Common Sense Media Review
By Amanda Nojadera
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl preps for her bat mitzvah in charming graphic novel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 9+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Told in alternating past and present chapters, BECOMING BRIANNA follows Bri in the eight months leading up to her bat mitzvah as well as on the day of her big event. Bri doesn't like to be the center of attention, but eight months provide several opportunities for her to step outside of her comfort zone. As she learns a new language and deals with drama at school and home, will Bri find the time to connect with her faith before the big day?
Is It Any Good?
This charming graphic novel highlights family, friendship, and faith. Fans of the Emmie & Friends series will recognize many characters and love how Becoming Brianna effortlessly alternates between the past and present to tell the story. Figuring out what you believe in can be challenging, and Bri spends a lot of time questioning her religion. But as she learns the meaning of true friendship and discovers why her bat mitzvah means so much to her mom, tweens will see how important it is to find a supportive community and take a leap of faith.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the graphic novel format. How is it effective in telling the story of Becoming Brianna?
How have new friends come into your life? How have you helped build new friendships?
How do the characters demonstrate communication? Why isi this an important character strengths?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Terri Libenson
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : May 5, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 320
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate