Marlene's mother brings her to the salon every Sunday to get her hair straightened. She wishes her hair was straight so she wouldn't have to endure the salon or that she could be free to wear her hair the way it is. Although her mother leads her to believe that her hair is more acceptable straight, Marlene's tía helps her learn to embrace her curly hair. This is a heartfelt and engaging story centering around Marlene's struggles with her hair that addresses themes related to self-acceptance and standing up for oneself. There is lots of important ideas for middle readers to discuss. Marlene is a relatable character and many will be able to relate to her story. Readers will enjoy reading about her growth as she comes to embrace her hair as well as her mother's change. The illustrations are lovely. Middle grade readers who enjoy graphic novels in which characters learn important life lessons will love this one. This is definitely a must-have for middle grade classrooms.