Horn Book Review
In a graphic novel with broad appeal set in Indonesia, wheelchair user Jordan remains the captain of the Kahawaii Multicultural School basketball team after an accident two years ago but is no longer permitted to play because the league does not allow mobility devices. One day when she is feeling particularly discouraged, Jordan finds an injured baby white elephant at a nearby playground, brings him home, and befriends the dejected pachyderm, whom she names Marshmallow. This new friend helps her discover water polo, a sport she can play for her school -- but she has to sacrifice basketball. While the story includes light fantasy elements -- the anthropomorphized Marshmallow is loosely based on Airavata, a Hindu god of clouds and rain -- there are no magical solutions for Jordan. Though she is an exceptional athlete, she must work diligently to master her new sport even as it causes friendship fallouts and other tween turbulence. From the first page, author-illustrator Chau's background in animation is clear: her soft and saturated watercolors immediately situate readers in the story's setting and close-knit community, with little text. Clever compositions and notable lack of motion lines give readers what only the pause button can: perfect suspensions of climactic sports action. Extensive back matter includes facts about Indonesia and its regional foods, an author's note, a glossary of Indonesian words, and more. Niki Marion November/December 2021 p.99(c) Copyright 2021. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Kirkus Review
Following an accident that leaves her partially paralyzed, Jordan can't play on the basketball team anymore, but a small white elephant has some ideas. Named after Michael Jordan, Jordan excels at making shots in basketball, although an accident two years ago means she now uses a wheelchair. Jordan remains the middle school team captain but can no longer compete. One day, she rescues an injured baby elephant and names him Marshmallow. Marshmallow grows close to her, living with her family and accompanying her to basketball practice. Seeing how much Jordan loves athletics, Marshmallow hints that water polo might allow her to get involved in sports again. While Jordan is determined to succeed, joining the water polo team brings new challenges, as she must learn new skills and balance responsibilities and friendships on both sports teams. Beautifully illustrated panels with the delicate, luminous feeling of watercolors bring to life Jordan's multicultural school, her Balinese community, and the incredibly endearing Marshmallow. Indonesian Jordan plays on teams with girls of a range of ethnicities and exists in a world that subtly displays the diverse religious and cultural identities found in Indonesia and particularly in Bali. Full-page illustrations that set the scene or mark transitions in the story are especially rich in detail and serve to flesh out the narrative. A sweet story greatly enhanced by whimsical, heartfelt art. (author's note, concept art, glossary, Indonesian food and facts) (Graphic fiction. 8-13) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
