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Monstrous

A Transracial Adoption Story
By Sarah Myer
0.0 (0 reviews)
4.37 goodreads logo

Ratings/reviews counts are updated frequently.

Check link for latest rating. ( 1,755 ratings, 349 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Monstrous by Sarah Myer is a graphic memoir about a young South Korean girl adopted and raised by a white family in a rural area with few Asian neighbours. Struggling with bullying, exclusion, and her own anger, Sarah finds solace in drawing and eventually becomes obsessed with anime and cosplay. This story captures her emotional turmoil and search for identity amidst cruelty and isolation.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This graphic memoir is well suited for teens and young adults who appreciate coming-of-age stories and those grappling with cultural identity and bullying. Fans of graphic novels exploring personal growth and emotional resilience will find it particularly compelling.

Book Hero thinking about your next read

Bullied by her classmates, Sarah, a Korean American girl growing up in a rural community with few Asian neighbors, channels her rage into her art and cosplay until it threatens to explode.

A poignant young adult graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl who uses fandom and art-making to overcome racist bullying.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

Sarah has always struggled to fit in. Born in South Korea and adopted at birth by a white couple, she grows up in a rural community with few Asian neighbours. People whisper in the supermarket. Classmates bully her. She has trouble containing her anger in these moments—but through it all, she has her art. She's always been a compulsive drawer, and when she discovers anime, her hobby becomes an obsession.

Though drawing and cosplay offer her an escape, she still struggles to connect with others. And in high school, the bullies are louder and meaner. Sarah's bubbling rage is threatening to burst.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Monstrous has received critical acclaim, including nominations for the L.A. Times Book Prize and Eisner Award. It has been featured in multiple 2023 best-of lists from YALSA, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and others. The Boston Globe calls it "heartfelt" and comforting for misfit readers. Starred reviews praise its immersive storytelling, raw emotional energy, and honest portrayal of identity struggles, comparing it to works like Hey, Kiddo and Almost American Girl.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781250268808

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 27 June 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: First Second

Illustration: full-color illustrations throughout

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 24.0mm

Width: 157.0mm

Height: 220.0mm

Weight: 582g

Pages: 272

Collections

Adult Graphic Novels Children’s, Teenage and Educational Fiction Graphic Novels Sarah Myer Young Adult

About the Author

Sarah Myer is a comic artist and illustrator hailing from a ten-acre farm in White Hall, Maryland. An old-school cosplayer and anime fan, Sarah has attended anime/comic conventions as a fan and artist alley participant since 1999 and has constructed and worn more than fifty costumes. Sarah graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design with BFA and MFA degrees in sequential art and taught foundation studies classes at the college for three years. In 2019, First Second published Maker Comics: Create a Costume!, Sarah's first graphic novel.

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