Fresh Start: A Graphic Novel by Galligan, Gale

From New York Times bestselling author Gale Galligan comes a funny and vibrant semi-autobiographical middle-grade graphic novel about friendship and belonging.

Ollie Herisson's dad is a diplomat, which means her family moves around a lot. She has already lived in Singapore, Korea, France, and the United States. When Ollie starts at a new school, she doesn't worry about making a good impression because she knows that when her family inevitably moves again, she'll get a fresh start somewhere else. A complete reset. It doesn't matter if her classmates think she's weird for pretending that she lives in the world of an imagined anime, or if she makes an enemy out of the most popular girl in her class, or ifshe does something hugely embarrassing! And it definitely doesn't matter that all her mom wants is for Ollie to be more of a proper Thai daughter.

But after moving from Germany to Virginia and having a mortifying first day at her new school, Ollie is shocked to learn that her parents are going to buy a house so that Ollie and her sister, Cat, can finish grade school in one place. Can Ollie figure out how to both be herself and make real friends when she can't run away from her life?

Author: Gale Galligan
Publisher: Graphix
Published: 01/07/2025
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.00lbs
Size: 7.95h x 5.51w x 0.87d
ISBN: 9781338045840
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 11/01/2024
Booklist 01/01/2025 pg. 45
Horn Book Magazine 03/01/2025 pg. 70

About the Author
Gale Galligan is the creator of the New York Times bestselling Baby-sitters Club graphic novel adaptations of Dawn and the Impossible Three, Kristy's Big Day, Boy-Crazy Stacey, and Logan Likes Mary Anne! by Ann M. Martin. They are also the creator of Freestyle and Fresh Start, original graphic novels that they both wrote and illustrated. When they aren't making comics, Gale enjoys knitting, drumming, and spending time with their family and adorable pet rabbits in Pearl River, New York. Gale is a founding member of the Comics Advocacy Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that is dedicated to making careers in comics more accessible and sustainable. Visit them online at galesaur.com.