Weirdo

Starred review from July 8, 2024
A Black 11-year-old faces a gauntlet of obstacles in debut author Weaver’s uplifting graphic novel memoir, which examines issues surrounding the pressures of fitting in, mental health, and suicide. Tony Weaver Jr. has “been the new kid so many times it doesn’t feel new anymore,” a fact that buoys him as he starts at yet another new school. But he’s bullied by other students for bringing toys to class and by Black peers for his demeanor (“You think he asked to get put in the Oreo section?”). Everything is made worse by his grief over his late grandmother. Shifting color palettes convey the effects of these experiences—richly colored drawings by the Wibowos (Lunar Boy), embellished with superhero comic emanata, fade to b&w as Weaver’s loneliness deepens. Illustrations eventually move back to vibrant hues as Weaver begins to heal following a suicide attempt, an event that leads his parents to send him to a psychologist and another new, predominantly Black school, where he befriends like-minded “weirdos.” It all culminates in a touching story of belonging, in which Weaver realistically depicts the many small steps required to becoming one’s own hero. Ages 10–14.

Starred review from August 16, 2024

Gr 5-8-This semi-fictionalized premise based on Weaver's life is one that sadly may ring familiar, with Tony Jr. being the victim of bullying in his new middle school, and the hurt and trauma eventually bringing him to a suicide attempt. A cry for help allows Tony to forge ahead and rewrite his own story. Fortunately, with love, nurturing, a sense of self, and a school transfer, Tony finds peers who share his interests and who he can call friends. Later, the rush is on as Tony and his classmates work to save their school from closing. The mix of sadness, hope, and finding a sense of self are strong themes throughout the narrative. The book does not linger on the suicide attempt, with Weaver purposefully leaving out details or anything graphic. While a few scenes stray into pedantic detailing, the story's overall message is an important one, especially since the topic of suicide is not often tackled for this audience. The artwork is fun; the Wibowo siblings truly capture the titular weirdness of the characters, and each page holds visually interesting illustrations to pore over. Vibrant colors and exciting costumes are integral to the artwork. There is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book, but the digital galley did not include further resources. VERDICT This graphic novel tackles mental health topics and includes strong overtones of resilience that make it a worthy addition to any middle grade collection.-Esther Keller

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

September 15, 2024
Grades 5-8 Tony has always felt like an outsider, but when bullying from his classmates leads to a suicide attempt (which, very importantly, is not depicted), he's successfully able to use therapy and friends at a new school as a meaningful support system, later giving support back to his new school as it faces closure. Drawing from his real-life experience, Weaver creates an easily relatable story of overcoming obstacles and finding peace within yourself. Structured as a series of vignettes, the book can come off as incohesive, as it deals with everything from bullying and making friends to the more tangential topics of unrequited first love and crowdsourcing support for a failing school. Some of these points tie well to the main plot, but others seem to appear only briefly. The appealing, anime-inspired artwork perfectly captures the uplifiting tone, making great use of cartoonish expressions for big emotions and thoughtful color palettes during the depths of Tony's depressive episode. Some big endorsements will give this added interest, including one from Jerry Craft, whose New Kid is an ideal read-alike.

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