An Uplifting Read

"Frizzy" is a graphic novel that I think is important because it exposes to a new generation something that I only recently learned about back when California introduced it into law: the discrimination against traditionally black hairstyles. I had never stopped to think how afros, braids, and frizzy hair disappeared among my classmates in the transition from elementary to middle/school and high school and how they became almost nonexistent in the workplace. It's only when my state suggested that it cannot be a reason an employer retaliated against an employee that I realized how those styles disappeared as I got older.

This book brings that prejudice into the limelight and preaches what I think is a valid lesson for those newly going through that struggle; it's hard to overcome generations of stereotypes and prejudice, but change has to start somewhere. I also appreciated the mini lesson on hair styling Ortega included in the end. I had no idea that curly hair required so much maintenance!

Thanks to BookishFirst for allowing me to gain an early copy of this book for free. All thoughts and opinions are my own.