Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Puberty, identity, middle school, manga in relatable tale.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
On the last day of school at an international academy in Frankfurt, Germany, 12-year-old Ollie, whose globetrotting diplomat parents (he's American, she's Thai) move to a new country every couple of years, is really looking forward to a FRESH START. Especially after a really embarrassing moment in the closing ceremonies, and a falling out with her best friend. Ollie—who, along with her little sister, Cat, prefers to spend quality time in the world of manga hero Quill!!!, the Hedgehog Mage, fighting Soul-Stealers—is soon dealing with a whole new school in Chestnut Falls, Virginia, struggling with culture shock, working on her art, and feeling like an outsider. Until she connects with fellow manga fans. Meanwhile, her mom frets that her girls are losing their Thai culture.
Is It Any Good?
Gale Galligan's complex, relatable graphic novel finds a manga-mad tween who has lived in many countries starting middle school in the United States, having some culture shock, and feeling out of place. Based loosely on the author's own middle school years, Fresh Start finds 12-year-old Ollie hoping to find friends, bonding with classmates over anime and cosplay, dealing with embarrassing moments—and somewhat reluctantly taking Thai dance and language classes, which leads to some surprising discoveries. Puberty, "mean girls," and misunderstandings between friends are just a few of the hazards she has to cope with. Something of a force of nature, Ollie follows the lead of her manga heroes, standing up for what's right and coming to the aid of those who need it—and every girl ever forced into frilly dresses against their wishes will be cheering her on through each (mis)adventure as things sort themselves out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how schools are different in different countries—and how stories like Fresh Start explore that theme. Do you have any favorite books about school kids around the world? What are they and what do you like about them?
Do you find yourself dealing with pressure to conform to stereotypes you don't want anything to do with? What's the issue, and how are you dealing with it?
Do you like manga and anime? What are your favorites?
How do the characters model the character strengths of communication, empathy, and courage? How do these strengths help Ollie adjust to life in the Unites States?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Gale Galligan
- Genre : Graphic Novel
- Topics : Arts , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship , School ( Middle School )
- Character Strengths : Communication , Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Graphix
- Publication date : January 7, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 288
- Available on : Paperback, Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Award : Common Sense Selection
- Last updated : September 18, 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