Weirdo

by Tony Weaver Jr., Jess Wibowo (illustrator), Cin Wibowo (illustrator)

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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Mental Health, Memoir, Comics, Realistic Fiction, Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published September 17, 2024

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Be still my heart....I think I've found one of my favorite graphic novels of 2024. CW: suicidal ideation, attempted suicide, bullying

Weirdo is a graphic novel that's been on my radar for a while. The Wibowo twins wrote one of my other favorite graphic novels of 2024 so I was excited to find that they were illustrating this one. The writer, Tony Weaver Jr., BLEW MY MIND AWAY with his writing. This is a book I needed as a weird kid. This is a book that a lot of kids will cling to and feel seen by. I know I usually save this for the end, BUT if you haven't picked this one up yet, please do it NOW.

Weirdo has a variety of layers. It follows a character by the name Tony who loves everything related to video games, comics, and anime. Unfortunately, this makes him a target for kids at school leading to some very difficult and scary feelings. As a result, Tony is enrolled in a different school where he ends up finding a circle of friends that may make him feel at home. Weaver beautifully crafts a story that has it's dark moments, but is ultimately layered with messages of hope and self-love. It reminds us that we're all a little weird. I genuinely wish that more kids had this book growing up. It's so real and validating.

Honestly, Tony Weaver knocked it out the park with this one. I truly hope that we get to see more work from him the future.

[laurel [the suspected bibliophile] · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we define ourselves by our challenges, we'll always be under attack. But if we define ourselves as challengers, the obstacles in our way had better watch out. Because if we believe in ourselves and who we are, we'll find the strength to win any battle.

Tony is a Black nerd—he loves superheroes, anime, and writing. He's smart and funny and just wants to be liked, which is really hard when he feels so different and has been the new kid in so many schools. Ostracized by the Black kids, bullied by the white kids, and constantly scrutinized by the teachers at his new school, Tony finds his mental health dropping...until he goes to a new school and therapy, and finds friends who like him for him and tools to cope.

Oh my heart.

I wish I had read this book as a bullied weirdo.

This graphic novel is so, so good. I loved Tony. I loved his friends—and his super cool cousin Bria—and how he approached the world. Also, Mrs. Fields was the best.

There are a lot of themes touched upon: mental health, bullying (physical, verbal and cyber), suicide, racism. It's not really addressed in the book, but it's very clear that Tony finds acceptance and friends like him in a school where everyone else looks like him (and where he is not questioned for standing out by teachers and students).

[Sasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

i love middle grade literature but they tend to be more didactic and this is full of messages to kids on self-love and being with people who actually care about them. it’s hard to emphasize just how important tony weaver jr’s story is. weirdo is about a journey where a nerdy black kid tries to show the world who he is, doesn't find acceptance, and nurtures his own space. young people going through similar things, no matter who they identify as, will feel less isolated in their loneliness reading this book. i did feel like the "jock bullying the nerds" trope was repeated unnecessarily but i understand why it was done. weirdo made me laugh, cry, and proud to be nerdy and any library would be lucky to have this wonderful story in their collection.

trigger warnings: suicide ideation (on-page), suicide attempt (off-page, fade to black), bullying (peers & 1 teacher), racism (implied)

[CW ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weirdo is all at once heartbreaking but healing. A graphic novel memoir about a Black eleven year old who loves writing, comics, and anime who navigates bullying, his mental health journey, friendship, and coming into your own strength and individuality.

I read the first half of this book with tears streaming down my face. It devastates me beyond words that the 'tragic event' alluded in the synopsis was the author's experience - and that this does actually happen and continues to happen. Weirdo portrays the lead-up and aftermath with sincerity and care, ultimately showing that there's always light and hope. Importantly, I loved that, for the second half of the book, the story is about healing and Tony growing into himself when he finds people who love and accept him for who he is; that, while the tragedy happened, it doesn't define him.

Anyway, I love this story. It's my first 5-star read this year. If you have to pick up one children's graphic novel this year, please let it be this one.

[Maia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story centers 11 year old Tony, a nerdy Black writer and anime fan, who is bullied at school to the point of becoming suicidal before his parents intervene and move him to a different school. At the new school, and with a therapist, Tony rebuilds his confidence and makes friends with the other quirky kids in the literature club. This book is clearly in part based on the author's life, and in part fictionalized; it ended up feeling a bit awkwardly caught between memoir and fiction for me. I loved the book's ultimate message, but I think I am not its target audience.

[Alejo Alvarez || babblewithale · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ 5 stars ✨️

Comics like this honestly rekindle my passion for life, reading, and creativity 🥹

At the start of this novel, I wasn't exactly sure how the story was gonna keep progressing and changing, but each chapter was just filled with something completely new and had different plot and charcater arcs for us to explore and follow that it made every page truly enjoyable to read—and honestly, I'm pretty mad that I literally hadn't heard of this graphic novel until recently 😭

But, to be more specific, the author's exploration of mental health in school for the first few chapters was waaaaaaaayyy too relatable 🥲 It's kinda crazy that most of what he experienced was something that I could tether a personal memory to, as well (kinda makes you sit down and go, "wtf are we doing in our schools and why aren't we actually protecting our children?? 🙃) having a slight crashout over here

But I really did love how an overwhelming message at the end of the graphic novel was that, with time and a family and community that truly want to support us, we can find the soil that wants to and gives us the space to grow in 🙌 I think that this was personally metaphor that really spoke to me—the garden, the soil, the growth—and I'm really happy they author included it because it made me reflect on my past and be grateful for where I am and who I am now 😊

This metaphor also reminded me of short horror story (crazy turn around 😅) called The Tallest Poppy by the ✨️ one and only ✨️ Chloe Gong, which can be found in a YA horror anthology called The Gathering Dark!

All in all, absolutely loved, this graphic novel has my heart and soul 🥰

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tony Weaver, Jr., shares his childhood experience as a nerdish tween who is bullied and shamed into a dangerous depression and has to open himself up to help and friendship to find his way to being a confident and proud young man.

I'm not entirely sure why, but this middle school graphic novel just hit me real hard today.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr. is easily my favorite graphic novel so far this year. Highly recommend this fantastic story based on the author's lived experience. Bonus points for all the literary references and a love for other incredible authors. Weirdo publishes in September and I look forward to sharing it with readers then!

Reread again: what a powerful memoir. The writing is absolutely fantastic and so are the illustrations. Highly recommend

[Mariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

TW: The main character, Tony, is bullied to the point that he considers and does attempt suicide. It is not depicted on the page, and the author makes a point to state that he will not get into details about it, though he does mention that there were multiple attempts. Tony's parents do immediately seek help for him upon finding out.

Rarely have I ever felt so seen than when reading Weirdo. It's so hard to be 'weird' let alone 'weird' and Black.

Tony Weaver, Jr. does a phenomenal job in portraying the painful, devastating hardships and ultimately the simple joys that can be discovered from just being yourself.

The reference game was on point. I laughed every time Claire brought up 'Inuyasu'. I had a huge Inuyasha phase back in the 10th grade, so I was delighted by this character choice. Especially since she also wrote fanfiction, which still is a huge part of my life (for better or for worse).

The entire Literature Club was filled with great characters who reminded me a lot of my friend group back in middle school through high school. We were frequently utterly ridiculous, and we didn't care. I wish I could be that free again and honestly? I feel somewhat inspired to try to be now.

Being weird is being yourself because we're all weird to somebody sometime.

I cried for like 5 minutes when I was finishing this book because it moved me so deeply. Young, Black kids happy and healthy, unabashedly indulging in their passions and no police brutality, no gang violence, no gun violence, and no community killing? I'm tearing up now just thinking about how special and unbearably uncommon that is for Black middle grade.

Weirdo is one of the best reading experiences I've had all year. I do not think I could recommend a book more if I tried.

[Bant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this one quite a bit. It deals with heavy topics in a way that is honest, yet perfect for the age group. It also treats the age group with a ton of respect to handle what is being presented. The too- neat ending kind of betrays the generally mature, but not heavy handed, work of a writer to watch.

[Matt Williamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Where was this book 20 years ago?! This would've been a game changer for some of the darkest parts of my life, feeling like I wasn't right or crazy. That i was incapable of anything cuz others, and then I, said so.

Tony, you've made something truly special and vulnerable here. So much so, I shed a tear for the scared kid I used to be; the message of self-love may not have changed him, but it would've been a helluva start.

Thanks Tony!

[Fiona · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well done middle-grade memoir. Wonderful use of colour and tone to reflect emotion. Deals sensitively with suicidal thoughts and bullying and highly recommended for kids struggling with that kind of thing.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ "I know I said there was light on the other side, but the truth is, there's always light. The darkness doesn't take the light away, it stops us from seeing the love surrounding us."

3.5⭐️

I finished this graphic memoir in one sitting yesterday and remember enjoying it, yet I can't recall much of its contents anymore, so what does that mean?

The book doesn't shy away from difficult and heavy topics, with the author being very open about his struggles and experiences. I enjoyed following Tony's journey, especially how he eventually finds his voice (and people) and stands up to bullies.

Loved the themes of found family and it was exceptionally heartwarming how the community banded together for a common goal. The book also highlights the importance of having a robust support system and how incredibly healing it can be, which I deeply appreciate.

✨ "It's not your responsibility to fix broken people that bring you harm."

[Sassy Sarah Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I am so glad that I picked this one as the pick for the Graphic Novel Book Club that I run. I wanted to pick something for Suicide Awareness Month, and this was the perfect choice. It's an honest portrayal of a middle school kid (Tony Weaver Jr, the author) wanting to no longer be here because of the bullying. This is a great graphic novel for middle school and high school-aged kids. It tackles the complexity of identity, bullying, mental health, belonging, and finding people who value you. I highly recommend this graphic novel. It's wonderfully written, and the art is great as well.

[Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cute book! I love any book that shows Black boys being nerds. I did find parts of this to be a bit clunky--I wish it had been fully memoir, rather than being partially memoir, partially fiction. I think it may have just worked better for me as a first-person POV memoir. However, I'm not the target audience, clearly. I think middle-grade readers will really enjoy this one.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had all the feels through this one! So good.

[Lauren Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story and great illustrations! I’m looking forward to having discussions about it with my class :)

[Sara Kubicek · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book reminded me of so many of my students. I appreciate the vulnerability and relatability of the characters. Awesome illustrations and overall message. Not one of my usual genres, but still enjoyable.

[Kelsey Dangelo-Worth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A memoir about battling your inner demons and outer demons in order to truly embrace who you are and stand strong against the world.
A beautiful book that many young people would identify with as they struggle with fitting in, trust, and understanding who they are. Beautiful metaphors, and themes of heroism. The mental health concerns are presented thoughtfully and honestly.

[Merissa Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This would be a great memoir to add to my memoir unit. It dealt with real problems I know my kids deal with.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A MG graphic memoir by @tonyweaverjr perfect for fans of New Kid and The Dark Matter of Mona Starr.
🦸🏾
Preteen Tony is sent to a new school for gifted students and while he ends up finding a love for writing there, he also spends most of his time hiding his love of comics and games so he’s not bullied. Despite hiding who he is, Tony still becomes the target of many students and sinks to a very low place, needing help of his family, best friend and a new therapist. When his parents move him to a new school again, this time Tony finds his people. Literature Club becomes Tony’s haven, but when the school’s occupancy and enrollment drops and there’s talk of closing his new school, Tony puts a plan into motion to save it.
🦸🏾
I don’t think I could love a graphic novel more. This was such an honest portrayal of Tony’s experiences, but also so relatable to our students today. Many are struggling with their own mental health issues and bullying. I loved the social media comments from authors of today and just the overall message of this book The artwork by @jesncin was fantastic! Thank you @01firstsecond for sending me a copy. This title releases September 17!

CW: suicide ideation, bullying, violence, self-harm, grief

[Nyambura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Your Honour I Love This Book

So frank and insightful and hopeful. I love it and I’m not even the target audience.

Please read it and get it for the young people you care about!

[Jessie Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went to college with Tony, so I was definitely eager to read this one. My initial thought was that it would make a great pick for the Reina Telgemeier set, but I definitely see second graders reading her books, and this is solidly in the middle school range. I think I would talk about this with kids in a similar way to how I talk about Counting by 7s: it starts very sad, but it ends hopeful, so if you can handle the initial sad, you'll be rewarded handsomely.

I think this book does an excellent job addressing some really hard mental health topics, including perhaps the hardest topic of all: suicide. Our protagonist here makes an attempt, and it's clear from the story that that's what happens, but there's no real detail, and the emphasis is on what led to having those feelings in the first place and how Tony can heal afterward. I think the depiction of a Black boy in therapy in a middle grade book alone is remarkable.

Tony talks in some of his social media videos about how everybody tells kids to be themselves but never tells them how. I think this book is absolutely an answer to the question of how. Specificity breeds universality, and Tony's individual story of learning how an anime-loving aspiring writer could make friends and learn to stand up for himself will serve as inspiration to many tweens in similar situations.

In short: great book, but a little too intense for anyone under 12.

[D.T. · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite memoirs! Everything complimented this well, the art style, the writing, the humor, and the pop culture references.

I was somewhat aware of Weaver because of his webtoon and seeing a post or two of his on Instagram (back when I was more active). This story/his story digs deep with the emotions. Bullying and feeling like an outsider is shown here masterfully.

There’s a recurring theme about “guarding your garden,” the things you enjoy, your hobbies, what makes you, you.” Water it! Invest in yourself and your interests! I enjoyed this analogy very much!

The mental health discussions don't shy away either. Very relatable to many people. No one wants to be thought of as “crazy.” And everyone wants to be wanted by someone, platonically or romantically.

And how it did my heart so good when he changed to the Black academy and found his people. I'm glad his parents were proactive. So many people have a small sample size; a lot of people suck, but there’s someone out there for you!

Digs deep with emotional impact and uplifts at the end. Toward the end, things feel more "fictionalized" but it was still grounded in reality. I loved the cast of characters. If things go more fictional, I'd love this to become a series.

[Shella]

This has some really strong themes- loved the author’s note at the end- especially the very end. . From looking at the book blurb, the reader may not realize this is a memoir and includes a suicide attempt. It says: “after a traumatic event shakes him to his core.” I’m sure that was not the author’s choice. I think readers and adults selecting this book for younger readers should realize this traumatic event was a suicide attempt after relentless and serious bullying. The art was really clean and appealing. I struggle with the transitions and pace of graphic novels- so I usually don’t rate them unless something is really out-of-line. This would be an important graphic novel to include in school and classroom libraries- readers and recommenders need to know up front about the seriousness of the topic. I listened to an interview with the author- he was delightful and would make a great author to invite to a school or library. I think the Newbery committee may give a nod to this one.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel was PHENOMENAL! The way the author and artists handled the very serious topics was extremely well done and I cannot say enough good things about this book.

Tony is a “weirdo” in the best way possible (we’re all a little weird! Embrace it!) and while it does take some time to come into his own and find his tribe, the journey to get this is so authentic and so worth it.

Bullies are everywhere- and it’s not always just kids (that English teacher made me so mad!!!). When it’s hard to find your voice and speak up- but it’s never too late, and Tony and his friends are excellent examples! Love that he talked about how this was based on real life events that happened to him.

Excellent middle school book- 6th grade and up! Heads up- He briefly mentioned wanting to unalive himself towards the beginning and it very appropriately covered for the age- “I won’t tell you how I did it and I’m begging you, don’t try to guess”

Cannot wait to hand this to my 6th grader!

[Suzy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful graphic novel that looks at bullying, finding light and a place to belong.
This book does talk about self-harm the main character trying to take his life, which is so sad. Tony feels like he can't talk to anyone and that no one will understand. It's hard to see the bullying in this book, especially by the adults too.
I liked that Tony eventually found a place to belong and learned to be more open about how he is feeling.
This book is one that I hope adults will read too, so they can understand a little more of what its like for kids in middle school and how they can help them.

[Carlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for blue hen…
This book was refreshing to read. The birthday party / amusement park is actually something that happened to me so I really felt how Tony felt. It’s hard to understand feeling alone when you’re a middle schooler. This book is a positive influence for kids who feel like they aren’t quite fitting in.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This middle grade graphic novel/memoir is gut-wrenching, and yet hopeful at the same time. Tony is an introverted middle school student who gets relentlessly bullied until his finally attempts suicide (the pictures gradually get darker and darker, but nothing of the attempt is actually shown on the page). His parents get him into therapy and move him to a new school and things slowly get better. This is a touching and realistic portrayal that is appropriate for the age group.

[Eliott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Weirdo
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 8.00/10 overall

Characters - 8

Atmosphere - 9

Writing - 8

Plot - 7

Intrigue - 8

Logic - 8

Enjoyment - 8