Mindy Makes Some Space (Paws #2)

by Nathan Fairbairn (Author) Michele Assarasakorn (Illustrator)

Reading Level: 4th − 5th Grade
Series: Paws

Are you a fan of Raina Telgemeier or Shannon Hale? Then you won't want to miss the second book in this graphic novel series that's the Baby-Sitters Club for pets! Your favorite dog-walkers are back with even more cute animals--and even more friendship and family drama--in this funny and heartwarming story perfect for fans of Real Friends, Roller Girl, and Allergic!

Best friends Mindy Park, Gabby Jordan, and Priya Gupta are back in business! After a few ups and downs, their dog-walking business is booming and the girls are closer than ever. It's a dream come true! But for Mindy, things at home are beginning to feel like a bit of a nightmare. Her mom just started dating someone, which has Mindy feeling like the odd one out. For as long as she can remember, it's been just the two of them and she doesn't want that to change. (So what if her mom's boyfriend has a cute pet cat, and all of Mindy's friends seem to think he's pretty cool?) And things only get worse when a new student named Hazel arrives in class and seems totally into joining PAWS. Sharing her mom feels bad enough, so there's no way Mindy's is going to share her best friends and her business, too! But when Mindy's stubbornness starts to hurt everyone around her, will she be able to overcome her fears and learn that change doesn't have to be a cat-tastrophe?

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School Library Journal

Gr 3-6—Mindy and her best friends Gabby and Priya have fallen into a steady routine with their successful dog walking business, P.A.W.S. But a new classmate, Hazel, and Mindy's mom's new boyfriend, Michael, flip Mindy's world upside down. While her friends are eager to invite Hazel (who uses a wheelchair) into the group, Mindy hesitates out of fear of being replaced. Starting with a short summary of the first volume, this inviting sequel focuses on Mindy's experiences and could be read as a standalone. The authentic tween voice and expressive character designs make for a gentle, slice-of-life story that touches on some big feelings. The main trio are each BIPOC, while Hazel presents white. While Mindy does exhibit some ableist behavior that peers confront and correct, Hazel's role in Mindy's character growth tiptoes toward disability trope. VERDICT A mostly successful entry in a series that will only grow in popularity—and cuteness.

Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

Praise for the PAWS series:

★ Reminiscent of Ann M. Martin's The Baby-Sitters Club, this series starter will be a surefire hit with Raina Telgemeier fans and any reader seeking a solid friendship story. Laugh-out-loud funny and full of heart. —School Library Journal, starred review

Wholly relatable, perfectly capturing the angst and turmoil of transition. Much like Ann M. Martin's Baby Sitters Club, this series is poised to feature a different PAWS member in each volume; expect appeal to be similarly high. An honest, heartwarming look at friendship. —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

The story is refreshingly inclusive in its depiction of its distinctive characters and their families, offering a reflection of the world that many readers will find familiar. With expressive faces and body language, the artwork poignantly emphasizes the ups and downs of the girls' experiences. This truly heartwarming story about friendship (and lots and lots of dogs) is a great choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Shannon Hale. —Booklist

It's fantastic, it's cute, it's drawn and colored gorgeously, and I think it's going to win a lot of fans. PAWS is here to stay! —Bryan Lee O'Malley, #1 New York Times bestseller and Eisner award-winning creator of the Scott Pilgrim series

PAWS is an adorable graphic novel filled with bubbly, beautiful artwork, sharp writing, heart and humor. It's the comic I wish I'd had when I was an animal-loving kid!" —Faith Erin Hicks, New York Times bestseller and Eisner award-winning creator of the Nameless City series

What's a bigger, tougher balance of fun and responsibility than animals? Friends, maybe. And I was really rooting for the three girls from PAWS as they struggled to navigate both. I liked this book a lot! —Dana Simpson, New York Times bestselling creator of the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series

PAWS is full of humor, personality, and wonderful characters. I couldn't put it down. You'll have a barking good time reading PAWS! —Johnnie Christmas, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Swim Team

I love this story. Funny, aspirational, and heartfelt, I was hooked from page one and enjoyed every wonderfully illustrated panel!—Kris Pearn, director and executive producer of The Willoughbys

A really beautiful and engaging story. The best thing I can say about PAWS is that my daughter likes it better than anything I've ever done, and I'm not arguing the point. —Karl Kerschl, Eisner award-winning creator

[A] lively graphic novel. The characters feel bouncy and rounded. Animal lovers, burgeoning entrepreneurs, and fans of friendship sagas should look forward to planned future installments. —The Horn Book
Nathan Fairbairn
Nathan Fairbairn is a New York Times bestselling and Eisner-nominated creator who has worked as a colorist for such iconic characters as Spider-Man, Batman, Wonder Woman, Invincible, and Scott Pilgrim. He's also co-creator, writer, and colorist of the graphic novel Lake of Fire. He started writing PAWS, his middle grade debut, as a way to share his passion for comics and storytelling with his daughter, Lily. Nathan lives and works in Vancouver. You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram (@NathanFairbairn) and see more of his work at nathanfairbairn.com.

Michele Assarasakorn (also known as MSASSYK) is a colorist who has worked on comic book series such as Eisner-nominated Isola, Gotham Academy, and The Magnificent Ms. Marvel. Originally from Bangkok, Thailand, Michele now calls Vancouver home but also likes to travel the world working remotely as an artist. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@Msassyk) and see more of her work at msassyk.com.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9780593351932
Lexile Measure
400
Guided Reading Level
K
Publisher
Razorbill
Publication date
November 15, 2022
Series
Paws
BISAC categories
JUV039060 - Juvenile Fiction | Social Themes | Friendship
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV002070 - Juvenile Fiction | Animals | Dogs
JUV008110 - Juvenile Fiction | Comics & Graphic Novels | Humorous
Library of Congress categories
Friendship
Dogs
Families
Family life
Friendship in children
Mothers and daughters
Best friends
Cartoons and comics
Money-making projects for children
Moneymaking projects

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