Review Detail

PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is an engaging graphic novel about entrepreneurship, friendship, and rivals. Gabby and her friends are crushing it with their dog walking business, PAWS. However, things become more challenging when Gabby's nemesis, Leo, wants to join the team. After he is rejected, he decides to get revenge and starts his own dog walking business, SCAMPS.

As things heat up between the two rival businesses, the kids will find themselves making challenging decisions and reaching a breaking point. They will need to figure out how to resolve this and work together for the good of all involved.

What I loved: This is a highly engaging and relatable story. Middle grade readers will relate to the feeling of rivalries and nemeses while having to work together at school and navigate these relationship challenges. The book handles these well, while also showing the challenges to entrepreneurship and starting your own company plus handling all the logistics that come with it. While PAWS is more established, SCAMPS is getting off the ground and finding the market more difficult than anticipated.

There are many lessons to be learned as they navigate these spaces and relationship challenges. Feelings and businesses are in the crossfire, and both Gabby and Leo learn about communication, kindness, and the trouble with animosity.

The images are really fantastic throughout with lots of great color and expressive characters. The speech bubbles are easy to follow and attribute, without overloading any of the images. The presentation is perfect throughout and the format is perfect for the story.

Final verdict: PAWS: THE TROUBLE WITH LEO is a consuming and entertaining graphic novel with great themes for middle grade readers. Highly recommend for fans of friendship, creativity, and thoughtful stories.