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Speechless: A Graphic Novel
From Eisner Award-winning author Aron Nels Steinke comes a heartfelt and funny middle-grade graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and expressing yourself.
Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. She didn't used to have anxiety speaking--and she used to have friends. Now, her former best friend Chloe is her worst enemy, and Mira's only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel. But when Chloe's mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice?
Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. She didn't used to have anxiety speaking--and she used to have friends. Now, her former best friend Chloe is her worst enemy, and Mira's only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel. But when Chloe's mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice?
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
87 people are currently reading
2357 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 80 reviews
February 24, 2025
As someone who sometimes struggled speaking at school in middle school, I related to Mira. She can't get any words out, although she has no problem doing so at home. She is very creative and loves to make her own stop-motion animation.
With the help of her family and a therapist, she is able to find strategies that work for her to find her voice.
(For my fellow librarians in the trenches of book-banning, be aware that there is one instance of the use of the word "crap", and an individual that Mira becomes friends with uses the pronouns "they/them".)
With the help of her family and a therapist, she is able to find strategies that work for her to find her voice.
(For my fellow librarians in the trenches of book-banning, be aware that there is one instance of the use of the word "crap", and an individual that Mira becomes friends with uses the pronouns "they/them".)
April 11, 2025
An interesting story about a girl with selective mutism, and how she makes friends, deals with stresses of life, and loves everything to do with stop motion films.
June 3, 2025
One of my favourite middle grade graphic novels of the year!
September 1, 2025
My nine year old gives this five stars. I said, do you want to write a review? She said, will it make him write another book? I said, maybe!
So let’s have another one please! The children are impatient.
So let’s have another one please! The children are impatient.
March 5, 2025
Entertaining, engaging and insightful…definitely in the vein of Telgemeier, Hale, Jamieson, and Brosgol.
I like how real the characters and relationship dynamics are and the direct and indirect ways Steinke portrays them. No one is perfect, they try their best (or not)… His use of the art of miscommunication. Those inclusions of scenes, expressions or exchanges Mira is present for yet unaware of. The quiet moments of humor and the fearless amount of tension. One of my favorite aspects is following the relationship arc of Mira and Chloe.
Speechless is a delightful exploration of Art and the Art of communication. Art is everything to Mira, it is her truest voice—and, for someone whose anxiety can mute her physical voice, it’s her most reliable means of communication. But anxiety and the inability to communicate clearly isn’t unique to Mira. One of the loveliest aspects of Speechless is how no one character is left flawless, child or adult. Steinke explores this as the story dictates, offering more than Mira’s single first person narrative. Reflections are multifaceted and the resolutions are richer for it.
Steinke’s appealing and accessible art style mediates big emotions and carries the quiet beautifully. The informational is held in pleasing balance with the fiction. The thoughtful plotting of the story is reflected in the laying down of the panels and pages. I know Steinke sweated over this novel, applying years of skill/experience, but it reads “intuitive.” He gets kids, and adults who care about kids. He gets visual storytelling.
I love the NB rep as well as the diverse multicultural cast and disability rep.
I like how real the characters and relationship dynamics are and the direct and indirect ways Steinke portrays them. No one is perfect, they try their best (or not)… His use of the art of miscommunication. Those inclusions of scenes, expressions or exchanges Mira is present for yet unaware of. The quiet moments of humor and the fearless amount of tension. One of my favorite aspects is following the relationship arc of Mira and Chloe.
Speechless is a delightful exploration of Art and the Art of communication. Art is everything to Mira, it is her truest voice—and, for someone whose anxiety can mute her physical voice, it’s her most reliable means of communication. But anxiety and the inability to communicate clearly isn’t unique to Mira. One of the loveliest aspects of Speechless is how no one character is left flawless, child or adult. Steinke explores this as the story dictates, offering more than Mira’s single first person narrative. Reflections are multifaceted and the resolutions are richer for it.
Steinke’s appealing and accessible art style mediates big emotions and carries the quiet beautifully. The informational is held in pleasing balance with the fiction. The thoughtful plotting of the story is reflected in the laying down of the panels and pages. I know Steinke sweated over this novel, applying years of skill/experience, but it reads “intuitive.” He gets kids, and adults who care about kids. He gets visual storytelling.
I love the NB rep as well as the diverse multicultural cast and disability rep.
August 12, 2025
A graphic novel about a 6th grader, Mira, who has selective mutism--she learns this after a year of not being able to talk in school, worse than just being shy. She is bullied for it, and other classmates constantly speak for her. At home she's fine, but then her ex-best friend Chloe has to move in to Mira's house during a crisis with their family, and things get complicated, having her enemy at home. Mira has a hobby of making stop-motion videos that she posts online, keeping it secret from her family and though they're very popular videos, she keeps her creator status anonymous at school too. Mira has a crush at school and gets partnered with them for a presentation, but has to work through the whole no-talking thing. Eventually she works through her issue, has help from a counselor and makes up with her friend. A good look at anxiety/mutism, written from a place of familiarity because the book's author/illustrator had selective mutism when young, so it's semi-autobiographical. Cute colorful artwork. Good for tweens.
April 1, 2025
This was a fantastic graphic novel! Unique and heartwarming, with lots of coming-of-age life lessons and learning moments. It's about a young girl who struggles with selective mutism and can't bring herself to speak at school or in public and her creative outlet of stop-go animation.
It's about friendship and family, sharing your feelings, and facing ones fears.
4.5 ⭐️
It's about friendship and family, sharing your feelings, and facing ones fears.
4.5 ⭐️
May 12, 2025
This reminded me a lot of childhood. I had trouble speaking in class, especially when surprised that I was called on. (For that second part, it didn't help that I would read in class and lose track of what was happening) It took several years of struggling to push myself into more uncomfortable situations and now can fake confidence pretty well. I laugh to think that people who only met me as an adult might have difficulty seeing me as a shy person.
I'm also glad that there's emphasis here on the help of therapy and patience. I didn't get those options as a child and could have been helped so much by both.
I'm also glad that there's emphasis here on the help of therapy and patience. I didn't get those options as a child and could have been helped so much by both.
June 28, 2025
Read it with my daughter who has selective mutism. I loved seeing her relate to a character in a book, so much so she wanted to read it again after finishing it
May 24, 2025
There was too much conflict for my taste. This poor character. Being a selective mute has to be hard. I struggle with anxiety and have a hard time expressing my thoughts and feelings. But I feel like I've gotten better with age. I kind of liked how she enjoyed working with stop motion animation. To me there also didn't feel like much of a resolution.
October 6, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Mia has problems with social anxiety that have led to years of increasing selective mutism, but she makes a goal for herself to talk in class as she enters middle school. Her first day is a bust, but other students, including former best friend and current nemesis, Chloe, tell the teachers that Mia just doesn't talk. This isn't evident at home, where Mia talks to her mother and father, as well as her younger sister Madeleine, who occasionally helps her with her computer animation projects. Under the name Danger Cat Studios, Mia uploads videos like Tommy Tomato and Bobby Banana. When she puts up posters at school advertising these, she gets a lot of views, and finds it amusing that no one knows she is responsible. She creates puppets to use in the videos, and makes one of Alex, a cool nonbinary kid on whom she has a bit of a crush. They stick up for Mia when classmates make fun of her, and even partners with her on a school project. Alex is surprised that Mia speaks at home, and the two have more fun with the animation projects than the school one. It doesn't go well, since Mia is dealing with the fact that Chloe is living with her family while her parents are taking care of her grandmother. Mia remembers that Chloe, in second grade, told her to quit pestering her, and has trouble when Chloe invites friends to the house. At one point, she suspects that Chloe has poisoned her spaghetti, and spirals to the point where her parents call the paramedics. Mia's grades aren't good, and when Mia's teacher finally calls her mother, the parents find out that Mia hasn't been talking at school. They get her in to therapy, and she slowly progresses from whispering to Alex, which isn't so hard, to speaking in front of groups.
Strengths: One of my second grade classmates was selectively mute, and this was very hard to understand as a child, so it's interesting to see this representation, especially since the author had a lesser degree of this condition when he was young. Mia and Chloe's friend drama makes sense (I personally still have grudges from elementary school!), but I was glad to see that Chloe wasn't really still mean to Mia, and her feelings were a little bit hurt as well. Alex sticking up for Mia and befriending her was also good to see. Mia's animation hobby was intriguing, and it wasn't unusual that her grades slipped in middle school. Steinke's illustrations (Mr. Wolf's Class) will appeal to middle school readers.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the parents didn't know that Mia wasn't speaking in class. When Mia didn't speak in middle school, the first thing that a teacher would do would be to check her file for diagnosis and accomodations, and when nothing was there, a phone call home would have been made!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like all of the graphic novels that deal with challenging middle school experiences. Raina Telgemeier set the bar with Smile, and these have continued with Hale's Real Friends, Durfy-Lavoie's Just Roll With It, Libenson's Invisible Emmy, Page's Button Pusher, Palmer's Campy Prodigy, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and many other titles.
Mia has problems with social anxiety that have led to years of increasing selective mutism, but she makes a goal for herself to talk in class as she enters middle school. Her first day is a bust, but other students, including former best friend and current nemesis, Chloe, tell the teachers that Mia just doesn't talk. This isn't evident at home, where Mia talks to her mother and father, as well as her younger sister Madeleine, who occasionally helps her with her computer animation projects. Under the name Danger Cat Studios, Mia uploads videos like Tommy Tomato and Bobby Banana. When she puts up posters at school advertising these, she gets a lot of views, and finds it amusing that no one knows she is responsible. She creates puppets to use in the videos, and makes one of Alex, a cool nonbinary kid on whom she has a bit of a crush. They stick up for Mia when classmates make fun of her, and even partners with her on a school project. Alex is surprised that Mia speaks at home, and the two have more fun with the animation projects than the school one. It doesn't go well, since Mia is dealing with the fact that Chloe is living with her family while her parents are taking care of her grandmother. Mia remembers that Chloe, in second grade, told her to quit pestering her, and has trouble when Chloe invites friends to the house. At one point, she suspects that Chloe has poisoned her spaghetti, and spirals to the point where her parents call the paramedics. Mia's grades aren't good, and when Mia's teacher finally calls her mother, the parents find out that Mia hasn't been talking at school. They get her in to therapy, and she slowly progresses from whispering to Alex, which isn't so hard, to speaking in front of groups.
Strengths: One of my second grade classmates was selectively mute, and this was very hard to understand as a child, so it's interesting to see this representation, especially since the author had a lesser degree of this condition when he was young. Mia and Chloe's friend drama makes sense (I personally still have grudges from elementary school!), but I was glad to see that Chloe wasn't really still mean to Mia, and her feelings were a little bit hurt as well. Alex sticking up for Mia and befriending her was also good to see. Mia's animation hobby was intriguing, and it wasn't unusual that her grades slipped in middle school. Steinke's illustrations (Mr. Wolf's Class) will appeal to middle school readers.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the parents didn't know that Mia wasn't speaking in class. When Mia didn't speak in middle school, the first thing that a teacher would do would be to check her file for diagnosis and accomodations, and when nothing was there, a phone call home would have been made!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like all of the graphic novels that deal with challenging middle school experiences. Raina Telgemeier set the bar with Smile, and these have continued with Hale's Real Friends, Durfy-Lavoie's Just Roll With It, Libenson's Invisible Emmy, Page's Button Pusher, Palmer's Campy Prodigy, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and many other titles.
July 11, 2025
Welcome Back!
The weather where I currently live has been great. It’s not too uncomfortably warm. So for today’s review, I grabbed a graphic novel ARC (thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions) and headed out to sit on my patio area in the nice but not too warm weather, and sat down to read. I read this book in one sitting while soaking in some vitamin D and fresh air.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Mira is starting middle school today, which is a huge deal for her. Mira does not speak ever in school, but this year she is determined to try on day one. Middle school is going to be a new chapter for her, and she is going to start by speaking to her classmates and teachers. But quickly into the day, people are already speaking for her, telling teachers and new classmates that she does not speak at all. Mira is frustrated, but at least when she goes home, she can go up to her room and work on her passion. Stop motion filmmaking. She is really good at it and spends all her free time working on new videos. She has a small YouTube channel, and this year she is going to make posters and put them up at school before anyone can see her. Fortunately, this plan works out, but she is still unable to talk at school. But when a teacher calls home and explains to her parents they are shocked to learn that she does not speak at school ever. Now they are taking her to therapy. Mira’s therapist is very kind and is helping her to work through what she has since learned is a form of mutism. But in the meantime, maybe Mira can still make some friends.
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I loved watching Mira create movies and grow into her own outspoken person slowly. The video creation idea was incredibly cool, and I think something many kids are interested in (with TikTok and YouTube being all over). Additionally, I love the illustrations and the colors. I definitely recommend giving this graphic novel a try!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
The weather where I currently live has been great. It’s not too uncomfortably warm. So for today’s review, I grabbed a graphic novel ARC (thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions) and headed out to sit on my patio area in the nice but not too warm weather, and sat down to read. I read this book in one sitting while soaking in some vitamin D and fresh air.
SPOILERS AHEAD
Mira is starting middle school today, which is a huge deal for her. Mira does not speak ever in school, but this year she is determined to try on day one. Middle school is going to be a new chapter for her, and she is going to start by speaking to her classmates and teachers. But quickly into the day, people are already speaking for her, telling teachers and new classmates that she does not speak at all. Mira is frustrated, but at least when she goes home, she can go up to her room and work on her passion. Stop motion filmmaking. She is really good at it and spends all her free time working on new videos. She has a small YouTube channel, and this year she is going to make posters and put them up at school before anyone can see her. Fortunately, this plan works out, but she is still unable to talk at school. But when a teacher calls home and explains to her parents they are shocked to learn that she does not speak at school ever. Now they are taking her to therapy. Mira’s therapist is very kind and is helping her to work through what she has since learned is a form of mutism. But in the meantime, maybe Mira can still make some friends.
I absolutely loved this graphic novel. I loved watching Mira create movies and grow into her own outspoken person slowly. The video creation idea was incredibly cool, and I think something many kids are interested in (with TikTok and YouTube being all over). Additionally, I love the illustrations and the colors. I definitely recommend giving this graphic novel a try!
Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars
***Thank you so much to the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.
April 6, 2025
Gotta say that this book really surprised me. Not because I didn’t think it was gonna be good. I have read Steinke’s other work (Mr. Wolf’s Class series) and loved it! I think what I was surprised by was the beautiful way that everything came together for Mira’s story. I felt like the book started a little slowly, but, once it got into a groove, it really shined! I love the care with which the author takes on a tough subject like Selective Mutism, which is hard for even grown-ups like me to understand. I was (and am) a bit shy, so I could relate to Mira’s social anxiety. And looking back, I do think I knew some kids in school who might have had SM. I hope I was kind in their eyes. The scenes where Mira does her stop motion animation are super special and I think I enjoyed those the most. This may or may not be the most random review ever…
Anyway, props to Aron Nels Steinke for bringing up Selective Mutism (SM) in a children’s graphic novel and making a story that so many can relate to. The characters felt real and you were rooting for everyone in the end. I also like that he clarified that not everyone with SM has the same experiences or is even diagnosed the same exact way. No two people are alike and no two people’s experiences will be the same, even if they have the same disorder. Fiction should not imply that “Everyone with disorder x is this way and has these symptoms,” etc. I feel a note like this in the back of the book is a great reminder. Loved the book. Put it on your list!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 25
Anyway, props to Aron Nels Steinke for bringing up Selective Mutism (SM) in a children’s graphic novel and making a story that so many can relate to. The characters felt real and you were rooting for everyone in the end. I also like that he clarified that not everyone with SM has the same experiences or is even diagnosed the same exact way. No two people are alike and no two people’s experiences will be the same, even if they have the same disorder. Fiction should not imply that “Everyone with disorder x is this way and has these symptoms,” etc. I feel a note like this in the back of the book is a great reminder. Loved the book. Put it on your list!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 25
May 1, 2025
Samaistuttava sarjakuva kuudennen luokan aloittaneesta Mirasta, jolla on selektiivinen mutisti. Minullakin oli se, kun olin ala-asteella. Kertoo hyvin siitä tunteesta, kuinka koulussa ei voi puhua, mutta kotona ja tuttujen ihmisten kanssa voi. Plussaa they/them -hahmosta.
Samankaltaista luettavaa:
- Mixed-Up
- The New Girl
- Four Eyes
- Hymy
- Frankie's World
- Continental Drifter
- Almost American Girl
Samankaltaista luettavaa:
- Mixed-Up
- The New Girl
- Four Eyes
- Hymy
- Frankie's World
- Continental Drifter
- Almost American Girl
April 2, 2025
Speechless: three stars. Neat to see a main character with selective mutism, and while the art style wasn't the type I'm usually drawn to, in this case the dramatic gestures/expressions were an effective way to show emotions that weren't always conveyed in spoken dialogue. However, I think what could have been a really powerful story (about how a kid with a communication disability navigates the modern world) was weakened by some odd writing/plotting choices that didn't quite feel realistic. I didn't buy that Mira could have made it to middle school with her (attentive, caring) parents unaware she wasn't speaking at school, or that her parents weren't very concerned that she secretly makes puppets of all her classmates and uses them to make videos of the classmates turning into monsters and attacking her. There are also quite a few lines of dialogue or narration where certain words are bolded, but they're not the words that someone speaking aloud would emphasize, so they feel kind of unnatural.
Note: there's a section where one character gets sick, and another character is shown as wearing a mask around her at home, but there's no mention of testing or deciding how long she should quarantine. Not sure if the book takes place in a world with Covid-19 or not, or what kind of statement the author is trying to make about it.
Note: there's a section where one character gets sick, and another character is shown as wearing a mask around her at home, but there's no mention of testing or deciding how long she should quarantine. Not sure if the book takes place in a world with Covid-19 or not, or what kind of statement the author is trying to make about it.
August 19, 2024
ARC read full review to follow. I read this one with my own MG reader who absolutely loved it and said they related related to the main character Mira. Can't get much better than that! Mira is a middle schooler who expresses herself by creating stop-motion animated movies, including her own custom-made doll actors and hilarious scripts. But there are many situations where she finds that she can't speak, including at school, and is eventually diagnosed with selective mutism. The Cleveland Clinic defines SM as an anxiety distorder where someone finds themself unable to speak in certain social situations. The story explores how Mira navigates bullying over her disability (including by her former bestie), makes new friends, and finds ways to express herself. It also really captured that feeling of being left out even when you're right in the middle of things because other people won't accept and include you just the way you are. I really appreciated that Mira's therapy sessions were included on the page and that her disability was illustrated as a dynamic condition that presents itself different in different situation. A comic-style author note describes the author's experience with selective mutism and bullying.
May 13, 2025
Mira has always had a hard time speaking at school. But she had her best friend, Chloe, to help her. But then in 2nd grade, Chloe became her number one enemy instead of her best friend. Ever since then, school has been very hard. So now that she is starting 6th grade in a new school, she has hopes that she can overcome her anxiety and fear and finally be able to speak out in class. That isn't how things go, though. She just can't overcome her fears. She uses stop motion animation and making films to help deal with her anxiety.
This book follows Mira as she navigates 6th grade, new friends, and her family finally getting on board with helping her figure out her anxiety. And make peace with her number one enemy who ends up living with them.
A super helpful book for all the middle schoolers out there. If you have anxiety or panic attacks, it can help you realize you aren't alone. If you don't - then it will help you empathize with the kid that doesn't speak up in class. And it serves as a great intro to stop motion animation.
This book follows Mira as she navigates 6th grade, new friends, and her family finally getting on board with helping her figure out her anxiety. And make peace with her number one enemy who ends up living with them.
A super helpful book for all the middle schoolers out there. If you have anxiety or panic attacks, it can help you realize you aren't alone. If you don't - then it will help you empathize with the kid that doesn't speak up in class. And it serves as a great intro to stop motion animation.
April 17, 2025
About a girl named Mira who has selective (or situational) mutism, she thought maybe middle school would be different, but the first and second and third days came and went and she doesn't talk. All of the kids know that she doesn't talk and share that with the teachers. Her parents don't necessarily know until a phone call home because she speaks at home just fine where she's comfortable voicing her thoughts, especially at her annoying little sister.
The exploration of middle school is the focus of this middle grade graphic novel with shifting dynamics of friendship (when her newly sworn ex-best-friend ends up moving in with her family while her mom is dealing with a parent care issue) and a new friend that might be more than a friend.
It's about homework and grades and having a very passionate hobby- she does stop animation and does it very well.
A fully-realized and realistic story based on the author's own experiences.
The exploration of middle school is the focus of this middle grade graphic novel with shifting dynamics of friendship (when her newly sworn ex-best-friend ends up moving in with her family while her mom is dealing with a parent care issue) and a new friend that might be more than a friend.
It's about homework and grades and having a very passionate hobby- she does stop animation and does it very well.
A fully-realized and realistic story based on the author's own experiences.
August 11, 2025
This was a much different book than I thought it would be, but man did I enjoy it! It deals with selective mutism (can only speak at different times) and for me it was just eye opening an also entertaining. My daughters read it first and though they did not say anything about it, I decided I wanted to give it a try. This is from Eisner Award-winning author Aron Nels Steinke (who won the Eisner which is like the Oscar's for the comic book industry). Aron is known in our household for Mr. Wolf's Class and holds a special place as that series was beloved before I (or any of my family) did reviews. This is a great book in many ways and can be enjoyed by people of all ages! You will go thru some serious emotional moments throughout this graphic novel. It is also a pretty thick one going over 250 pages! This book I believe makes to sympathize with so many characters and pulls you into the story. Great stuff!
May 21, 2025
I actually really enjoyed this graphic novel!
Not a huge fan of the art style but the story was good and an important one about social anxiety, selective mutism and panic attacks!
Surprised the school didn’t phone her parents on the FIRST day when people said she doesn’t talk! But glad her parents actually sent her to a therapist who she enjoyed talking to and helped her deal with her anxiety and get more confident to be able to speak in front of people.
Overall, it was a good story mixed with family and friendship drama but I think the kids will enjoy this and glad this book exists.
We need more graphic novels that talk about mental health issues and explain it easily. I loved that the Author’s Note was also in comic form!
Reminder to anyone suffering with any mental health issue is that you are NOT alone!
Not a huge fan of the art style but the story was good and an important one about social anxiety, selective mutism and panic attacks!
Surprised the school didn’t phone her parents on the FIRST day when people said she doesn’t talk! But glad her parents actually sent her to a therapist who she enjoyed talking to and helped her deal with her anxiety and get more confident to be able to speak in front of people.
Overall, it was a good story mixed with family and friendship drama but I think the kids will enjoy this and glad this book exists.
We need more graphic novels that talk about mental health issues and explain it easily. I loved that the Author’s Note was also in comic form!
Reminder to anyone suffering with any mental health issue is that you are NOT alone!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2025
I read this book because Aron Nels Steinke is a Portland local and the event at Powell’s put its release on my radar. This is an excellent middle grade graphic novel that has vibrant illustrations and is extremely readable. Main character Mira is more than just shy- she’s dealing with selective mutism at school (excellent rep). As she engages with a therapist and struggles with peer social dynamics, there’s a lot of growth throughout the book. I cringed at times because Mira is not perfect or emotionally mature at times and this time in life is just so hard and awkward… but it’s real and so worthy of discussion. Nonbinary Alex is a great character- I hope my own daughters find someone like Alex to help them through rough patches with kindness and patience.
April 6, 2025
This story is about a young girl who is in middle school that has trouble public speaking at school but is quite the opposite at home.
I liked this story. This story wasn't my favorite because I'm not a fan of graphic novels but I think the story has a great message. I have trouble public speaking but at home I can speak just fine. I connect with Mira on a personal level when it comes to speaking at school or just in public in general.
This story could be used in the classroom to encourage students who have a fear of speaking in front of peers to open up a bit more. It is a funny, light hearted graphic novel, and that might help spark an interest in someone who has a fear of public speaking.
I liked this story. This story wasn't my favorite because I'm not a fan of graphic novels but I think the story has a great message. I have trouble public speaking but at home I can speak just fine. I connect with Mira on a personal level when it comes to speaking at school or just in public in general.
This story could be used in the classroom to encourage students who have a fear of speaking in front of peers to open up a bit more. It is a funny, light hearted graphic novel, and that might help spark an interest in someone who has a fear of public speaking.
April 11, 2025
**Graphic Novel- Middle Grade**
Mira speaks at home but not at school. She is starting a new grade and wants to get off to a speaking start. But her classmates tell the teachers that she doesn't speak before she can the words out. A teacher calls home & her parents discover she is not speaking at school - in the past she was been known as "shy". An appointment is made with a counselor and SM (selective or situational mutism) is her diagnosis. Writing notes, whispering and making stop action movies move her into more comfort with speaking in social situations.
Author's note includes resources.
Mira speaks at home but not at school. She is starting a new grade and wants to get off to a speaking start. But her classmates tell the teachers that she doesn't speak before she can the words out. A teacher calls home & her parents discover she is not speaking at school - in the past she was been known as "shy". An appointment is made with a counselor and SM (selective or situational mutism) is her diagnosis. Writing notes, whispering and making stop action movies move her into more comfort with speaking in social situations.
Author's note includes resources.
July 23, 2025
Miss Lori read this book in a single sitting and was filled with LOTS of different emotions! This graphic novel is an important read for several reasons. First and foremost, it touches on a few subjects that are important for kids and adults alike. Kids being mean, parents unaware of daughter's condition, loss of friends, self-doubt, mental health and therapy are all touched upon in this story. There is great closure for all involved in this story and the pictures are colorful and full of emotion.
Middle graders will enjoy the story line and hopefully learn about how we act and speak (no matter what age) can negatively affect a person. Simply put....BE KIND!
Middle graders will enjoy the story line and hopefully learn about how we act and speak (no matter what age) can negatively affect a person. Simply put....BE KIND!
August 13, 2025
This graphic novel delves into the middle school world of angst, anxiety, failed friendships, and selective mutism. I found it frustratingly real. And wise. I have a student who I would love to read it.
Sometimes graphic novels seem to fall a bit hollow…or maybe just short of authentic. But this one has a ring of authenticity to it. Yet, the main character seemed so self absorbed at times, it was frustrating. And the bullying and conflict are a bit much at times.
There is a character who uses they/them pronouns and there is some crushes and accusations of kissing that is really whispering (a common strategy for SM).
Sometimes graphic novels seem to fall a bit hollow…or maybe just short of authentic. But this one has a ring of authenticity to it. Yet, the main character seemed so self absorbed at times, it was frustrating. And the bullying and conflict are a bit much at times.
There is a character who uses they/them pronouns and there is some crushes and accusations of kissing that is really whispering (a common strategy for SM).
August 28, 2025
This was an okay graphic novel about a girl who struggles with selective mutism. In school, she just can't speak. She has an "enemy" that used to be her bff and when that girl (named Chloe) has to move in with her, she's so mad/upset/violated. She journals a lot and finds a friend named Alex. Alex helps her come out of her shell a little as well as her therapist until she can finally speak. She realizes Chloe is not as bad as she thought, etc. The kids were AWFUL in this book and there is sexuality bullying that was miserable to read about. I don't know how authentic her experience with selective mutism was, but it didn't feel right and reading all the bullying was excessive.
January 7, 2025
Mira is starting middle school and that means starting fresh and no longer being "the girl who doesn't talk." She quickly realizes this goal is much harder than she realizes. Can't she just stay in her room making her stop-motion films? Well, if she could there would be no story. This graphic novel is perfect for any kid who feels a little different and like they don't fit in. It's a reminder that even if everyone doesn't understand you, there ARE people who will love your kind of weird. This one covers it all: anxiety, first crushes, lost friendships, and found friendship. A must read!
May 19, 2025
This book is a gem! My fifth grade daughter and I both read this week over the weekend and had so much to discuss. The in-depth and sensitive approach to social anxiety, complex friendships and self-worth is so important for kids.
My daughter said this book helped normalize some of her own anxieties. Well, to be accurate, she said, "It kind of makes me feel less bad about my own weird stuff." Steinke does a fantastic job of meeting kids where they're at and showing us a protagonist we can root for.
My daughter said this book helped normalize some of her own anxieties. Well, to be accurate, she said, "It kind of makes me feel less bad about my own weird stuff." Steinke does a fantastic job of meeting kids where they're at and showing us a protagonist we can root for.
June 20, 2025
Graphic Novel
Mira struggles with speaking in classes or even anywhere at school. This leads to teasing and bullying which gets far worse in sixth grade. The story is one middle grade readers will connect with. She struggles and then finds ways to cope and thrive by the end. I'm sad the parents don't listen to what she is saying at first but they do reach out and offer support throughout. By the end, she has found ways to share her thoughts and feelings, faced a friend who hurt her deeply, found new friends, and found her own voice.
Mira struggles with speaking in classes or even anywhere at school. This leads to teasing and bullying which gets far worse in sixth grade. The story is one middle grade readers will connect with. She struggles and then finds ways to cope and thrive by the end. I'm sad the parents don't listen to what she is saying at first but they do reach out and offer support throughout. By the end, she has found ways to share her thoughts and feelings, faced a friend who hurt her deeply, found new friends, and found her own voice.
July 29, 2025
4 stars (I really liked it)
This is an excellent window into the life of someone who has selective mutism. I have had a few students like this in the past and, honestly, they frustrated me a lot but now I am more understanding and empathic so I will (hopefully) be able to help them more and be patient. Beside the selective mutism, the main character deals with ex-best friend issues and a crush. She also creates stop motion films. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and think my students will also.
This is an excellent window into the life of someone who has selective mutism. I have had a few students like this in the past and, honestly, they frustrated me a lot but now I am more understanding and empathic so I will (hopefully) be able to help them more and be patient. Beside the selective mutism, the main character deals with ex-best friend issues and a crush. She also creates stop motion films. I really enjoyed this graphic novel and think my students will also.
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