning. It didn’t ruin anything for me, and the art carried me through, but a reader who likes to start at book one will want to grab the first Curlfriends before this one. That’s a small heads-up, not a deal-breaker, and it’s exactly the kind of thing the cover doesn’t shout at you.
Get it now
Curlfriends: Back in Business
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Who This Is For
Perfect gift for kids who tear through books, anyone who’s struggled to fit in, or collectors of graphic novels by independent award-winning creators. I keep coming back to the gift angle because that’s how I’m using it. If the reaction from my granddaughter this holiday is what I expect, I’m buying a second copy before January. For a young reader who tears through books, a kid navigating a rough social year, or anyone building a graphic-novel shelf worth passing down, this is the easy call.
Graphic Novel vs. a Traditional Prose Novel
Reluctant readers pick this up because the art looks approachable; they stay because the message is real and the panels pull them through faster than dense text would. The panels look like a comic, so it feels approachable, but the message underneath is serious. A traditional novel can go deeper on interior thoughts, sure, and if your reader loves long chapters, that’s still the format for them. But for a kid on the fence about reading, the art does the heavy lifting and pulls them in fast. That’s the trade-off, and for the confidence-building goal here, the graphic novel format wins.
My Advice Before You Buy
Start with book one if your reader likes reading series in order; know whether they prefer comic art or dense prose; plan to collect both if this one lands. If you’re buying it as a gift, know your reader’s taste for comic-style art versus dense text, because that’s the biggest fit question. And if you love it the way I did, the series format means you can build a little collection over time. Awesome illustration and awesome book, and an easy one to hand off. You can see today’s price on Amazon here.
Pros
- Positive, confidence-building message aimed at anyone who’s struggled to fit in
- Diverse cast centered on girls of color, done in a way that doesn’t feel dumbed down
- Comic-style art makes it approachable for reluctant readers
- Written and illustrated by an NAACP Image Award winner
- Works as an easy, meaningful gift for kids, grandkids, or friends
Cons
- This is book 2, so start-at-the-beginning readers will want book one first
- Comic-style panels won’t suit readers who want dense prose
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to read the first Curlfriends book before Back in Business?
Not strictly, but it helps. This is book 2 in the series, so you meet the characters partway through their story. I read it as my first Curlfriends title and still followed along fine, but start-at-the-beginning readers should grab book one first.
What age range is Curlfriends: Back in Business best for?
It’s a young adult graphic novel, so tweens and teens are the sweet spot. The confidence and fitting-in themes speak most to kids navigating those feelings. Younger picture-book readers may find it a step up.
Is this a good gift for a reluctant reader?
Yes. The comic-style panels make it far less intimidating than a dense prose novel, so a kid who avoids thick books will still pick this up. The art pulls them in and the message rides along with it.
Who wrote and illustrated the Curlfriends series?
Sheree Miller wrote and illustrated it. She’s an award-winning creator who won the NAACP Image Award for a graphic novel, which is a big part of why the art and storytelling hold up.
Is the series only for girls of color?
No. It’s themed around girls of color, but the focus is on anyone who’s ever had a hard time fitting in or feeling confident. Any young reader who needs a positive message can connect with it.
How many books are in the Curlfriends series?
It’s an ongoing series of different books, and Back in Business is the second installment. Following the characters through their next chapter is a big part of the appeal, so more titles let you build a collection over time.
Can I read this on a tablet or is it print only?
Check the Amazon listing for available formats before buying. The print edition is the one I handled, and the physical book is what makes it easy to gift and pass along to a friend.
Is it appropriate to give as a holiday gift?
Absolutely, and that’s exactly my plan. It’s a positive gift for a child, grandchild, or friend, and I intend to give these out this holiday season depending on how my granddaughter reacts to hers.
Get it now
Curlfriends: Back in Business
Get the best price on Amazon →This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
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