Curlfriends: Back in Business (a Graphic Novel) - by Sharee Miller

Book Synopsis

Nola Washington has never met a problem she can't solve. She's a fashionista and an honor roll student, and she knows her way around a comb. When she's not helping her mom at their family's hair salon, Nola's hanging out with her besties, the Curlfriends! This time, Ella has signed them up for the school talent show, and who better to lead them in a dance routine than Nola, with her amazing moves? All she needs is a stylish new outfit to perform in, but when one of the salon's hair dryers breaks down, Nola finds out her mom is having money trouble. If they can't pay the bills, will the salon go out of business?

Not on Nola's watch! She'll do anything to help, but her mom keeps shutting her out. It's hard to focus on dance practice with her girls, let alone school, when life at home is nowhere near perfect anymore. This doesn't feel like something Nola can fix on her own, but with the Curlfriends by her side, there's no problem they can't solve together!

In the Curlfriends series, follow four inseparable Black girls who show what it means to lean on one another when times are tough:

Curlfriends: New in Town
Curlfriends: Back in Business

Review Quotes

A National Indie Bestseller
2024 Golden Kite Award Winner
An NPR Books We Love Selection
A New York Public Library Best Book of 2023

* "With empathy, charm, and a seemingly endless supply of good cheer, Miller (Michelle's Garden) crafts a stirring tale that encourages kindness and honesty in pursuit of friendship."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A charming reminder that being your true self is the key to finding friends who love you for who you are." --Kayla Miller, creator of the Click graphic novel series

"A refreshingly honest look at middle school friendship, and the cost of trying to fit in."--Claribel A. Ortega, New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of Frizzy

"A sincere and relatable depiction of trying too hard to fit in and almost losing yourself in the process."--School Library Journal

"For anyone who has ever had a hard time fitting in or feeling confident, Curlfriends creates a safe space to explore those feelings and work through them. Sharee crafts such a rich welcoming world with her sweet illustrations and her charming characters that feel so real and earnest. I want to be friends with all of them and I can't wait to read more and more of their stories!"--Vashti Harrison, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History

"Miller's vibrant art is warm and inviting, with engaging details that pop on every page.... A welcome graphic novel with Black girl representation for middle-graders and middle-schoolers."--Horn Book

"Miller's vibrant, playful art and stylish characters perfectly capture both the awkwardness and joy of making new friends and reminds us why it's so important to stay true to ourselves."--Rose Bousamra, illustrator of Frizzy

About the Author

Sharee Miller is an award-winning author and illustrator. Her debut graphic novel, Curlfriends: New in Town, won the Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Book/Graphic Novel for Older Readers and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She is the creator of many critically acclaimed picture books, including Don't Touch My Hair!, Princess Hair, and Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady Planted Seeds of Change. She loves cats, bubble tea, and spending time with her friends. She lives in Jersey City with her spouse, son, and two cats, Pumpkin and Spice! Sharee invites you to visit her at shareemiller.com.