Review by Frank Plowright

Clash starts with some strangeness as Olive and her friends talk about their ideal movie. Kayla Miller allocates one panel per child, and each cleverly builds on the previous suggestion, but completely switches genre with art to match. It’s funny, smart and unusual, and Miller follows up with a tragic film over four panels complete with subtitles.

Sharing the cover with Olive this time is Nat, who’s just moved to the area and is new at the school. Olive’s keen to show Nat around and introduce her to people, while Nat is initially surprised at how friendly everyone is, noting the catty atmosphere at her previous school. However, she’s not slow with a putdown herself, and Miller is subtle with the dialogue, which might not be ill-intended, but she shows the truth with the art as per the sample page in which Nat’s expressions tell the story.

As ever, the simple look of the stories belies the airing of some complex issues. Clash is a good extrapolation of a childhood concern. Dealing with manipulative children is extremely difficult for other children, and Olive’s fear becomes Nat will take her friends away. What’s also good, and seen in all previous books, is Olive hearing different opinions from her conservative mother and her more free-thinking Aunt.

The other main thread is Olive planning a Halloween party. Miller precedes it with well conceived annoyances and Nat constantly belittling Olive, and the effect it has on her mood, but as her books are generally upbeat there are also a selection of nicely drawn pages of children just enjoying themselves putting up decorations.

Miller brings matters to a head well, and while it’s not a surprise that Nat eventually gets what she deserves, Miller doesn’t stop there and what follows might not otherwise occur to young readers.

Extras this time include suggestions for Halloween costumes and a question and answer session with Miller. She produces Crunch next.