Very Bad at Math

November 1, 2024
Verity "Very" Nelson is an ambitious class president, an overall top student, and an all-out charmer who faces one obstacle to a triumphant end to eighth grade: numbers. She's failing math, which could force her to step down from student council and lose the class presidency she's worked so hard on. Now she's stuck in an "experimental math pod"--a special two-person class with Lucile, the grumpy ex-BFF of class vice president Bree--in a race against time to bring her math grade up. Very also faces distractions, including a fundraising fiasco and a quest to emulate her political idol, State Rep. Hazel Shaw. Very is a lovable, distinctly drawn protagonist whose various scrapes have a lighthearted tone. Her ultimate worst enemy isn't other people but rather her own hubris and choices. Refreshingly, Larson avoids preachiness, and she shows Very's life and personality as being larger than her learning disability. Very's diagnosis of dyscalculia is handled with a light hand and given equal weight to her interpersonal struggles, such as her well-realized relationships with Bree and Lucile. Larson's command of the medium is apparent in the dynamic, easy-to-follow layouts and panel flow and the funny, specific character designs. The balance between the writing and visuals enhances Very's journey, and her colorful Asheville, North Carolina, environs lend a cozy, reassuring air. Red-haired Very is light-skinned, Bree has brown skin and Afro-textured hair, and Lucile has light brown skin. A buoyant misadventure with some lessons along the way.(Graphic fiction. 8-12)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

October 7, 2024
After giving a rousing speech about fund-raising for a class trip to Danger Hollow Fun Park, eighth grader Verity “Very” Nelson is elected for her third term as student body president. But that was the easy part. Now Very must work to improve her math grade: not only does she worry that her fund-raising efforts will be almost impossible if she continues to struggle with arithmetic, but she will also be forced to resign as president if her grade keeps declining. Very soon forges an unlikely partnership with classmate Lucile, her vice president Bree’s former BFF, and the perpetrator behind Sauce-Gate, an incident in which a rogue blender almost brought about embarrassment for the trio. Lucile’s resentment toward Very slowly thaws and together, the girls work to better Very’s mathematics prowess and Lucile and Bree’s relationship. Everything is going according to plan until intrepid student podcaster Nate notices that Very has been slacking on her presidential duties and determines to undermine her position. Larson (All My Friends) emphasizes character expressions, dialogue, and Very’s inner monologue via vibrant illustrations to craft an introspective graphic novel about mistakes, forgiveness, and the importance of accommodation for academically challenged youth. Characters are portrayed with varied skin tones. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from January 1, 2025

Gr 4-8-Life seems perfect for friendly, ambitious, and effortlessly cool eighth grader Verity "Very" Nelson: she's student body president, with her best friend Bree at her side as vice president, and she's acing every class-except for math. In fact, she's failing miserably, and if she doesn't turn things around, she risks losing her spot on student council. Her troubles multiply when she's placed in a small, experimental math pod with Lucille, Bree's ex-best friend who is the only one immune to Very's charm. Determined to handle everything alone, Very keeps her struggles a secret, ashamed to admit she's failing at something for the first time. The characters in this graphic novel are wonderfully engaging-relatable and consistently likable. Larson approaches Very's dyscalculia diagnosis with care, avoiding over-dramatization as Very accepts her diagnosis with resilience and embraces strategies that help her better understand how her brain works. The illustrations are vibrant and dynamic, capturing the positive mood of the story. Very has pale skin and red hair while Bree and Lucille have brown and light brown skin tones, respectively, bringing welcome inclusivity to the novel. Very's journey is not just about academic success but also about learning to rely on others and genuinely listening instead of feeling the constant need to have all the answers. VERDICT With captivating characters and a thoughtful exploration of dyscalculia, this book is a wonderful addition to any library and perfect for fans of Shannon Hale's and LeUyen Pham's Real Friends and Raina Telgemeier's Smile.-Amy Ribakove

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2025
Grades 5-8 When the principal tells eighth-grade class president Verity that if she doesn't bring up her math grade, she'll be kicked off student council, Verity is furious. She, along with her vice president, are on track to raise enough money for the entire class to go to Danger Hollow Fun Park. If she's so good at what she's doing for the school, why does her math grade matter? But when Verity transposes numbers on an order form and receives hundreds of dog-sized shirts instead of the class T-shirts she thought she was ordering, there's no more pretending her poor math skills will just go away. When her mistake is revealed to her classmates by an overeager school podcaster, Verity's chances for redemption become exponentially worse. Graphic novelist Larson has aimed her latest story at middle-grade readers who will identify with a character afraid of being defined by what she's bad at rather than for her strengths, and the revelation of the cause of Verity's problem with math will make a lot of readers feel seen. A solid addition.

COPYRIGHT(2025) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

March 1, 2025
Verity "Very" Nelson is very good at many things: she has just won her third term as student council president and is called "the gold standard of middle school politics." She is also first chair clarinet, has the highest grades in English and social studies, is undefeated in the debate club, and can do the most pushups in gym class. But math? That's not going so well. And if she doesn't pass it, the principal will force her to resign from student council. After intensive tutorials and studying, her grade is still low. When she transposes numbers on a custom T-shirt order for a fundraiser and it results in hundreds of unreturnable shirts for dogs ("Shirtgate"), her teacher realizes this wasn't just a clerical error: Verity has dyscalculia, a math learning disability. This engaging graphic novel sheds light on middle-school dynamics, bullying, and the lesser-known learning disability of dyscalculia in a way that's respectful and sensitive (though there is a brief, incorrect reference to ADHD as a learning disability). Panels take a variety of shapes and sizes that jigsaw together in visually appealing ways. Readers will be rooting for Very, who shows us that while people who have learning disabilities may be challenged by them, they may also be gifted in other ways. Julie Hakim Azzam

(Copyright 2025 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)