The founder of the social impact organization Weird Enough Productions shares his middle school experiences being labeled a weirdo, which causes him to spiral into depression, until he enrolls in a new school that fosters creativity and where he finally grows into the hero he’s always aspired to be. 20,000 first printing. Simultaneous. Illustrations. - (Baker & Taylor)

"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 new classmates all think he's a weirdo. Bullied by his peers, Tony struggles with the hurt of not being accepted and tries to conform to other people's expectations. After a traumatic event shakes him to his core, he embarks on a journey of self love that will require him to become the hero of his own story"-- - (Baker & Taylor)

A Kirkus Best Book of the Year
A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year
A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
A People Magazine Best Book of the Year
A Best Graphic Novels for Children (BGNC) Reading List Nominee

From rising star Tony Weaver, Jr. comes a middle-grade graphic novel memoir about an awkward 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 new classmates all think he’s a weirdo. Bullied by his peers, Tony struggles with the hurt of not being accepted and tries to conform to other people's expectations. After a traumatic event shakes him to his core, he embarks on a journey of self love that will require him to become the hero of his own story.

Weirdo is a triumphant, witty, and comedic story for any kid who's ever felt awkward, left out, or like they don't belong. An adolescence survival guide that will give every reader the confidence to make it to the other side.

Praise for Weirdo:

"I've been singing the praises of Tony Weaver Jr. for years, and here, I'm proud to say, he's given me one more reason to do so. Weirdo is more than a graphic novel about bullying or misfits. It's a blinding light of a tale about a boy who fights to become himself. About an oddball who finds wonder in his own weirdness. It's a reminder that we all have a place. And people. And some of us have a particular point of view on the world. I'm so happy Tony is using his to bring such palpable joy, love, and imagination to it." —Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Look Both Ways

"Tony’s Heartfelt story reminds us Why Embracing Individuality Radically Defies Obstacles." —Jerry Craft, 2020 Newbery and Coretta Scott King Book Award winner for New Kid

"Weirdo empowers readers to celebrate their own identities and offers hope to find the crew that will love you for all of your magnificent quirks!" —Jarrett J. Krosoczka, National Book Award finalist for Hey, Kiddo

"Weirdo is a powerful story filled with empathy about the effects of bullying and how we can attempt to cope with it." —Dan Santat, 2023 National Book Award Winner for A First Time for Everything

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.

Booklist Reviews

Tony has always felt like an outsider, but when bullying from his classmates leads to a suicide attempt (which, very importantly, is not depicted), he's successfully able to use therapy and friends at a new school as a meaningful support system, later giving support back to his new school as it faces closure. Drawing from his real-life experience, Weaver creates an easily relatable story of overcoming obstacles and finding peace within yourself. Structured as a series of vignettes, the book can come off as incohesive, as it deals with everything from bullying and making friends to the more tangential topics of unrequited first love and crowdsourcing support for a failing school. Some of these points tie well to the main plot, but others seem to appear only briefly. The appealing, anime-inspired artwork perfectly captures the uplifiting tone, making great use of cartoonish expressions for big emotions and thoughtful color palettes during the depths of Tony's depressive episode. Some big endorsements will give this added interest, including one from Jerry Craft, whose New Kid is an ideal read-alike. Grades 5-8. Copyright 2024 Booklist Reviews.