Gr 10 Up-University freshman roommates Susan, Esther, and Daisy continue their high jinks in this follow-up to Allison's Giant Days. Collecting issues five to eight, this volume presents the highs and lows of the trio's last few months of their first semester. The friends search for the perfect dress for the Hall Ball while trying not to conform to gender roles. With the help of McGraw, Esther and Daisy rescue Susan from her townie nemesis during holiday break. And Susan tries desperately not to fail most of her classes, while falling for a handsome grad student. From heartaches and hookups to psychotic breaks and looming exams, the friends experience the gamut of first-year college life. The quirky characters' personalities shine through not only in the hilarious text and asides but also in the bright, effusive illustrations. Commentary on small-town life, gender politics, and religion gives this light graphic novel an added layer of nuance. The gem-tone colors are reminiscent of the work of Noelle Stevenson, Kate Beaton, and Raina Telgemeier, and older fans of those authors will certainly gravitate to this series. Suggestive sexual situations and the presence of drugs and alcohol will ensure that this title will be best appreciated by mature teens looking forward to their own undergraduate experiences. VERDICT Readers of Allison's "Bad Machinery" series will delight in these new friendship-focused comics.-Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

The second volume of Allison and Cogar's charming comic opens with friends Esther, Susie, and Daisy getting ready for a big dance at their university. Their meager budgets send them to a second-hand store, and thanks to Esther's handy sewing-machine skills, the ladies look fantastic. But all the fine tailoring in the world can't ensure a magical evening, and in between glasses of wine, the evening becomes a real downer. Other chapters cover the horrors of returning home for break (particularly for Susie, who burned some powerful bridges last time she was there), exams, bad relationships, and a particularly acute case of Friday Night Lights addiction. While there are fewer poignant moments in this volume, Allison and Cogar's comedic timing is fantastic, and the wealth of puns and groaners will tickle plenty of readers. Treiman and Sarin's artwork continues to be perfect for the wry, earnest characters their stylized figures in bright, bold colors ooze personality, and a slinky sense of movement gives the whole package a lively feel. Perfect for fans of Noelle Stevenson's Nimona (2015).--Hunter, Sarah Copyright 2016 Booklist