Way Off Track

Lace up your running shoes and get inspired to hit the track in Way Off Track: A Nansi Graphic Novel by Carl Brundtland and Claudia Dávila, the first in a new graphic novel series from Kids Can Press.

Nansi is the fastest runner in her school. Speed comes naturally to her but Tania is hot on her heels and she has the newest and best running shoes. Nansi NEEDS those shoes but they are way too expensive. When she accepts a job that interferes with a track training program she hatches a plan to try and have it all.

This story is a huge hit at our house. The Bee was the first to read it and could not put it down being a fan of running herself. It has even inspired us to watch the Netflix series, Sprint. I love Carl Brundtland’s storytelling. There was humour, lessons learned, and the voice is totally appealing and authentic. He really captured the essence of the middle graders who will be enjoying this amazing new series. We cannot wait for future Nansi stories and we are secretly hoping for a relay arc.

I really enjoyed the easy way Nansi interacts with her friends and family. Grandma’s patois peppered in with familial teasing and parental guidance makes this story a real treat for all readers and the graphic novel format is perfect for this kind of story!

Claudia Dávila’s art is animated and loud, just like Nansi. I love the big panels that are filled with backgrounds and people. Lots of colour and life throughout the story add to the appeal.