Samanta Sanchez is determined to become the greatest weightlifter Latin America has ever seen and nothing will get in her way, especially not her parents’ anxiety about her goals. In Raise the Bar, Fernanda Frick H.’s debut graphic novel, readers follow Sam’s journey from the municipal gym in Santiago, Chile, to the world stage at the Pan American Games.
Sam has always been too strong, too stubborn, and too independent. She scares off the other kids at school and her parents just want her to fit in. No one really knows how lonely she is or how she’s always doubting herself. Still, she sets a goal and works to meet it, no matter how hard it is to fight for her spot at the table. Her brother offers his support but their parents are another story. When she’s accepted into the High Performance Center of Corazon (aka the HPC), with the chance to study under gold medalist Eva Dos Santos, her determination and persistence on following her dream win out over her parents’ disapproval.
At HPC, Sam meets other kids from around the world working towards their own gold medal dreams, including one of her idols, an American medalist named Barb Miller. The other athletes studying alongside Sam are diverse, with multiple countries and cultures represented. There’s also strong LGBTQ+ representation within the characters. The story still focuses primarily on Sam but the story grows to include the stories and experiences of the other athletes, with everyone’s unique personality given a chance to shine.
Some readers might be initially turned off by a graphic novel so heavily about sports but Raise the Bar is a book about strength in all its forms: physical, emotional, and mental. Sam and her friends are proud of what they’re capable of and that pride goes beyond just what happens in the gym. Even the most confident athletes have moments of weakness and self-doubt. When characters realize they want to take a path other than sports, it’s never portrayed as a betrayal or dismissive of their dreams; the other characters are proud of them for following their heart and embrace them as such. Excellent work-life balance is on display throughout the book.
Raise the Bar’s art is very animated and colorful. Frick’s background as an animator is evident throughout. The excellent multiple pages of backmatter explains it was originally conceived as an animated television show. Everyone is expressive and emotive, even Sam’s pet chinchilla. Scenes of self-doubt and anxiety are dark and cloudy, an excellent representation of that particular mindset. Competition scenes feel lifelike and readers may find themselves holding their breath as Sam attempts to lift her goal weight.
It is quite a long book, with long chapters. Because of this, the ideal audience for Raise the Bar straddles both older middle grade and younger young adult readers. There’s some romance in the story but the main focus is self confidence and friendship. Raise the Bar is especially recommended for readers who enjoy sports related graphic novels or animated shows or anyone who gets caught up in the thrill of international competitions. Also of note is that the graphic novel will be published in Spanish later this year, giving it a more authentic feel and wider audience.
Raise the Bar Vol.
By Fernanda Frick H.
Dial Books, 2026
ISBN: 9780593407325
Company Age Rating: 8-12
NFNT Age Recommendation: Middle Grade (7-11), Teen (13-16), Tween (10-13)
Creator Representation: Chilean, ADHD, Autistic Spectrum,
Character Representation: Chilean,
