Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story
by Sarah Myer; illus. by the author
High School    First Second    272 pp.
6/23    9781250268792    $25.99
Paper ed.  9781250268808    $17.99
e-book ed.  9781250337238    $11.99

Myer’s graphic memoir is a welcome transracial adoption story told from the adoptee’s point of view. Adopted from South Korea by a white couple, Sarah (who now uses they/them pronouns) basically knows nothing about their birth parents and wonders: “Did they WANT me? Why did they let me go?” An outsider in basically every way in their rural Maryland town, Sarah has a rough time at school. Artistic abilities that help them gain popularity with elementary-school classmates can’t shield them from race- and gender-based bullying during adolescence. Though they often fight back both verbally and physically, the years of abuse take their toll; at moments when Sarah is feeling especially bad about themself, and during retaliation, Myer imagines themself as a monster. Sarah finds solace through a love of anime: “cosplaying male characters with whom I identified was my sole means of expressing my queerness.” Myer uses color, shading, and line effectively, and varies panel size with excellent results. Those who stick with the unflinching depictions of the bullying Myer endured will be rewarded with an engaging—and ultimately hopeful—narrative of a young artist developing their own true identity. Back matter includes websites for resources and support, an author’s note, and photos.

From the November/December 2023 issue of The Horn Book Magazine.