A wonderful, touching middle grade graphic novel that stands alongside New Kid by Jerry Craft, Living with Viola by Rosena Fung, and other graphic novels that sensitively explore issues around mental health, friendship, and fitting in. While this title is a little young for my high school library, I definitely recommend it to all upper elementary and middle school readers!

Weirdo begins by a much needed disclaimer that it will deal with topics of suicide ideation and suicide attempts. This is a good warning to have because the topic of such things can be triggering to those who have gone through it and also it's just a good idea to let kids know what they're in for when picking up a book where the cover shows a bespeckled kid in a superhero cape.

The beginning of "Weirdo" does a good job visually showing how Tony's depression literally drains color from his world and the support system around him seems to make him withdraw into himself until a full black page mentions the attempt, no details given and a request not to seek details. This is a respectful way to handle such a serious topic, and I expected to get a five star read dealing with the fallout and aftermath of such a traumatic event.

What I got instead was a fun romp of an outsider kid who meets fellow outsiders, and they petition for ways to keep their school from closing. To be very clear, this second part of "Weirdo" is well-written. On its own it would be an excellent story. The eclectic mix of kids and the fantastical digressions are humorous, you can see how Tony opens up with them from his previous mistrust. My main reservation is that it is such a far departure of the groundwork for the first part of the story that it almost seems as if they should be two separate stories told. A friend doing a JoJo pose with "Radiant Scarf" as they confront bullies is funny but also hyperrealistic and seems like a completely different world from the beginning. There's also a bit of flubbing the nerd ephemera into adjacent names, like having Pokemon also be called Mini Monsters. It makes me wonder if an earlier draft was more realistic and then morphed into the later tone.

This is not to say that "Weirdo" needed to be a deeply realistic and darkly focused

While a little heavy-handed with the life lessons at time, this graphic novel is fast-paced read with important messages about mental health, bullying, and finding a way to fit in. I especially appreciated the anime & kid lit easter eggs hidden throughout, as will other readers who are in on the reference. From the art style to the language, this is an excellent purchase for middle grade readers.

On a personal level, I'll confess to feeling less invested in the story when it became a familiar "save our club" type of narrative. More objectively, the way it is done here is unique enough - and emotionally astute enough in the context of the protagonist being anything but a traditional misfit - that I can't see any good reason to withhold the utmost praise from this title. Most importantly, the self-loathing in the first quarter or so is described and shown with grace and honesty.

The title says it all! I have needed a book like this in my classroom and finally I have one. A heartfelt and relatable story, I know this book will reach into hands of young readers that need a story that tells them, it will be okay. Thank you to author Tony Weaver for this story and to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was my favorite book of the month. Tony’s story was so heartfelt and relatable, and the art was just as amazing. I especially loved how the colors started to fade when Tony was entering a depression, went dark, and slowly returned to brightness again. This book is a love letter for all the weirdos out there; be yourself, always.

Tony Weaver Jr. explores the painful experience of bullying and ostracism in Weirdo. This heartfelt and heartbreaking graphic novel celebrates differences and confirms that there’s a place for all of us.

Weirdo honors all the little quirks that make us who we are, and the joy that comes when we find “our people.”

Weaver’s story is deeply personal, and some parts — attempted self-harm — are difficult to read about. That’s not to say Weaver goes into great detail. In fact, this section of his book is incredibly emotional due, in part, to all the elements he leaves out. It is not graphic, but given the suggested reading age, parents should be aware and ready to have conversations.

On its face, Weirdo sounds like an unhappy story. And part of it is. But the bigger part is one of survival and self-acceptance. It will especially appeal to readers who find themselves on the “fringes” of the social hierarchy.

I like this one quite a bit. It deals with heavy topics in a way that is honest, yet perfect for the age group. It also treats the age group with a ton of respect to handle what is being presented. The to- neat ending kind of betrays the generally mature, but not heavy handed, work of a writer to watch.

This book is about being yourself and it's ok to be yourself. Warning it does talk about suicide. It talks about the darkness that you have but the people that love you help bring back the light in your life. It's a really good book, sad so good.

THIS BOOK! Amazing. Read this middle grade graphic novel, everything is SO well done. Kid feeling like an outcast, bullied but can't seem to get help is shown truly. Serious mental health issue handled with the age of the reader kept in mind but still showing how scary and hard it is for anyone to handle. Therapy shown as work but also a path to success with tools to help in the future. Starting over in a new school, scary in itself but also trying to make new friends and try new things while being aware of how badly things can turn out. And it just kept getting better.

I love this book and will be recommending it to anyone and everyone!

Suicide is not a topic touched upon or featured in many Middle Grade books. This new graphic novel explores it in a believable way.

“Weirdo” is none other than Tony Weaver, Jr. who is eleven-years-old and beginning 7th grade at a new school. His love of comic books, anime, and video games, along with carrying around an action figure in his pocket quickly has him targeted by bullies. They are relentless.

At first Tony tries to conform and fit in but soon the hurt of not being accepted is too much. Attempted suicide is Tony’s answer to bringing an end to his problems.

I DON’T WANT TO DIE.. I JUST WANT TO FEEL OK. BUT I CAN’T DO THAT HERE.

MAYBE IF I COULD GET TO GRAMMY WE COULD WATCH CARTOONS AGAIN.

The entire scene of attempted suicide is not depicted on the pages. Tony only tells us it didn’t work. His cousin discovers what he tried to do and alerts the parents. The final two-thirds of the story is a fantastic lead into Tony becoming the hero of his own story. He enrolls in a new school and finds friends who encourage him to become a member of the literature club. Tony also begins seeing a clinical psychologist.

Tony the Weirdo faces one more challenge, but this time he takes a different approach and readers will be applauding his bravery. The entire plot mirrors what the author experienced in his life. Tony Weaver, Jr. is also a hero for sharing his story and giving struggling kids hope.

FIVE MORE THINGS TO LIKE ABOUT: WEIRDO by Tony Weaver, Jr.

1. The illustrations are excellent and the color often mimics Tony’s mood with brighter colors when things are going better for Tony and darker ones during the tough times.
2. Tony’s new friends are a fun, memorable group. They each have their own interests which are celebrated by their peers.
3. A story that could have been a downer turns into an uplifting journey.
4. The parents. They didn’t initially fully understand what was going with their son but their actions redeemed them in a great way.
5. Don’t miss the author’s letter in the final pages. He gives advice for kids like him to be extraordinary.

A MG graphic memoir by @tonyweaverjr perfect for fans of New Kid and The Dark Matter of Mona Starr.
🦸🏾
Preteen Tony is sent to a new school for gifted students and while he ends up finding a love for writing there, he also spends most of his time hiding his love of comics and games so he’s not bullied. Despite hiding who he is, Tony still becomes the target of many students and sinks to a very low place, needing help of his family, best friend and a new therapist. When his parents move him to a new school again, this time Tony finds his people. Literature Club becomes Tony’s haven, but when the school’s occupancy and enrollment drops and there’s talk of closing his new school, Tony puts a plan into motion to save it.
🦸🏾
I don’t think I could love a graphic novel more. This was such an honest portrayal of Tony’s experiences, but also so relatable to our students today. Many are struggling with their own mental health issues and bullying. I loved the social media comments from authors of today and just the overall message of this book The artwork by @jesncin was fantastic! Thank you @01firstsecond for sending me a copy. This title releases September 17!

CW: suicide ideation, bullying, violence, self-harm, grief

This is an incredibly powerful graphic memoir. I wasn't expecting things to get so heavy, based on the cover design. I think it's an important story that really tackles mental health at the middle school level, but the inclusion of the (true, I'm certain) suicide attempt... it was a lot. But that's something some kids that age would do well to read. It will be one I am careful when I recommend, but I do think it's an important story.

Tony is the new kid at his school. All he wants is to fit in, to be accepted, to find friends. When none of this happens, and his parents tough love attitude doesn't solve any problems either, Tony reaches a dark place. His parents transfer him to another school where he is the new kid again. But is there a light at the end of this tunnel? Tony explores what this school has to offer and searches for others who may be just as weird as he is.

4.5 stars

Being a new kid comes with its struggles, especially when you're obsessed with things fellow students consider nerdy. And also especially in middle school. At age 11, Tony finds it hard to fit in with other kids his age. Eventually, the bullying gets to be too much, pushing Tony to the edge. But when he eventually feels ready to reach out for help, he finds that another school might just be the place for him.

Thanks to NetGalley and First Second for an advanced copy of Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr. to review! There have been so many great graphic novels coming out this year, both for teens and for middle grade. And this one just adds to the list! A graphic memoir, this relfects on Weaver's own experience in middle school, tackling difficult topics in a way that's easy for middle grade readers to digest.

I picked this one up specifically because it was illustrated by Jes and Cin Wibowo, who published Lunar Boy earlier this year. Which I loved! I think they're going to be a dynamic duo when it comes to illustratined graphic novels. Their art in this book as well fits the story so well, bring Weaver's writing to life. Between strong writing and beautiful illustrations, this will be a difficult book to put down!

If you're familiar with the middle grade graphic novel realm, you also might notice some easter eggs hidden throughout, which I always find fun. Weaver creates a balance in this book, with the heavy and the more lighthearted. The overall message is definitely one that's important for middle school readers. It's okay to be a little weird.

It starts off with "to kids who spend most of their time at the library" so what's not to love by the illustrators but when Weaver Jr. endears us all with his plight as a weirdo/nerd and finding the balance of friendships and believing in yourself.

In Weaver Jr.'s case that meant moving schools somewhat frequently and then eventually after a suicide attempt that is explained, but not in detail, in the story to share what Weaver Jr. went through until he began attending a new school in which he found a literature club and worked through being different as all the kids in the club were different- be it that they liked drama and performance, manga/anime, or were just plain weird like Weaver Jr. who still enjoyed his vivid imagination of superheroes and imagined worlds which plays into the story at various intervals.

There's a bit of unevenness to the story though- at the beginning he relied heavily on metaphors like gardens/planting and others to share what he was feeling and how he was trying to cope which all kind of dissipated when the trajectory of the story changed and then there was the pacing at the end, it felt like it abruptly came to a head with saving the school- the end! The denouement didn't exist the way the seeming buildup did.

But that's a smaller detail compared to the outsized message of owning who you are and feeling supported and being kind to yourself.

Weirdo is an ode to those who dare to be different. The ones who are passionate about their interests and don't care who knows it. It's about the greatness of being unique, the camaraderie that comes from finding your people, and the absolute joy you feel when embracing your true self.

It's also about the struggles you face along your journey and the hope that comes after the darkest times. This books hits some seriously difficult (but essential) topics: suicide, self harm, bullying. And it handles them with grace and compassion.

I LOVED Weirdo and highly recommend for middle and high school libraries!

Honestly, I adored this book. I was a weird kid in school with a lot of the same interests as our lead and, while I didn't have all the complications he did, boy howdy do I feel seen by this book. All of the characters are so very close to home, from the overbearing mother that means well but goes completely the wrong way in trying to help through to the person on the sports team because where else can they go? There's not a dud in the bunch. Add to that the deceptively simple looking art, all those delightful nods to real nerd culture that wink at the audience without ever tripping up the main narrative, and again those characters, man.

A very well written little book that I have already pre-ordered for my library. I cannot wait to get this into the hands of all the other Weirdos out there.

What a fantastic graphic novel. It hits you straight in the heart and sends all the right messages to kids who are just trying to find their place in the world.

This is a nice story about finding you are while being true to yourself. It seems similar to New Kid in some ways. The MC is likable. Stories about kids feeling like misfits are always helpful to support those who haven't quite found themselves yet. It's paneled in true comic book style, and the characters are interesting and expressive.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I purchased for my library.