Go with the Flow is a great choice for fans of. Lily Williams and Karen Schneeman expertly balance a fun coming-of-age story with a real cultural and social issue that influences half of the population. The creators nimbly incorporate issues of sexuality and social media, creating contemporary parentheticals in a heartening period story. Go With the Flow expertly tackles the struggle of being a teenagerand also the cultural stigma against periods and the people who have them. Expressive black-and-white illustrations enlivened by a winkingly all-red palette make for a quick, enjoyable read. But by depicting menstruation in the context of adolescent social minefields, Williams and Schneemann rescue the topic from dull health manuals. This is one of the more realistic and nuanced turns in a work that at times prioritizes education over storytelling. When she launches a one-woman period-destigmatization campaign, her friends feel embarrassed and alienated-especially Sasha, who is already “period girl” in the eyes of Hazelton High. Abby is outraged by the school’s empty tampon machines and begins researching the history of period politics. She is rescued by a diverse, tight-knit group of friends: independent Christine, activist Abby, and romantic Brit, who is plagued by her own painful periods. New girl Sasha Chen worries she’s marked for life when her first period stains her white pants for all to see. In a graphic novel about periods that is charming if a bit risk averse, Williams and Schneemann suggest that the best antidote to high school humiliation is friendship.
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