Stand Out!: A Graphic Novel

Mia and her mom just moved in with her mom’s boyfriend and his son, Floyd. To say it’s not going well is an understatement. Though Mia and Floyd are classmates, they have nothing in common. She’s also helping a friend run for class representative and another fight against unfair school rules. It’s a lot to manage, especially for Mia, who is autistic and likes to stick to her routine.

Floyd isn’t thrilled about the living arrangement, either. The new family situation is awkward, at best. But he doesn’t have time to think about that. Floyd is keeping a big secret from his dad—he’s in a lot of pain, for a while now, and he doesn’t know why. And it’s starting to affect his basketball. His teammates don’t believe him and think he’s making a bigger deal of things.

Mia’s and Floyd may be at odds , but can they figure out how to get along both in school and at home…or will their fighting tear everything apart?

• Nuanced (and Positive!) Representation of Autism: Mia finds herself navigating complicated friendship questions, struggling with a new home dynamic, and standing out at school in new ways. Through it all, her autism is central to who she is and how she views the world.
• Vibrant, Accessible Art: The commercial, relatable art style of Stand Out! is sure to appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Kayla Miller.
• Compelling Friendships: From a potential sibling/enemy to friends who are stuck on opposite sides of a sibling rivalry, this story shows how taking the time to understand how others feel is the key to working through conflict.