Weirdo

Ages 10 to 14

From rising star Tony Weaver comes a middle-grade graphic novel memoir about a preteen who loves all things geeky but struggles with mental health issues and self-doubt, perfect for fans of Jerry Craft's New Kid.

Eleven-year-old Tony Weaver, Jr. loves comic books, anime, and video games, and idolizes the heroic, larger-than-life characters he finds there. But his classmates all think he’s a weirdo. Ostracized and bullied by his peers, Tony struggles with the hurt and depression of not being accepted and hopes that if he can conform to other people’s expectations, those feelings might dissipate. But, try as he might, he is unsuccessful and spirals deeper into the dark thoughts and feelings that plague him. Cut off from his peers and the media he loves, and unaware of how to broach the subject of his feelings and seek help, Tony attempts suicide.

In the wake of his unsuccessful attempt, Tony’s family surrounds him with love and support, and his life begins to change for the better. Tony starts seeing a therapist to talk through his feelings and enrolls in a new school whose aim is to foster creativity. As Tony navigates a new school, new friendships, and first crushes, he finds himself growing into the hero he’s always aspired to be. Tony ultimately learns to love himself and discovers that the unique qualities that set him—and set all of us apart, ones that make us all weirdos—are, in fact, our superpowers.

About the Author

Tony Weaver, Jr. is a storyteller who uses his passion for comics and anime to help people unlock their inner hero. With his TikTok videos and social impact organization Weird Enough Productions, he uses diverse stories to uplift young people. He made history as the first comic writer ever selected for Forbes 30 Under 30. His work has attracted coverage from CNN, NBC, HuffPost, and The Mary Sue, and landed him honors from organizations such as Microsoft, Gucci, and Coca-Cola. Funko profiled him on the side of a Pop figure box, and he won the AdColor Influencer of The Year award.

Jes and Cin Wibowo are Chinese Indonesian twins born in Jakarta. As Third Culture Kids, they spent their early childhood years moving back and forth between the US and Indonesia. The two both graduated with a BFA and eventually an MFA in Sequential Arts from SCAD. They're currently based in Jakarta, reading a mix of superhero comics, the occasional manga, and lots of graphic novels.