Other Boys

by Damian Alexander

In Other Boys, debut author Damian Alexander delivers a moving middle grade graphic memoir about his struggles with bullying, the death of his mother, and coming out.

Damian is the new kid at school, and he has a foolproof plan to avoid the bullying that's plagued him his whole childhood: he's going to stop talking. Starting on the first day seventh grade, he won't utter a word. If he keeps his mouth shut, the bullies will have nothing to tease him about—right?

But Damian's vow of silence doesn't work—his classmates can tell there's something different about him. His family doesn't look like the kind on TV: his mother is dead, his father is gone, and he's being raised by his grandparents in a low-income household. And Damian does things that boys don't usually do, like play with Barbies instead of GI Joe. Kids have teased him about this his whole life, especially other boys. But if boys can be so cruel, why does Damian have a crush on one?

Genres: Graphic Novels, LGBT, Middle Grade, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics, Queer

208 pages, Hardcover

First published September 28, 2021

About the author

Damian Alexander's debut graphic novel OTHER BOYS comes out 2021 from First Second.

Reviews

[Caleb Roehrig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really moving read, and while the subject matter is heavy, it’s handled with sensitivity and care for the reader. Kids who have experienced bullying or tragedy, kids who feel isolated or out of place, will feel recognized in this memoir. It celebrates finding your own path, learning to love what sets you apart, and building the courage to be who you are.

[Adam Sass · Rating 5 out of 5]

With OTHER BOYS, Damian Alexander bares his soul for young readers in a way I can only describe as heroic. The illustrations are heartwarming and pitch perfect, and the real life story of tragedy and self-discovery will enrapture readers of all ages. You'll fall out of your chair in love with this book!

[Nathan Bartos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edit:
Re-read for my Graphic Novels class.
I loved this graphic memoir just as much as my first read; I relate to Damian a lot, and I think the book makes a ton of great points.

Original Review:
I was blown away by this heartfelt exploration of gender, sexuality, and grief for kids. I really liked the art style of this graphic novel, and I really appreciate the full color. I'd absolutely recommend this, and I think it has a lot to say about bullying, expression, and identity.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe 3.5 Book was a bit long for its intended middle-grade graphic audience. I finished it in one sitting, but it dragged. I thought it had too many negative bullying characters too. While this is possibly realistic, it really crushed Damian into not talking. Help with a counselor eventually came. Damian could open up about liking boys. There was hope provided in the ending, but it came rather late in the book. I think the middle grade readers need something a bit stronger on the positive outcomes.

[TJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I related to this a lot, and it’s so nice to see a middle grade book explore deeper themes while keeping it age friendly. This would be a great addition to any school library, and it’ll make young queer kids feel seen. The art style didn’t exactly appeal to me, but I thought it fit this story. 4.5/5 stars.

[Eric Rosswood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel covers some deep and complex themes like domestic violence, the death of a parent, PTSD, bullying, etc. The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the story is broken down into an easy and quick read, but still packs an emotional punch. This book also covers gender stereotypes and how society treats people for expressing themselves outside of those norms. I loved this story and found it relatable.

[Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a tough childhood and not being able to figure out who you are. As a member of lgbt this moved me.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me a lot of feelings and I’ve been trying for a while to get them to coalesce into words. Feeling #1 is anguish, that we live in a world that puts people (CHILDREN) in boxes that dictate what they should like, what they should be interested in, how they should speak and walk and dress and then punishes them for not meeting those standards. Feeling #2 is anger, because I feel quite angry after writing that first bit. The innocent joy and contentment of children being themselves are the sacrifice we make at the idiotic altars of gender. Feeling #3 is gratitude. I’m grateful to the author for putting all of it down on paper. I’m grateful that stories like this are being published. I’m grateful children will get to read this and see themselves and maybe take away some reassurance that there is nothing wrong with them. It is the world that is wrong.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent reminder of the devastating mental health effects that come from shaming and bullying gender nonconforming children. The author of this graphic memoir grew up in the '00s, and I'd like to think he'd face better treatment from the adults in his life if he was growing up today, but truthfully I think we have a really long way to go. Hand this to older fans (a mature 5th grader would be the youngest I'd recommend it for) of Cece Bell, Jerry Craft, Raina Telgemeier, and Shannon Hale.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful graphic memoir about childhood trauma, complex post traumatic stress disorder and bullying. "When we turn our lives into stories, some parts have to be skimmed over while we hyper-focus on the things we remember most. Kind of like a bully might forget they said something cruel to you within an hour, yet you might hang onto it for a decade." Definitely buying this for middle school!

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic autobiographical novel is so moving. Damian Alexander doesn't shy away from the reality of trauma, bullying, and feeling alone. It's a great addition to any middle grade class library--and adults will find it poignant and moving, too.

Note: Damian was my student as an undergrad.

[Kassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story is heartbreaking, beautiful, and one of the best books I have read this year. The emotion behind ever panel is profoundly impactful, and the pacing/art/storytelling is extremely well done. This is a must read!

[Amy Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damian has always felt different from other boys, preferring activities like playing with dolls, reading fairy tales, and sewing to GI Joes and superhero movies. He was teased and bullied relentlessly for being “gay” and a “homo” long before he knew what those words meant. Although it’s not discussed in detail, the reader learns that Damian’s mother was murdered by his father when Damian was a small child. Now, he lives with his brother and grandmother in a small apartment. Tired of being the “dead mom” kid and a target for bullies, Damian stops talking on the first day of 7th grade. After months of silence and loneliness, Damian finally shares his feelings with a kind therapist, who also helps normalize his crushes on boys. Friendly peers, including a couple of cute boys, begin to draw him out of his protective shell, lending a hopeful note to an often heartbreaking graphic memoir. Inspired by colorful cartoons, funky arcade decor, and VHS tape boxes, Damian Alexander’s artwork is both firmly rooted in his childhood era and as timeless as a child’s secret pain. Other Boys is a heartfelt graphic memoir about the loss of a parent, coming out, bullying, and self-acceptance. It’s an excellent addition to shelves that already include options for slightly older readers, such as Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and Brave Face by Shaun David Hutchinson.

[Amy Pickett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damian has always felt different from other boys, preferring activities like playing with dolls, reading fairy tales, and sewing to GI Joes and superhero movies. He was teased and bullied relentlessly for being “gay” and a “homo” long before he knew what those words meant. Although it’s not discussed in detail, the reader learns that Damian’s mother was murdered by his father when Damian was a small child. Now, he lives with his brother and grandmother in a small apartment. Tired of being the “dead mom” kid and a target for bullies, Damian stops talking on the first day of 7th grade. After months of silence and loneliness, Damian finally shares his feelings with a kind therapist, who helps normalize his crushes on boys. Friendly peers, including a couple of cute boys, begin to draw him out of his protective shell, lending a hopeful note to an often heartbreaking graphic memoir. Inspired by colorful cartoons, funky arcade decor, and VHS tape boxes, Damian Alexander’s artwork is both firmly rooted in his childhood era and as timeless as a child’s secret. Other Boys is a heartfelt graphic memoir about the loss of a parent, coming out, bullying, and self-acceptance.

[vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sad graphic memoir about PTSD, bullying, and understanding your sexuality. It ended in a positive manner and I’m glad there were adults like his grandmother and the school therapist who were not judgmental. But oof, it was painful to see how many of the illustrations were of him wearing a frown. Some of the storytelling has problems with flow as we jump around in time. It is still a good recommendation for kids who want to see other LGBTQ+ youth going through a hard time persevering.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Damian has been bullied since he was little. He's never felt like he fit in. This is partly due to the stigma of living without a mother. His mother was tragically murdered buy his father, so he has been raised by his grandparents since he was a baby. He has also never acted like the other boys, preferring dolls and other things that society and his peers considers "girly."

He was teased mercilessly at school. He was friends with a group of girls until 4th grade when they ditched him because that was the age when girls no longer played with boys. When he is in 7th grade, his family moves and he starts a new school. He decides to not speak - hoping that if he stays quiet, no one will find a reason to bully him. But kids are cruel and his plan backfires. He is once again the target of bullies.

Now that he is older, he starts to feel differently about boys - some are gross and rude, but others make him feel a certain way. As he becomes more aware of his sexual preferences, he begins to speaks to a psychologist that his grandmother hired to help him. He finds it comforting to share his feelings with someone and comes to the conclusion that there is nothing wrong with the way he feels and acts.

I thought the grandmother was the best character - she always encouraged him and never criticized his choices. She raised him after his mother was murdered and got him the help he needed when he stopped speaking. As this is a memoir, I am happy that Damian had such a loving and caring person in his life despite the tragedy that occurred when he was a baby. I think kids will find this book interesting and it may be helpful for kids coming to terms with their own sexual preferences.

[Jess - The Hexed Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Things to mention: This book does cover some very dark topics including death of a parent/grandparent, homophobia, bullying, and a few other things as well. Y'all know I'm terrible at content warning specifics so if you feel you need those, search out a reviewer you trust (who is better at content warnings than me).

Also, I do know the author.

I loved this book so much! While there were definite moments of darkness throughout I think the overall theme of the story ring with a quite a bit more hope. This is one of those books that I want to share with my niblings, not just because I enjoyed it, but because this book really captures the heart of middle school. The struggle a lot of kids face during that time period, the feeling of being "other" but it shows by the end that kids who feel othered can join together, even when they're different, to help each other not feel so alone.

It was honestly just a fantastic read. One I know I'll reach for again.

I also found the artwork and the panel layout both easy and enjoyable to understand/read. You can tell that Damian really poured his heart into this memoir of a not great time in his life. I really respect his courage in sharing about a time most of us would just like to forget ever happened.

You should definitely check out the author's note at the end as well.

Cover 4; art 4; plot 5; characters 4; writing 5; readability 5; enjoyment 5.

[Adam Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are books that are aimed at children that still speak spectacularly to adults, that make us want to go back and reread them for things we've missed, or just for the satisfaction of taking the journey again.

This isn't one of those books.

This is a solidly Telling Not Showing graphic novel about growing up different. And while, yes, it is about being queer, it's a story non-queer kids could identify with if they've experienced any form of otherisms. It's a good book for a grieving kid who has lost a parent, or for any kid who grew up in a loving but non-traditional household. I can see how a middle school teacher would craft a lesson plan about this. But they wouldn't have to talk about metaphors, and no child would have trouble coming up with the themes. Its language is very direct, its message is very clear. The only thing moderately complicated are the time jumps as the book is mainly about his time in seventh grade but frequently flashes back to other grades, all the way back to preschool.

It's, overall, a very positive book about overcoming adversity. I reccomend it as a teaching tool for kids, and as something to gift a middle school aged kid, but I don't know how well it would resonate with someone older.

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other Boys is a new middle grade graphic memoir by Damian Alexander. After being bullied the previous year, the author transfers to a new school at the start of 7th grade and decides to quit speaking. If he doesn’t talk, he can’t be bullied. The author’s life is told in flashbacks where he lost his mother as a baby and his father isn’t involved in his life. He’s living with a grandmother and a brother. At the same time, he’s realizing his attraction to other boys and trying to figure out what that means.

When I first heard about this book, I thought it was going to be a fun read. I didn’t expect it to be so emotional. The whimsy of the illustrations balances the heart wrenching story of trauma and coming out. The story smartly builds, revealing events from the past which cumulate in a very powerful story.

I didn’t have the level of trauma that the author experiences while growing up. But I was bullied a lot in school and I shut down and stopped speaking unless I had to. It was nice to see someone similar to me and that I wasn’t alone. This is a great story of resilience and becoming who you are.▪️

[Ben Truong · Rating 4 out of 5]

Other Boys is a graphic novel written and illustrated by Damian Alexander. It explores Alexander's childhood as a sensitive boy starting middle school in this melancholy queer coming-of-age memoir.

Damian Alexander is a cartoonist and storyteller who grew up in and around Boston. His first graphic novel, Other Boys, is based off his viral and award winning autobiographical web-comics.

Following the death of Damian's mother, he lives with his brother and maternal grandmother in a small apartment, and is the new kid at a school where it seemed everyone was from a perfect family. To fend off the bullying he's come to expect, the aspiring artist stops speaking on the first day of seventh grade.

However, his no-talking plan backfires as he is placed in remedial classes and forced to see a therapist at school. Opening up is not easy, especially when Damian begins to think that he might actually like some boys.

Other Boys is written and constructed rather well. The narrative is interspersed with contextualizing moments from Alexander's past, which damages gender stereotypes and uncomplimentary commentary on his preference for dolls and dollhouses over action figures. Stylized art, with blocky designs and sometimes-wonky proportions, has a handmade feel.

All in all, Other Boys is an excellent and important debut, despite the rush at the end, it was wonderfully written and constructed.

[Molly Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

First, the good:
-it has a good message about self acceptance
-it will be relatable to 7th graders who are discovering their identity, or who are in non- nuclear families

Now, the not so good:
-the art is very horrible.
-There is a lot of narration (as Damian was a very quiet kid). But the pictures do next to nothing to push the plot forward. In my opinion a good comic/graphic novel is one where the pictures and words work together to tell the story, rather than just having an illustrated story (if that makes sense).

All in all, this was not a favorite of mine, and I feel like there are other books that do what Alexander was trying to do, but they do it better. However, if you are a young person who is trying to figure out your identity, it may speak more to you.
There are many other comics that I would recommend for this topic before this book though. For instance, if you want a book about a male teen who doesn't fit in and is raised by his grandparents, I would pick up "Hey Kiddo" by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. If you want a story about a young teen who doesn't fit in because of his sexual orientation, I would go to the graphic novel "Magic Fish" by Trung Le Nguyen.

[Katy Jean Vance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an ideal middle school graphic novel: true story, brightly colored, narrator struggling to find themselves/fit in, bullies, friendship. It will be ideal for students who have read all the Raina Telgemeier’s and are looking for “older” content but aren’t quite ready for the harshness of something like Hey Kiddo.

It’s also a beautiful coming of age story for a young gay person, and it offers a critical look at traditional gender roles and the boxes we put children in. I also liked how the author, Damian Alexander, reflects on how people who loved him very much made some very poor choices in the name of helping him. I also appreciated how he addressed his struggles with mental health and the important role a therapist played in his life.

This book is filled with tragedy but ends with hope and happiness. It’s a book that will easily find its readers in any middle school library.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

[Lisa Pineo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect with this graphic memoir. There was the bullying, his mother having died when he was a baby and being raised by his grandparents, him being mute at school and at 12 figuring out he's gay. It was a lot to fit into one book but the author did it well. It was definitely focused more on his family and growing up being bullied for being different (ie sensitive and drawn to feminine toys) and less on being gay. At the end of the book the author says he was bullied a lot worse than he writes in the memoir but kids will feel his loneliness, sympathize with his unconventional family and traumatic life, and understand his frustration of not fitting in. Great illustration to written content balance.

[Cy · Rating 4 out of 5]

a really brave memoir that doesn't shy away from the author's trauma. i can't imagine baring my soul like this for people to read, lmao. this book will bring comfort to a lot of kids who deal with similar feelings of loneliness and/or the effects of ptsd. also, love a book that normalizes seeing a therapist and shows how beneficial that can be.

[Sonia Schoenfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damian lives with his brother and grandparents; his mother died when he was just a baby. He is bullied at school and so in 7th grade he decides to stop talking. This book does a good job of showing how hard it is to be "different" from other kids and the struggles that Damian has with figuring out who he is. Another book that helps me understand and increases my compassion.

[Lys · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cross between FLAMER and HEY, KIDDO; at times heartbreaking yet full of vulnerability and truth.

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Grade 7+.

[Nadine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartfelt graphic memoir of growing up without parents feeling different & realizing you’re gay.

[BiblioBickie]

Important and heart-breaking. Illustrates the harm done with non-inclusive language (such as talking about "moms" when "adult at home" would also be accurate), harm done by binary and rigid gender-related behavior expectations, and how much difference an up-stander or word of kindness can make.
Explores dark times and also ends on a hopeful, positive note when Damian describes his joy at finding many more people like him living in the world.
CW: Mother was found by her daughter in their home after having been stabbed 27 times; brief non-graphic suicide ideation; emotional and physical bullying

[Faith Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will saves lives when it gets in the hands of the right student.