
Monstrous
A Transracial Adoption Story
First Second · Print & ebook · June 27, 2023
"A beautiful, courageous book.” Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese Five Starred Reviews and a Finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize Monstrous is a poignant, award-winning young adult graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl who uses fandom and art-making to overcome racist bullying.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A graphic memoir where fandom and drawing meet the hard work of facing racist bullying.
- Themes
- Racist bullying, Transracial adoption, Art as coping
- Genres
- Graphic Biography, Adoption, Asian American U.S. History for Teens
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
BrownstoneSamuel Teer, Mar Julia51% match
Family StyleThien Pham58% matchShares Graphic Biography
Bless the BloodWalela Nehanda53% match
Lunar New Year Love StoryGene Luen Yang, LeUyen Pham53% match
Fitting IndianJyoti Chand51% match
¡ay, Mija! (a Graphic Novel)Christine Suggs55% match
The Girl I Am, Was, and Never Will BeShannon Gibney60% matchShares Adoption
Superman Smashes the KlanGene Luen Yang, Gurihiru57% match
For younger readers: The Moon Without Stars, Uprooted, The Other Side of Tomorrow
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
"A beautiful, courageous book.” Gene Luen Yang, author of American Born Chinese Five Starred Reviews and a Finalist for the L.A. Times Book Prize Monstrous is a poignant, award-winning young adult graphic memoir about a Korean-American girl who uses fandom and art-making to overcome racist bullying. 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 neighbors.
Continue reading
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.
Art Against Isolation
A graphic memoir where fandom and drawing meet the hard work of facing racist bullying.
Come here for
- Anime, cosplay, and art as sources of escape
- A Korean-American adoptee’s experience of trying to fit in
Expect
- A poignant account of anger and connection
- A serious, accessible graphic memoir
Where it sits
| Graphic Biography | 93% |
|---|---|
| Asian American U.S. History for Teens | 47% |
| Adoption | 35% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Graphic Social Topics
- Adoption
- Asian American U.S. History for Teens
- Authors
- Sarah Myer
- Publisher
- First Second
- Published
- June 27, 2023
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Racist bullying · Transracial adoption · Art as coping
- Reading lane
- Graphic Social Topics