Bad Kid (A Graphic Memoir): My Life as a "Troubled Teen"

by Sofia Szamosi

A searing personal account of the so-called troubled teen industry, this graphic memoir exposes and humanizes the harrowing experience of so many young people in behavioral correction facilities.

When she was just thirteen years old, Sofia was taken—by two people she had never seen before—to a “therapeutic wilderness program” three states away. Her own mother, terrified that Sofia was spiraling out of control, had enrolled her in an institution for “troubled teens.” But instead of finding healing, Sofia found herself trapped. Trapped inside an unregulated industry that used promises of intervention and reform to prey upon panicking parents and kids with court orders.

Over the next two years, Sofia would cycle through four different residential programs. In these places, school hours were a privilege, not a right. Contact with the outside world, including her mother, was strictly monitored. Teenage inmates were encouraged to call one another out. Still a child—ripped from her home, stripped of basic freedoms, and severed from her family and friends—Sofia struggled to understand who she really was beneath the crushing weight of the label BAD KID.
 
A darkly funny and intimate coming-of-age tale, this graphic memoir exposes the harrowing realities of adolescence in and out of the "troubled teen" industry of the early 2000s. And in doing so, Bad Kid explores the lasting impact of the labels we’re given—and how making art can help transmute them.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics

392 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 10, 2026

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published March 10, 2026.

4 stars

Nice graphic novel for young adults that is Szamosi’s high school memoir; she spent about two years in several wilderness programs for troubled teens. While, obviously, this story is from her perspective, it sounds as if she had some pretty standard rebellion issues as well as some minor issues with alcohol (using, but not out of control, according to the book.) And while it does not appear she experience any outright physical abuse while in the programs, as had been alleged by others, she was essentially kidnapped and taken away two times, all with the cooperation of her parents, which was totally legal because she was a minor.

This was an interesting look at the day to day goings on at these camps/schools and how long the programs last (I’m sure it seems like forever.) Art was nice, if fairly standard for this type of book, but worked well for the subject matter.

[Rod Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofia Szamosi shares her experience as a captive of the troubled teen industry after her mother has her committed to various therapeutic wilderness programs and residential treatment centers to cure her bad behavior.

Szamosi is frank about her "bad kid" status, laying out the attitude, substance abuse, and eating disorder that led to the label. She also recounts her immediate recidivism upon release.

Her experience in the system resembles a twisted mix of prison, boot camp, bullying, and group therapy. There is a lot of controversy around these facilities, and it is good to have Szamosi's insights.


Disclosure: I received access to a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.com.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a troubling memoir of a teen who is ripped from her house, and taken away to a camp where she would be forced to become a good kid. The author admits that she was wild, but the things that the camps did was demoralizing, meant to break you. She is cut off from everyone, and forced to go on hikes, or dig ditches, or build new tents for the camp. And if she was really good she could go to the school they offered.


Sofia kept a journal which she refers back to in this telling, and she made friends with some of the other girls in the system, and she meets up with them, or writes to them, as she is moved from camp to camp, simply because after coming out of one, she has a hard time reentering society. Her mother figures it is making her “good” again. If anything, it makes her want to rebel more.


Sad, heart wrenching story. I feel for her, though I get that her mother thought she was out of control. But to turn your child over, as though they were a bad dog, and had to be disciplined says a lot about this troubled teen industry makes people think about their kids. My heart hurt so much for her, and what she went through.


Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is available the 10th of March 2026.

[Michelle Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Net Galley for providing me an ARC to review. As a high school librarian, I'm always looking for books that genuinely connect with students. Especially thos who struggle to see themselves as readers. Bad Kid: A Graphic Memoir by Sofia Szamosi is exactly that kind of book. The graphic format makes the story immediately accessible, and the black-and white artwork punctuated with a striking red pop of color is both visually engaging and emotionally powerful. The topic content deals with situations every teenager will face. The point of view is excellent. It holds true to the perspective of a high school student, without their brain being full developed until adulthood and all the choices/mistakes made when dealing in adolescense.

Beyond its strong design, this memoir shines an important light on the troubled on the troubled teen industry and the lasting impact it can have on young people. Szamosi's honesty invites empathy without oversimplifying complex experiences, making it a meaningful read for teens who may feel misunderstood or marginalized. This book is not only compelling - it's validating. Szamosi also incorporates her actual diary entries, with her handwriting, and real pictures of herself during this time in her life. It helps remind the reader that although this is in a graphic format, the story remains true. Our author really did go through this situation.

There are some gaps and holes within the storyline. This is typical in memoirs. I was left wondering what was the catelyst of the memoir. What did she do in order to have her mom think the only viable option was to send her away. We also are left wondering how things ended up for the author. Was she able to patch her relationship with her family? What was her next step?

Finally, this book sheds light on the troubled teen industry. It takes you through the motions of what living in a residential program would look like. More terrifyingly, it describes a scenario where your parents are pitted against you and lied to about progress being made. Through news stories, we have found these stories to be true, and that is so sad for our youth.

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Fact: I have taken custody of a “Bad Kid” that was in a wilderness program at one point. He ran away. When he returned, they called his parents and said they wouldn’t keep him. This was an emotional read for me, because I kept thinking of what my “Bad Kid” went through.

Raising kids is tough. They literally don’t come with a manual, and you have to just figure it out. I have a teen right now. I survived a teen in my house before. She is now a beautiful bride married to an incredible guy. No one raises a teen unscathed. Even in the best of situations.

My heart went out to Sofia many pages of this graphic memoir. I could see where she was just misunderstood. There were other times, I thought, “Man, she is so out of control.” I kept hoping for the happy ending where someone intervened.

I’m not a fan of the methods used with her. But at the same time, I was not a fan of some of the material she covers in this book. I can’t see where it would be appropriate to share with a kid you see struggling because of some of the things she covers. I also felt there were times when she was writing as a victim, rather than owning what she could own. At the same time, I’m giving leeway since she may have been writing just as herself at that age, not in retrospect. Reinforcing a victim’s mentality would not be helpful with young, struggling, readers. Empathy? Yes. Empowering a victim mindset? Nope.

I read this thinking of sharing with students and youth that I encounter on a regular basis. I’m not sure I will. Why? Because, just like raising a teen, it’s complicated. Messy.

I received this ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an unbiased review.

[K.C. Norton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was excited to get an ARC of this book, as it was already on my radar!

The art wasn't my favorite, but it did remind me a bit of Persepolis, and despite the simple 'zine style, I found it fairly easy to tell who was who, which is sometimes an issue for me with sketchy b&w graphic novels.

The end was pretty rushed and a bit overly simplified, but I found most of this book so engaging and heartbreaking. One of my siblings was sent into a program like the one Szamosi talks about, and in a weird way I feel like reading this book brought me closer to their perspective. It's also raised some questions for me about the logic of parents who ship their kids off like this, and given that my dad *did* this... wow. All this to say that I related to this story in a way that some readers may not, and it definitely impacted my appreciation of Szamosi's work.

It's interesting what Szamosi chose to put on the page vs. what she referred to in her notes, as some of the more specifically upsetting events are little more than footnotes. Reading someone's memoir and going "Please explore MORE of your trauma for me!" always feels like a dick move, so I will say that there were places where I wanted more information, and the end felt too tidy and abrupt. Overall, though, this was an interesting read on a topic that I almost never see people talk about despite its widespread impact on young people.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for the advance copy.

[Steff Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia Szamosi's Bad Kid graphic memoir is a difficult read, one that will definitely trigger dark or sad emotions in a vast number of people. There were certainly experiences the author went through and therefore depicted that were tough for me to read. Even with that, though, the thing I find most helpful and perhaps even inspiring about this book is the fact that it will likely help some of those who have had similar experiences.

This book not only has a catharsis opportunity for the author, but it offers solidarity and potential catharsis for others. And there's a lot to be said for that. While I don't see this as the sort of book I would reread, I do think it's an important one. And if it helps even one person that it reaches in the future, this book has made an exceptional place for itself in the world.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Tala W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this book for review consideration via Net Galley. All opinions are my own.
This was a fascinating and important read. We are finally coming to a time where we are openly discussing these "Teen Rehabilitation Wilderness Camps," and seeing them for what they are: abusive, manipulative, and generally unable to help with the things they promise desperate parents that they will fix.
Sofia's experiences are heartbreaking and painful, and it is plain that it is not these "camps" that save her - it is therapy, love, and growth.
The art style is in perfect harmony with the text, making it clear that the author is as comfortable with images as words, and her story comes through loud and clear.
My only quibble is I would have loved to see more of her journey as she gradually saves herself in her young adulthood.
This would be a timely and needed addition to any library's young adult graphic novel collection.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a big fan of any graphic memoir, so I was excited to read this ARC of Sofia Szamosi's Bad Kid. It follows Sofia who, at 13-years-old, was taken away to a therapeutic wilderness camp far away from home. She flashes back to her life as a "bad kid" and her time at one camp and then another. The story was moving and powerful, funny at times, upsetting at others as the author shares her experiences. She is sent away to other camps, and it becomes clear that these camps are highly problematic in their attempts to "reform" these "bad kids." The graphics are mostly black and white with emphatic uses of red throughout, which I really appreciated. There are also elements from the author's actual journals growing up. Make no mistake, there are challenging topics in this story as the author experienced them, so it may not be the best fit for all teens, but it is a powerful, moving story, and I'm glad to have read it. Thank you to the publishers and Net Galley for this ARC.

[Tori DeFazio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bad Kid is a heartbreaking insider look of a child’s experience in the abusive troubled teen industry. Utilizing art to tell her story, author Sofia Szamosi tells her truth as a “bad kid” and how she survived 16+ months at a variety of “wilderness schools” as a young teen. This is an incredibly powerful story. My heart consistently broke for Szamosi. My only negative feedback for this absolute work of art is that the ending seemed abrupt- however, I would not be surprised if that was the author��s intent… All she wanted, as a young teen, was to live a quiet, comfortable, and safe life. 4⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the novel Bad Kid (A Graphic Memoir).

[Adri Holt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As if being thirteen was not bad enough, Sofia had everything she had ever known taken away by two strangers. They kidnap her in the middle of the night to take her to a behavioral correction facility far, far away from her mom. There is not much contact allowed with her mother, whom has sowed enough discord in their relationship by sending Sofia away to these “BAD KID camps". It seems like the programs were bad enough, but to also be surrounded by the toxic societal order and lack of schooling in these camps she was sent to, Sofia is extremely brave to put her thoughts, feelings, and blood into this graphic novel.

#ThxNetGalley #SofiaSzamosi #BadKid

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sofia Szamosi shares her experience as a "bad kid" who spent time in therapeutic wilderness programs and residential treatment programs.

Szamosi's experience was harrowing, and Bad Kid with humor and pathos. At times, Bad Kid seems a bit too mature for young readers, and doesn't seem to go deep enough.

Thank you, Little, Brown Ink and Netgalley, for an advance ebook in exchange for a fair review.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofia's graphic memoir depicts her troubled teen years and the various resident therapy programs she stayed in. I like the overall message at the end, but I'm not sure that the story or the art style will keep most teen readers engaged. Probably not one I'll end up purchasing.

I read an ARC from Edelweiss.

[Shay McGroarty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sofia Szamosi documents her time in and out of rehabilitation camps during her teen years. A quick read that could have benefited from more time spent on a few experiences rather than several years. Sofia may have been a troubled teen but her mother and step father certainly didn't try to understand her. Very much a product of the times.

[Anna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was heartbreaking but so well written.