SPEECHLESS, by Aron Nels Steinke, Graphix, March 4, 2025, Paperback, $14.99 (ages 8-12)
A girl tries to overcome the anxiety that manifests as silence in Speechless, a middle-grade graphic novel by Aron Nels Steinke.
Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. Her former best friend, Chloe, has become her worst enemy, and Mira’s only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel.
But when Chloe’s mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice? —Synopsis provided by Graphix
Speechless is a funny middle-grade graphic novel that tackles anxiety, friendship, self-expression and family dynamics.
At the center of the story is Mira, a girl who is unable to speak when at school, but is the exact opposite at home. The nature of graphic novels allows for a lot of internal dialogue and drama. Creator Aron Nels Steinke quickly gets to the heart of things, and allows readers to process along with Mia.
At approximately 250 pages, Speechless is in that sweet spot for graphic novels in which there’s plenty of room to explore without getting long-winded. It’s a fast-moving read that I easily finished in an afternoon. My 11-year-old gobbled it up, too, quickly adding my advanced copy to her bedroom library.
Speechless features bold artwork and relatable topics. It’s bound to be read and reread numerous times.
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