Speak Up!
A Graphic Novel
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4.9 • 14 Ratings
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
For fans of Click and Brave, this touching coming-of-age middle grade graphic novel debut follows an autistic girl who finds friendship where she least expects it and learns to express her true self in a world where everyone defines her by her differences.
Twelve-year-old Mia is just trying to navigate a world that doesn’t understand her true autistic self. While she wishes she could stand up to her bullies, she’s always been able to express her feelings through singing and songwriting, even more so with her best friend, Charlie, who is nonbinary, putting together the best beats for her.
Together, they've taken the internet by storm; little do Mia’s classmates know that she’s the viral singer Elle-Q! But while the chance to perform live for a local talent show has Charlie excited, Mia isn’t so sure.
She’ll have to decide whether she’ll let her worries about what other people think get in the way of not only her friendship with Charlie, but also showing everyone, including the bullies, who she is and what she has to say.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
An autistic middle schooler secretly becomes a viral music star in this thoughtful graphic novel by Burgess (Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down), a middle grade debut. Mia, who reads as white, uses headphones, a chew-necklace, and moments with a notebook to make it through school days plagued by persistent bullying and home life with a mother who would rather she mask than stim. Overstimulation makes Mia feel "overwhelmed... so when I try to speak, I can never find the words." But in private with best friend Charlie, who reads as Black and nonbinary, she writes music and posts online videos of her mask-wearing alter ego, Elle-Q. When their latest collaboration suddenly goes viral, Charlie pressures Mia to publicly debut at a local talent show as Mia struggles to handle a bullying classmate—one who's also obsessed with uncovering Elle-Q's identity. Autistic creator Burgess employs jewel tones, emanata, and sketchbook-like renderings to portray the complexities of Mia's sensory experiences, from the internal turbulence of meltdowns to profound joy in creativity and music. Intimate and inlaid with nuance, it's an empowering look at self-acceptance, accommodation, and masking via the lens of one autistic experience. Ages 8–12.
Customer Reviews
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I love how Mia had zero friends when Shes really super famous!!! It was great seeing how her mom had a change of heart to keft her go to the concert thingy!
So good
I got this and it was perfect literally a new way of seeing autistic people I love the plot twist with luara and mia
Really want to read
The character in this book kinda reminds me of myself Because I deal with Sensory issues and LOTS of anxiety every day. I didn’t really get called stupid or dumb at school but I was picked on by a few people, but the insults were lame though so I recovered from it . It was also really hard to focus during class. Now my sensory issues are almost gone, but I feel like my anxiety has increased. I feel like this book can help me.