Millie of the Manor

by Karina Evans, Andrea Bell

Clue meets The Baby-Sitters Club in this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel perfect for fans of Kayla Miller and Terri Libenson.

Amy has always loved a good mystery.

So when her classmate Reagan invites her to a murder-mystery-themed birthday party, she should be ecstatic. But…she’s not. Instead, she’s worried that her social anxiety will mess everything up. Thankfully, all the guests are given characters to play for the night, so Amy doesn’t have to go to Reagan’s party as herself—she’ll go as “Millie Morgan,” a scientist looking to solve the murder and clear her name.

With newfound confidence as Millie, she must work with the other partygoers to solve the crime. But when evidence piles up and clues begin to incriminate her alter ego, Amy’s anxiety comes rushing back. With the help of her new friends, Amy must learn to navigate her own anxiety as Millie works to solve the mystery and prove her innocence.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Mystery, Fiction, Mental Health, Comics, Childrens

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2025

About the author

Karina Evans studied English at the University of Delaware before going into a career in the entertainment industry. She currently lives in Los Angeles, California. You can visit her online at karinaevans.com

Reviews

[BookLoverAmanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing. It really is like "Clue meets the baby sitters club". A great graphic novel story about friendship, social anxiety and working through the hard moments in between. Amy goes to therapy to learn ways to cope with her social anxiety. She gets invited to a murder-mystery game party, makes new friends and the rest is history. I have always had somewhat of social anxiety that I have to "mask" in a way at work and in new social situations due to some struggles I have in my ADHD. This was relatable for me for sure, especially to little Amanda.

The murder mystery was so fun, I love they did it as a party! The artwork in this and the COLORS are beautiful! Well done!

[Krissi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for providing a free e-graphic novel in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute children's graphic novel providing a good understanding for young ones on social anxiety, strategies to fight it, and overcoming it mixed in with a fun little "murder mystery." The characters were all adorable, and of course, the mystery is simplistic, but it was quite fun and nice to see how Amy/Millie overcomes her fears.

[Adrienne May · Rating 5 out of 5]

My daughter (9) devoured this book. She loved the mystery element without it being anxiety inducing or scary. The art style is great and it makes the book so easy to devour, she finished it in 2 sittings! Graphic novels are my #1 recommendation when kids are in the “books are tedious” stage. She loves a complex story but 200-300 pages is a big commitment and to be honest, she still loves the visuals. The story was a great friendship based story and was the perfect level for my 4th grader!

[Keisha | A Book Like You · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, I loved this!

Amy struggles with pretty severe social anxiety, which makes a lot of "normal" life activities like class presentations and birthday parties a little less than bearable. When Amy is invited to Reagan's Murder Mystery Birthday party, she hesitates to go, but ultimately decides to try out some of the techniques she's been learning in therapy at the party. Because this is a murder mystery party, each guest is playing a role - which helps Amy feel less anxiety since she is playing a character in a story. But, at some point, Amy has to face the facts that she's not Millie the scientist. What will her new friends think about the real her? Read to find out!

This was so well done! Amy's social anxiety was expressed beautifully through the thought bubbles showcasing what she was thinking in the midst of conversations around her. The coloring change when she was having a panic attack. And the visual of how she was almost in another world when she was playing her character in the murder mystery game.

I loved both the anxiety representation as well as the murder mystery itself. It was so fun to "play along" and figure out "who done it!"

The illustrations in this graphic novel are so vibrant and beautiful. The story was well-written. And I even found myself relating with one of the side characters - Reagan.

I would definitely recommend this to middle graders or anyone who relates with having anxiety or loves a good mystery!

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie of the Manor is a cute middle grade graphic novel that I would recommend to anyone struggling with social anxiety, or lovers of a fun graphic novel.
The book follows Amy, a girl who has been struggling with social anxiety. I liked the representation of her anxiety as a physical presence, something that really took advantage of the visual graphic novel format, and made it clear to readers when her anxiety was coming on. While my anxiety is less social based, I still found many of her thoughts and actions relatable. I also liked that it showed her visiting a therapist, I think this could help readers who also visit therapists to feel less isolated.
The main plot of the novel kicks off when mystery novel loving Amy gets invited to a murder mystery party for one of her classmate's birthdays. I discovered the idea of a murder mystery party in college and was instantly hooked, so I really loved the inclusion of this. This was another aspect which was enhanced by the graphic novel format. When the characters were in character they would be shown in costume and the house would change in appearance, but whenever someone got distracted and spoke out of character it would switch back to showing them in their normal clothes and the normal house. I thought this was very fun, and helped accentuate how Amy saw herself and Millie, her character in the game as two separate people and worked through her anxiety.
I do wish we had gotten to learn more about some of the characters, all of the characters besides Amy and Reagan were a little bit flat, though it still worked for the book. Maybe future books by this team could follow other characters at their school.
Overall, I had a fun time with this book, feeling connected to the anxiety plot and messages, reminiscing about past murder mystery parties, and enjoying the fun and engaging artwork. I would definitely recommend this to the voracious graphic novel readers at the library.

Thank you Netgalley and Harper Collins Children's Books for providing access to an early digital copy for review.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully designed accurate portrayal of how nuanced and controlling anxiety can be. Amy feels like her anxiety steers her life, lacing it with thought spirals that attempt to dominate her mind. Her parents mean well and are supportive of her anxiety treatment, but they're a great example of those advice giving family members who mean well yet overstep boundaries at times with their pushing. Though this is a middle grade graphic novel, Amy's anxiety is visually shown in a way that's so easily consumable and honestly portrayed lending itself to be educational for people of any age.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperAlley for the arc!

[Sarah Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This middle grades graphic novel is an excellent portrayal of social anxiety. I loved that you get to see Amy going to therapy, trying her coping skills and strategies, being supported by well-meaning parents (who might not always say the right thing, but who are always trying), having peers wanting to be her friend and trying to include her (even if she does not realize that is happening all of the time), and pushing herself outside of her comfort zone. The murder mystery party was such a great idea for this story (and I really loved it because my friends and I had a fantastic murder mystery party back in high school and have been talking about doing another), especially because she loves mystery novels! Something that stood out was the black and white surroundings when Amy’s anxious thoughts are at the forefront. This artistic choice really gets the reader to feel what Amy is feeling. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Sarah Knope · Rating 5 out of 5]

I may be biased because Karina is one of my good friends, but I loved this so much. The setting of a murder mystery party was so fun, and the anxiety representation was spot-on. The art was incredible as well! Even if you're not a middle-grader, I encourage you to pick this up.

[Artemis Crescent · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a kids' graphic novel in 2025 that's short, low stakes, nice, cute, modern, and realistic, read 'Millie of the Manor'.

It's not so simple and saccharine, nor is it so coy, as it features a young female protagonist with social anxiety. It affects her badly in her day-to-day life - the thought of other people looking at her and judging her terrifies her; she prefers no attention and expectations be put on her, thus she has trouble making friends at school, and can barely resist the temptation to merely miss out on exciting events with her peers. She goes to therapy for it.

With its "murder mystery" game setup, it quickly becomes apparent that 'Millie of the Manor' (the protag's name is actually Amy - Millie Morgan is a scientist character she plays in another girl's murder mystery birthday party) is like a grade school version of the movie, 'Clue'. But it is ultimately about friendship, group effort, gaining new experiences, coming out of your shell, dealing with social anxiety and anxiety attacks, overcoming fear of judgement, and play.

Simple, fun play. Play acting, the works. But don't immerse yourself in it too much and reject reality, and your true, awesome self.

There are no high stakes, no dark twists; just playing, and dealing with existing in a society and community. And finding your people, who like you for who you are. Who are nice to you, understand you, support you, and see you, and your strengths.

Friends embrace you. They lift you up. They make you like yourself, and want to build yourself up. They should not tear you down, and make you feel mocked, ashamed, worthless, small, and insignificant. They should not make you want to shrink into yourself.

I hope young Amy becomes a real, professional detective someday. Like in her 'Sherlock Holmes' books, her special interest.

I wanted to read 'Millie of the Manor' because of 'Crumble', another 2025 middle grade graphic novel, which is by the same artist, Andrea Bell. That's it. I'm glad the cute kiddie artwork is not all it has to offer, however. Though said artwork does make the adults look the same age as the kids a lot of the time. It's a very weird artistic flaw.

'Millie of the Manor' - it's 'Cluedo' (the board game) for young children, and first time graphic novel readers. A sweet, sensitive, caring, heartfelt, optimistic little story, that incorporates its mental health representation simply yet effectively. Like its main character, it is fine as it is. It needs nothing more to it, and it is not to be dismissed as less.

I recommend it.

Final Score: 3.5/5

[Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Report: Millie of the Manor

At First Glance: This cover has my attention 👀

The Gist: Clue meets The Baby-Sitters Club in this heartwarming middle grade graphic novel

My Thoughts: Those comps made this an immediate read and I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent with Amy/Millie and her time spent at a murder mystery themed birthday party as she works her way through her social anxiety. Her confidence shines by the end and I think younger readers will enjoy the adventure as well as the relatability.

My Question for Karina: What’s a book or comic you adored growing up that still lives rent-free in your imagination?

Thank you Harper Collins Children’s Books!

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Lyon.brit.A...

[Cynthia T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you @NetGalley and @HarperCollinsChildren'sBooks for the ARC. This was a wonderful graphic novel about Social Anxiety. Millie wants to go to a mystery party but she is afraid that she won't fit in, will make a mistake and spirals down the rabbit hole. Millie is so likeable and you feel for her. Her new friends support when she has an attack. A must for school libraries.

[Jessica Peterson · Rating 2 out of 5]

A potential contender for my next graphic novel club, but I think the kids in the group would benefit from a story with a longer narrative arc. It was cool to see how the author explained social anxiety though. I also hav mixed feelings about doing a book that focuses on a murder mystery party…don’t know how much murder talk I want to get into with the kids.

[Leila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was really good! It was like Clue but with a modern twist. Millie, a middle schooler who has social anxiety is sudden invited to a murder mystery themed birthday party. Which would be perfect for Millie since she loves mysteries, but she’s too shy to speak up. I’m not spoiling anything else 🤐 but definitely recommend!

[Angela Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great intro to what it can be like living with a social anxiety disorder for parents, teachers, and middle schoolers with positive representation of therapy and being a loving friend and parent. Fun murder mystery side quest, and beautiful illustrations.

Content: Panic/anxiety attacks (on page), overthinking, spiraling thoughts, public speaking, therapy session

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Cute, simple graphic novel featuring the most sympathetic, understanding group of friends. It was very sweet to see Amy dealing with her social anxiety with a group of people who couldn't be more kind about it.

[Dylan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute middle grade graphic novel about dealing with severe social anxiety. I really like how her anxiety was illustrated and how her parents weren't perfect but were both definitely trying their best to support her.

I wish there was a little more about techniques for handling anxiety besides deep breathing though, as I know from experience that it doesn't always help.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy deals with social anxiety, but loves mysteries. After being invited to a murder mystery themed birthday party, she finds that other kids are a lot more understanding than she thought, and that friends will take the time to stop and listen when you're feeling anxious.

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute story about a girl with social anxiety who gets invited to a murder mystery party where she is able to shine as her authentic self.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

3/18/26
Reading this felt a little like reading my own anxious thoughts growing up. So glad this exists.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy whodunit mystery, but in graphic novel and for teens. And you know what, this book nailed it. Likeable characters, gorgeous art and colours that really enhanced the story and vibes, engaging plot and a whodunit that keeps you guessing. Talk about having it all. I also loved how the book celebrates the power of imagination while highlighting what it's like to struggle with social anxiety.

A wonderful and wholesome read in and out!

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’d like to thank edelweiss and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. Amy has social anxiety and when she gets invited to a murder mystery birthday party, she is torn. She loves mysteries but the thought of playing the game makes her anxious. Follow Amy as she navigates trying to stay in character or risk having an anxiety attack in front of everyone. Good storyline with art to match.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5. This was a cute, fun read. I liked the murder mystery party angle on top of the social anxiety.

[libreroaming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy prefers reading mysteries to talking to people, since books allow her to be a spectator and interacting with others invites an endless hazard of embarrassments. Her social anxiety is so bad that she has an episode when asked to present her science experiment, and even her therapist's suggestions of small steps, like saying "hi" to someone in passing, leave her paralyzed with fear. So when her classmate Reagan invites her to a murder mystery birthday party, and Amy is enthusiastically nudged to attend. What seems to be a deep end jump for Amy's anxiety is mitigated by the fact that she gets to play a character, "Millie Morgan," a scientist and suspect at this party. Surely if Amy makes a mistake, she can just chalk it up to how Millie acts, right?

Andrea Bell, who also illustrated "Crumble," presents an interesting visual cue to when Amy's social anxiety starts to take over neurotypical concerns all kids have, such as making a mistake in a presentation or saying something wrong to a friend, and greying out the panels until she is the only subject left, indicating how she is wrestling with herself. There's also an imaginative shift between the kids getting ready to play the murder mystery, and where they are immersed in the story, reflecting in their outfits looking authentic and the house turning into a manor. The art style is very contemporary, with rounded characters and simplified expressions that match the dialogue. It also allows the kids to still look kid-like when they switch to the murder mystery format. However, it also means sometimes the adults seem indistinguishable from the kids, and there is at least one panel in a busy school hall where the dialogue seems to imply someone is calling for Amy's attention but none of the figures are looking at each other.


Example of the scene I was talking about

Karina Evans, who wrote the hijinks and embarrassment-filled "Grow Up, Talia Wilkins!" also does a good job portraying Amy's reticence of engaging with the unknown social factors. The therapist suggestion of box breathing and finding objects to ground her during an episode are legitimate methods of coping. The murder mystery plot also engaged in fair play rules (although as an adult reading the story I could see the true culprit the minute the relevant clue dropped). While there isn't enough space in the graphic novel to sketch out the other players' personalities, the rest of the "suspects" make the book feel fast paced and like everyone gets to participate. While Amy's recovery from her anxiety attack seems to resolve neatly, readers can understand these are understanding kids who are nerdy enough to enjoy an hour long roleplay session and it feels natural that Amy might feel more confident to speak with them again after the night.

Overall, this is a cute story that would appeal to fans of murder mystery/roleplay scenarios and enjoy books with a protagonist dealing with internal issues. Recommend for those who like "Just Roll With It" by Veronica Argawal or "Speak Up!" by Rebecca Burgess.

[Becky B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Millie is a mystery lover who wants to make friends and say hi to others, and even though she’s promised her therapist she’s going to try and say hi to someone outside school or answer a question in class, she keeps putting it off. And now she has a class presentation. She has a panic attack in the middle of the presentation and passes out, so when she gets an invitation to a birthday party for one of her classmates her immediate reaction is no. She isn’t ready. What if she passes out again. But the invite does say it is a mystery party, and she does love mysteries. Will playing her character for the mystery help her make it through the party? Her parents really want her to go, so she agrees. And once the party starts Millie finds herself having fun. But when the time comes for her to defend her character from accusations of being the murderer, can she get the words out, or will she freeze up? Will the others think she’s weird? Will this be a horrible disaster?

This was a delightful contemporary graphic novel about a girl daring to take a step out of her comfort zone and exercise some bravery regarding her social anxiety, and being rewarded with acceptance, kindness, and new friends. Watching the kids puzzle out the murder mystery at the party allows the readers to try and solve the mystery with them (we only know about Millie’s character and that she’s innocent, not which character did it). I really appreciate how the information and insight into Millie’s social anxiety experience will help readers better empathize with others with social anxiety and help them know they are loved and accepted, and/or help those with social anxiety feel seen and understood and hopefully find hope in Millie’s story.

Notes on content:
Language: None
Sexual content: None
Violence: There’s an obviously fake, non-bloody murder.
Ethnic diversity: The kids in the story have a variety of skin tones.
LGBTQ+ content: None specified.
Other: Millie has serious social anxiety which results in a panic attack that makes her pass out at one point, school, grocery shopping, and parties stress her out. But she does find she can overcome some of this. She’s also seeing a therapist with great advice for her. The story ends hopefully and with Millie making small steps towards better mental health.

[bookcookery]

Though the title of this graphic novel is Millie of the Manor, the main character's name is actually Amy. Millie is the character Amy is selected to portray during a classmate’s murder mystery birthday party, the setting for the bulk of the book’s action. The first third of the novel builds a detailed backstory around Amy’s social anxiety. Her parents’ support is portrayed with warmth, though the exposition can feel a bit heavy-handed at times.

The story really picks up once Amy arrives at the party. For kids, this is where the fun begins. The mystery is engaging, and while seasoned readers, especially parents familiar with Clue or any Agatha Christie novel, will likely spot the culprit early on, young readers new to the genre will delight in piecing together the clues. The mystery unfolds at a reasonable pace, and the illustrations do a wonderful job toggling between the real world and the world of the game, making the experience immersive and imaginative.

Amy’s anxiety continues to be explored in this section but with more nuance. The roleplay provides her some emotional distance, and while her emotional turnaround feels a bit too swift to be fully believable, it does serve the narrative well. In true whodunit fashion, Amy gets to explain the solution in a climactic moment reminiscent of Poirot. A more collaborative ending might have added depth, but it's still a satisfying payoff.

One notable feature of the book is its kind and supportive tone. There are no villains, just kids and parents navigating a cozy, compassionate world. The dialogue is almost unrealistically kind, but it creates a safe space to focus on Amy’s internal journey. Her path to self-confidence is heartening, and watching it align with the unraveling of the mystery makes for a satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to HarperAlley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

*ARC review*

In this middle grade graphic novel, Amy is a young tween/teen who experiences crippling anxiety and panic attacks. Even though she goes to therapy, she still struggles to use her learned strategies to make connections with peers. The art style is colorful and engaging, and the graphic novel format truly enhances the story.

As someone with anxiety myself, I absolutely loved seeing anxiety represented in Amy. Her internal monologue is so accurate for how it feels to have anxiety. I loved how Amy's anxiety was visually represented: when she started spiraling, everything except Amy becomes black and white, showing how isolated and separated from others she feels in that moment. I also noticed that the frame around Amy gets smaller and smaller with more and more white gutter showing, illustrating how Amy feels trapped by her anxiety.

Amy is invited to a murder mystery party by a stranger - she is concerned about going, but u
chooses to go anyway because she loves to read mystery books. She realizes that her assigned character would be more confident than her, and she is able to use her character to speak with her peers throughout the party, as long as they stay in character. However, when the outside world creeps in, like when Reagan's dogs show up in one of the party rooms, Amy remembers her anxiety and starts to panic. I love how she is ultimately able to work through her anxiety, and she's even able to share about her anxiety with her new friends at the party. She first thinks they must be judging her, but they are so empathetic and kind to her.

Overall, this book is a beautiful and well-written representation of anxiety. Any kid dealing with anxiety would appreciate seeing themselves in this book.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes you must pretend to be somebody else to get over your fears. In this middle grade graphic novel our main character Amy suffers from social anxiety. They would rather live in the world of their mystery books than dare get up and talk to people in class. Then say hi to a stranger or a classmate at the grocery store. They are seeing a therapist to help and has been given tools to cope with this anxiety. But putting those tools into action is hard. Amy gets invited to a birthday party and she agrees to go, buts he’s very panicky about the actual event which turns out to be a murder mystery party. Amy gets to live the party as a Millie, the scientist. And it’s through being someone else that she finds her voice and learns that her friends are OK with her anxiety. If she needs a moment, she needs a moment. I think the lesson in the beginning of the book were quite heavy-handed. It almost felt like I was reading a Boys Town press book. But once the story gets going, it smooths out and becomes a very charming tale. I enjoyed this book and could see it spinning off stories about the classmates. Let’s not forget to talk about the art. The art is from a Chicago artist. It’s perfect for middle grade. The color, the comic layout, and the ease of the design makes this story well thought out and well planned. Both things together just make this work into a graphic novel kids are sure to love.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

*I received a free ARC from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review*

Millie of the Manor is an excellent representation of social anxiety and the everyday hurdles it creates for those who experience it. I liked how the authors showed the differences in how Millie's parents approached trying to help/encourage her through difficult moments. Including a scene with the therapist was also really important because it showed how a session could go and how having a therapist to talk with can be really helpful - I hope this makes younger readers more comfortable with the idea of therapy/counseling. It is always possible that other kids will not be accepting as Millie's were when she started to have her panic attack, but I think it was nice to give younger readers the knowledge that sometimes things are not as bad as we imagine they might be. The murder mystery party was a fun way to allow Millie to come out of her shell a little and get to know her peers in a less overwhelming environment. I liked how the graphics switched between Millie's imagination with the murder mystery and her actual environment. I received this ARC as an e-book but will definitely be purchasing a hard copy as soon as it is released! I highly recommend this book to readers in late-elementary and middle school, as well as to classroom and school libraries!

[McKenzie Richardson · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more bookish opinions, visit my blog: Craft-Cycle

A sweet and engaging story about friendship, social anxiety, and pushing yourself to take risks.

Amy loves mysteries. But when she's invited to a murder mystery-themed birthday party, she's conflicted. While she wants to solve the mystery, she worries her social anxiety will draw unwanted attention. Will she be able to get through the party while her character, Millie Morgan, helps solve the mystery?

A great look at what social anxiety can look like and strategies for dealing with it.

This was such a fun story. The murder mystery element makes for a really interesting read while it also works in issues of anxiety, feeling different, and fear of how others will see you. I love how understanding the other characters are and how they support Amy at the party.

Fun illustrations. It was really fun seeing the murder mystery party come to life as the real-life characters take on their different roles. The physical representations of when Amy's anxiety starts to take over were also very well done.

A wonderful read. I really enjoyed this one. Great for those looking for social anxiety representation or who just love a good murder mystery party.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a great graphic novel. Amy loves reading mystery books but when she's invited to a classmate's murder mystery themed birthday party she is apprehensive. Her anxiety has been getting in the way of her interacting with others. Her assigned role for the murder mystery is Millie Morgan and she starts to have a fun time solving the mystery. The writing on how Amy was feeling with anxiety was done very well. I like that the thought bubbles even had a different font so we know it's what she's thinking and how anxiety feels for her. The art style of the graphic novel is really cute. I think kids and adults will be able to relate to Amy's anxiety. I remember second guessing myself in school with thoughts like Amy's and felt the dialogue was realistic. The murder mystery birthday party was fun to read! Certain sections reminded me of the movie Clue when they're trying to solve the murder. This was a good book and can see it as a great conversation starter for children about anxiety.

Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this eArc in exchange for an honest review.