A 2023 YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens Selection

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 aren't supposed 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?

Lately, life feels like a lot for Marcella.

Sixth grade seems complicated on purpose. She keeps forgetting her homework or getting distracted while she's doing it. Plus, her bestie has new friends, and her parents even want to move apartments. She's trying to keep track of the changes--but absolutely everything is stressing her out! In this funny, thoughtful graphic novel, author-artist Damian Alexander tells a story of growing up, ADHD, and focusing on what makes you who you are.

Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions - not outside. - Marcus Aurelius

Imagine a simple scenario most of us have faced - you're being blamed for a mistake at work, which a colleague did and attributed to you. Your manager is unmoving - you will have to face the repercussions.

Do you?

1. Lose sleep due to the unfairness of the situation.
2. Become completely fixated to convince your boss you're not the one to blame.
3. Start thinking of retaliation strategies.
4. Assess the situation with a clear head, provide evidence, state your truth and move on.

The last approach is the most difficult one to master and the one that would yield the best results. It's an approach based on millennia of philosophical wisdom about fate, our strengths, our weaknesses and the way in which we face life's challenges.

This philosophy is called Stoicism.

Stoicism puts you in the driver's seat. It gives you control of the one thing you can really conquer - your mind and your own responses to the world.

The keys to a stronger mind, excellence of character, and a life-well-lived are hidden inside the pages of this book.

Today I escaped anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions - not outside. - Marcus Aurelius

Imagine a simple scenario most of us have faced - you're being blamed for a mistake at work, which a colleague did and attributed to you. Your manager is unmoving - you will have to face the repercussions.

Do you?

1. Lose sleep due to the unfairness of the situation.
2. Become completely fixated to convince your boss you're not the one to blame.
3. Start thinking of retaliation strategies.
4. Assess the situation with a clear head, provide evidence, state your truth and move on.

The last approach is the most difficult one to master and the one that would yield the best results. It's an approach based on millennia of philosophical wisdom about fate, our strengths, our weaknesses and the way in which we face life's challenges.

This philosophy is called Stoicism.

Stoicism puts you in the driver's seat. It gives you control of the one thing you can really conquer - your mind and your own responses to the world.

The keys to a stronger mind, excellence of character, and a life-well-lived are hidden inside the pages of this book.

Lately, life feels like a lot for Marcella.

Sixth grade seems complicated on purpose. She keeps forgetting her homework or getting distracted while she's doing it. Plus, her bestie has new friends, and her parents even want to move apartments. She's trying to keep track of the changes--but absolutely everything is stressing her out! In this funny, thoughtful graphic novel, author-artist Damian Alexander tells a story of growing up, ADHD, and focusing on what makes you who you are.