Feeling Like an ADHD Alien

by Pina Varnel

Genres: Graphic Novels, Mental Health, Young Adult, Graphic Novels Comics, Psychology, Self Help, Disability

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 15, 2026

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This copy is an ARC. The real version will be in colour. And even in black and white the art is beautiful.

Feeling like an ADHD Alien is relatable whether you're an adult, teen, or kid with ADHD. Or if you want to learn how people with ADHD experience the world.

I was diagnosed with ADHD when I was 10 years old. Almost every scene in this graphic novel has happened to me. Now as an adult I can read and laugh about similar incidents.

For those reading, no your ADHD does not go away. We do not grow out of it. We just become better at managing our ADHD. Over the years, you learn what works for you.

It was funny how the author brought up the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. I don't think any millennial will EVER forget this science fact.

Page 81 explains why neurodivergent people are always apologising for everything.

I also feel like my ADHD can be a gift or a curse. It depends on how frustrated or skilled I feel that day.

When Kiki learned to love herself that made me cry because this is the kind of book that I wish was available when I was a teen. It took years for me to learn to embrace all my quirks and that my ADHD doesn't define me, but it does shape my life every day.
Overall, this graphic novel is informative and will fill you with all types of emotions. But mostly, I hope it helps other ADHDers to understand that we're not broken. We deserve to be happy and loved.

[Hovo Arakelian · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC version:
Varnel comes in extremely strong with her first publication.

A dive into a part of the life of young Kiki, a young girl who feels different, thinks different, and (as the title suggests) feels like an alien among peers.
From struggling, to hearing about ADHD, and the whole following journey.

Varnels way of writing make complex subjects very digestible. She mentions the fact that not everyone with ADHD will go through the same journey, and not every solution that worked for Kiki, will work for everyone. This shows that Varnel is strongly aware that mental health is, at the end of the day, a personal journey, and all people can really do, is ask for help.

Now for the art:
It's amazing. I'm not a visual artist myself, but I can easily recognize when someone has genuine talent, and Varnel has that in droves. She draws in a way that's easy to read what's happening on the page, but still has details in it that make the scene coherent. The cute, slightly Japanese inspired, style works wonders for relatability, and works for both children and adults.

This graphic novel was a breath of fresh air in a landscape of mental health-related books that feel stuffy, or overly explained, or missing the heart.

I genuinely believe this book will become extremely important, and will be found in the offices of most therapists and school libraries.

I hope Varnel continues to hone her craft even more, because this is already a masterpiece

[Charessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group, Rocky Pond Books, and NetGalley for the eGalley to review!

I'm familiar with Pina Varnel's work, so this was an immediate check-out for me, but even if I wasn't already familiar, I'd absolutely say that this is the most informative piece of work about ADHD I have read yet. The personal experience and visual examples are what's key here, because it's so much easier to, well, visualize how ADHD manifests in and frustrates a person's life and see how relatable it can be. Most importantly, Varnel frames having ADHD as something to understand and work *with* instead of some sort of evil to be defeated. Negative feelings about it are natural, but it's largely how we as a society make our society inaccessible or even hostile to those who have ADHD. This makes it not only a book for those looking to reconcile with their own diagnosis (or even lack-thereof because of things like medical misogyny and/or racism) but those who are looking to better understand and support the people in their lives that have or may have ADHD. I simply adore that there is a set of coping strategies in the back that actively debunk the strategies that often fail people because they're typically too vague or recommended by someone without ADHD.

It's just simply an amazing book and one I will likely forever keep in my collection of mental health books for all ages.

[Lawrence Bouchier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to read this book in a relatively early, still unfinished version, as I was one of the author’s proofreaders. That also meant I was able to witness its development over time, and I can say without hesitation that an incredible amount of work went into it, far more than most people would imagine. Pina clearly pushed herself to her limits while creating this book, and in the end she delivered something truly special. What makes this even more remarkable is that this is her first book, and she did it entirely on her own. The story, the illustrations, the research, the writing, every single part of it comes from her. That alone is deeply impressive.

Without giving anything away, the book unfolds much like a well crafted series. It starts quietly and builds momentum with each chapter. What struck me most, though, is its emotional depth. I do not have ADHD and I am not part of the primary target audience, yet I was able to fully connect with the experiences portrayed. There were moments that genuinely moved me, especially through the visual storytelling. Pina has a rare ability to translate emotions into imagery in a way that does not just show them, it makes you feel them.

In short, this is not just a book for people with ADHD. It is for anyone who appreciates a well told story and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the topic. Absolutely worth reading.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiki is a teenager who struggles with school, daily routines, and her connections with friends and family. She is disorganized, often late, and accused of being lazy. She despairs of her perceived shortcomings, and she is drawn with alien antennae to signal her sense of feeling like an alien among her peers. Slowly, she comes to the realization she might have ADHD and asks her mother to take her for testing. The chapters show Kiki's progression toward discovery and how her life unfolds after her diagnosis. The story ends with coping strategies and resources for readers who want to explore more about the subject.

Author and illustrator Pina Varnel based her character Kiki on herself and shares her hard-won wisdom. Illustrated in a Japanese-inspired manga style, the artwork is appealing and approachable. She utilizes a soft palette throughout the chapters, and then the colors effectively come together in the end, as Kiki is shown more vividly as she realizes she is complete.

Expertly tackling the topic of ADHD in a straightforward yet ­whimsical way, this graphic novel is a must-buy for ­libraries.

I read this for the School Library Journal magazine and gave it a starred review!

[Nova · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the story of Kiki, this graphic novel written and illustrated by Pina Varnel tackles multiple dimensions of ADHD and how to impacts people, especially those who are teens or discovering more about their own brain. Varnel does a great job balancing stories with practical content, and the bonus tips and tricks at the end are great! A highly approachable and accessible must-read for anyone who has ADHD that is looking for a window into self-acceptance, or friends of people with ADHD who are looking for better understanding of their loved ones.

Thank you to Edelweiss and the publisher for the advanced copy for my honest review. I've followed ADHD Alien comics for years and was excited to be able to see this book early!

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kiki has always known that she is a little bit different from her peers, but she works really hard to be like everyone else. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't, and then Kiki will either avoid the people she has hurt or overly apologize. When some research leads to an ADHD diagnosis, Kiki finally feels like she can make some sense of the world.

This graphic novel is written in chapters about the various ways that ADHD affects Kiki, but also has a later chapter dedicated to her diagnosis. I have never read a graphic novel that so clearly depicted ADHD in teen girls. Having a daughter with ADHD, this book is so incredibly spot on. I loved the tips section at the end, as well as the full analysis of how ADHD feels. An absolutely incredible read!

I read an ARC from Edelweiss.

[Naomi Shi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to get an ARC for this book. Honestly, it was so touching and written in a way that anyone of any age could undersatnd Kiki's story and her difficulties of living with ADHD. In this book, Varnel perfectly captures exactly what it feels like to be a teenage girl with ADHD, and how difficult it can be. One thing that stands out to me in Varnel's writing is how she shows the stigma against ADHD people, how people often make jokes about it rather than truly trying to understand it, and how supportive, acceptive, family and friends can make a difference in your journey. This was honestly just such an amazing read, would absolutely reccomend, and I'm definitely reading this again.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Some books are windows and other books are mirrors. I have never felt so seen or related so strongly to a story. Kiki's experiences really encapsulate and show how ADHD presents in many adolescent girls (and adults as well), while offering clear explanations for why these struggles are happening, and in the final concluding chapter, how to cope and develop strategies to feel more successful and be more successful.

I definitely recommend this book for all libraries, school counselors, people who struggle with neurodivergence, and I will be buying copies for at least one of my children.

[Ally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Got an arc from work!

This book took me out back and shot me multiple times and I said thank you. I wish I’d had this in college when I thought there was something seriously wrong with me because I couldn’t finish Moll Flanders. I cannot wait to tell my therapist about this on Wednesday but damn so many things really aren’t just me, huh?

[rory · Rating 5 out of 5]

adorable and…scarily accurate.