'Opting Out': Maia Kobabe's new middle-grade graphic novel tackles 7th grade survival and resilience
By
Tahneer Oksman
Summary
A review and analysis of the new middle-grade graphic novel "Opting Out" by Maia Kobabe, author of "Gender Queer." The book follows 12-year-old Saachi through the challenges of seventh grade, including a school suspension for fighting, as she navigates changing social dynamics and finds her footing. The article discusses the book's themes of resilience, growth, and the awkward transition from elementary to middle school.
Source
bsky'Opting Out': Maia Kobabe's new middle-grade graphic novel tackles 7th grade survival and resiliencen.prKey quotes
· 3 pulledYou don't start off good at something. You get better and better until it changes! Then the cycle repeats.
Saachi is having a hard time in seventh grade, though neither of her parents have a clear sense of exactly what is going on.
Saachi, 12, is a head-strong, confident 6th grader when the book opens, but soon she finds herself increasingly frustrated as the social dynamics of elementary school seem to unravel before her eyes.
You might also wanna read
Kickstarter Releases New Mature Content Guidelines Affecting Comic Creators and Adult-Themed Projects
Kickstarter has published a new "Mature Content Creator Guide" that establishes clearer rules for crowdfunding projects involving adult them
Court of Appeals Upholds Dismissal of Neil Gaiman Sexual Assault Lawsuit on Jurisdictional Grounds
A US Court of Appeals has affirmed the dismissal of a sexual assault and human trafficking lawsuit filed by Scarlett Pavlovich against autho
/https://tf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com/filer_public/f6/6e/f66edaff-eb72-4b3e-8e69-77bf70f7aa4d/20251025_public-day_wu_miles_0)
14-Year-Old Student Wins Innovation Prize for Origami-Based Emergency Shelter Design
A 14-year-old student named Miles Wu has developed an innovative emergency shelter design using origami principles, specifically a variant o
smithsonianmag.com·1mo ago14-Year-Old Student Wins Innovation Prize for Origami-Based Emergency Shelter Design
A 14-year-old student named Miles Wu has developed an innovative emergency shelter design using origami principles, specifically a variant o
smithsonianmag.com·1mo ago
Sara Shepard and Stephanie Pepper's YA Graphic Novel 'Birds of Prey: The Origins' Rescheduled for November 2026
Sara Shepard, author of Pretty Little Liars, and Stephanie Pepper have co-created a YA graphic novel titled Birds Of Prey: The Origins, whic
Gen Alpha's Online Socializing Evolves as Countries Ban Social Media for Under-16s
The article examines how Gen Alpha (children born after 2010) is adapting to increasing social media bans across countries like Australia, t
vogue.com·9d ago
Teen Innovator Tackles Coral Reef Crisis with Biotech Solutions
A 16-year-old student from Kazakhstan is exploring innovative solutions to save coral reefs by rethinking coral biology and symbiotic ecosys
news.ycombinator.com·1y ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.