I really loved this book and I hope it ends up getting the recognition it deserves. Just Roll With It follows Maggie during her first year of middle school as she makes new friends and gets involved with the D&D/role playing club. The main reason I got this book is that it’s a realistic and careful portrayal of OCD and anxiety, which made it a very relatable read. Both of the creators have struggled with mental health and I think it really adds to the realism and heart that the book has. Personally I have also struggled with OCD-like symptoms and intrusive thoughts that if I don’t do X, Y will happen, so it was good to read a book that shows a variety of ways that anxiety and compulsions can manifest. I also liked the subplot that her parents had to be educated and come around to how hard things were for her, and the inclusion of complicated and nuanced family dynamics added to the overall depth and realism of the plot.
The plot also covers Maggie’s struggle with mean kids, her worries about being as good at school as her siblings, and a mysterious monster on school grounds. The narrative has a satisfying conclusion, and the characterization is solid throughout, with everyone feeling unique despite a large cast of characters. The treatment of conflict and lashing out is well done. The art is also very good, with a simple, fun style and beautiful color work. And the amount of comics you get for $13 is honestly a steal, as this is a chunky book at 319 pages. My only issue with the entire thing is that the book is large enough that the glued binding is already starting to come loose in some places, but that’s an inevitability with glued instead of sewn. I really highly recommend this!
