Middle School Monsters (a Graphic Novel) - by Robin Easter (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A "werewolf" looking for a fresh start finds unexpected friendship with her school's so-called vampire in this middle-grade graphic novel about fitting in, standing out, and accepting what makes us unique.

New town. New school. Fresh start. Jamie's determined to keep her hairy legs hidden, her emotions in check, and her monster side locked down. No drama. No disasters. Just one painfully normal middle school year.

Everything seems to be going according to plan until she's seated next to Vera--the school "vampire"--in English class. Jamie's popular new friends say to steer clear. But there's something about Vera that feels ... familiar.

The more she and Vera talk, the more Jamie wonders: could there really be other monsters like her out there?

A heart-filled, howl-out-loud graphic novel about identity, belonging, and what it means to finally find your pack.

Review Quotes

"Easter's bright artwork--with expressive, distinct characters--perfectly match this monster-tinged, middle-grade friendship story....Hand to tweens who love Svetlana Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School series."--Booklist

Praise for Upstaged:

A Rainbow Book List Pick

*"Both a love story and a compassionate exploration of a youth learning how to cope with loneliness, this sharply written and evocative graphic novel is deeply grounded in reality even when its characters would rather fantasize about the what-ifs."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"A great selection for middle schoolers transitioning to high school or struggling to navigate social groups, and for elementary and middle school libraries looking to add age-relevant LGBTQIA+ stories to their collections."--School Library Journal

"A heartfelt glimpse into tweens' role-playing of different selves and a lifeline for anyone who's ever felt different."--Kirkus

"Robin Easter's delightful graphic novel captures the drama of summer theater camp with a light, comforting touch."--Broadway Direct

"Summer theater camp sets the perfect stage for an angsty, queer, and romantic middle school story."--Booklist

"This graphic novel is rife with coming-of-age social drama, yet the tone is optimistic through all the protagonist's ups and downs."--The Horn Book

"This theater camp has plenty of captivating drama both on stage and off!"--Kayla Miller, bestselling creator of the Click series

About the Author

Robin Easter is a cartoonist and illustrator who graduated from SCAD with a degree in sequential art. They are also a grown-up theater kid, former camp counselor, and walking encyclopedia of random facts. Robin currently lives in Pennsylvania with their cats and more dice than any reasonable person should own.