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Speechless: A Graphic Novel
From Eisner Award-winning author Aron Nels Steinke comes a heartfelt and funny middle-grade graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and expressing yourself.
Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. She didn't used to have anxiety speaking--and she used to have friends. Now, her former best friend Chloe is her worst enemy, and Mira's only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel. But when Chloe's mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice?
Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. She didn't used to have anxiety speaking--and she used to have friends. Now, her former best friend Chloe is her worst enemy, and Mira's only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel. But when Chloe's mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice?
256 pages, Paperback
First published March 4, 2025
19 people are currently reading
201 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
February 24, 2025
As someone who sometimes struggled speaking at school in middle school, I related to Mira. She can't get any words out, although she has no problem doing so at home. She is very creative and loves to make her own stop-motion animation.
With the help of her family and a therapist, she is able to find strategies that work for her to find her voice.
(For my fellow librarians in the trenches of book-banning, be aware that there is one instance of the use of the word "crap", and an individual that Mira becomes friends with uses the pronouns "they/them".)
With the help of her family and a therapist, she is able to find strategies that work for her to find her voice.
(For my fellow librarians in the trenches of book-banning, be aware that there is one instance of the use of the word "crap", and an individual that Mira becomes friends with uses the pronouns "they/them".)
March 5, 2025
Entertaining, engaging and insightful…definitely in the vein of Telgemeier, Hale, Jamieson, and Brosgol.
I like how real the characters and relationship dynamics are and the direct and indirect ways Steinke portrays them. No one is perfect, they try their best (or not)… His use of the art of miscommunication. Those inclusions of scenes, expressions or exchanges Mira is present for yet unaware of. The quiet moments of humor and the fearless amount of tension. One of my favorite aspects is following the relationship arc of Mira and Chloe.
Speechless is a delightful exploration of Art and the Art of communication. Art is everything to Mira, it is her truest voice—and, for someone whose anxiety can mute her physical voice, it’s her most reliable means of communication. But anxiety and the inability to communicate clearly isn’t unique to Mira. One of the loveliest aspects of Speechless is how no one character is left flawless, child or adult. Steinke explores this as the story dictates, offering more than Mira’s single first person narrative. Reflections are multifaceted and the resolutions are richer for it.
Steinke’s appealing and accessible art style mediates big emotions and carries the quiet beautifully. The informational is held in pleasing balance with the fiction. The thoughtful plotting of the story is reflected in the laying down of the panels and pages. I know Steinke sweated over this novel, applying years of skill/experience, but it reads “intuitive.” He gets kids, and adults who care about kids. He gets visual storytelling.
I love the NB rep as well as the diverse multicultural cast and disability rep.
I like how real the characters and relationship dynamics are and the direct and indirect ways Steinke portrays them. No one is perfect, they try their best (or not)… His use of the art of miscommunication. Those inclusions of scenes, expressions or exchanges Mira is present for yet unaware of. The quiet moments of humor and the fearless amount of tension. One of my favorite aspects is following the relationship arc of Mira and Chloe.
Speechless is a delightful exploration of Art and the Art of communication. Art is everything to Mira, it is her truest voice—and, for someone whose anxiety can mute her physical voice, it’s her most reliable means of communication. But anxiety and the inability to communicate clearly isn’t unique to Mira. One of the loveliest aspects of Speechless is how no one character is left flawless, child or adult. Steinke explores this as the story dictates, offering more than Mira’s single first person narrative. Reflections are multifaceted and the resolutions are richer for it.
Steinke’s appealing and accessible art style mediates big emotions and carries the quiet beautifully. The informational is held in pleasing balance with the fiction. The thoughtful plotting of the story is reflected in the laying down of the panels and pages. I know Steinke sweated over this novel, applying years of skill/experience, but it reads “intuitive.” He gets kids, and adults who care about kids. He gets visual storytelling.
I love the NB rep as well as the diverse multicultural cast and disability rep.
April 8, 2025
I went to elementary school with someone with selective mutism and she was so damn cool. I remember not understanding why she didn’t say a word at school but when I would go over to her house, she could talk to her family. I remember thinking she had a great voice, and wondering why she didn’t share it. Everyone just always said she was shy. It never occurred to me she may have been anxious, and maybe I didn’t know what anxiety was at that age (and I’m not saying this is for sure what she was managing, just something that wouldn’t have crossed my mind). I wish I would have had a book like this when I was younger to help me understand and support her a bit more, but I’m glad I have it now!
April 1, 2025
This was a fantastic graphic novel! Unique and heartwarming, with lots of coming-of-age life lessons and learning moments. It's about a young girl who struggles with selective mutism and can't bring herself to speak at school or in public and her creative outlet of stop-go animation.
It's about friendship and family, sharing your feelings, and facing ones fears.
4.5 ⭐️
It's about friendship and family, sharing your feelings, and facing ones fears.
4.5 ⭐️
October 6, 2024
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Mia has problems with social anxiety that have led to years of increasing selective mutism, but she makes a goal for herself to talk in class as she enters middle school. Her first day is a bust, but other students, including former best friend and current nemesis, Chloe, tell the teachers that Mia just doesn't talk. This isn't evident at home, where Mia talks to her mother and father, as well as her younger sister Madeleine, who occasionally helps her with her computer animation projects. Under the name Danger Cat Studios, Mia uploads videos like Tommy Tomato and Bobby Banana. When she puts up posters at school advertising these, she gets a lot of views, and finds it amusing that no one knows she is responsible. She creates puppets to use in the videos, and makes one of Alex, a cool nonbinary kid on whom she has a bit of a crush. They stick up for Mia when classmates make fun of her, and even partners with her on a school project. Alex is surprised that Mia speaks at home, and the two have more fun with the animation projects than the school one. It doesn't go well, since Mia is dealing with the fact that Chloe is living with her family while her parents are taking care of her grandmother. Mia remembers that Chloe, in second grade, told her to quit pestering her, and has trouble when Chloe invites friends to the house. At one point, she suspects that Chloe has poisoned her spaghetti, and spirals to the point where her parents call the paramedics. Mia's grades aren't good, and when Mia's teacher finally calls her mother, the parents find out that Mia hasn't been talking at school. They get her in to therapy, and she slowly progresses from whispering to Alex, which isn't so hard, to speaking in front of groups.
Strengths: One of my second grade classmates was selectively mute, and this was very hard to understand as a child, so it's interesting to see this representation, especially since the author had a lesser degree of this condition when he was young. Mia and Chloe's friend drama makes sense (I personally still have grudges from elementary school!), but I was glad to see that Chloe wasn't really still mean to Mia, and her feelings were a little bit hurt as well. Alex sticking up for Mia and befriending her was also good to see. Mia's animation hobby was intriguing, and it wasn't unusual that her grades slipped in middle school. Steinke's illustrations (Mr. Wolf's Class) will appeal to middle school readers.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the parents didn't know that Mia wasn't speaking in class. When Mia didn't speak in middle school, the first thing that a teacher would do would be to check her file for diagnosis and accomodations, and when nothing was there, a phone call home would have been made!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like all of the graphic novels that deal with challenging middle school experiences. Raina Telgemeier set the bar with Smile, and these have continued with Hale's Real Friends, Durfy-Lavoie's Just Roll With It, Libenson's Invisible Emmy, Page's Button Pusher, Palmer's Campy Prodigy, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and many other titles.
Mia has problems with social anxiety that have led to years of increasing selective mutism, but she makes a goal for herself to talk in class as she enters middle school. Her first day is a bust, but other students, including former best friend and current nemesis, Chloe, tell the teachers that Mia just doesn't talk. This isn't evident at home, where Mia talks to her mother and father, as well as her younger sister Madeleine, who occasionally helps her with her computer animation projects. Under the name Danger Cat Studios, Mia uploads videos like Tommy Tomato and Bobby Banana. When she puts up posters at school advertising these, she gets a lot of views, and finds it amusing that no one knows she is responsible. She creates puppets to use in the videos, and makes one of Alex, a cool nonbinary kid on whom she has a bit of a crush. They stick up for Mia when classmates make fun of her, and even partners with her on a school project. Alex is surprised that Mia speaks at home, and the two have more fun with the animation projects than the school one. It doesn't go well, since Mia is dealing with the fact that Chloe is living with her family while her parents are taking care of her grandmother. Mia remembers that Chloe, in second grade, told her to quit pestering her, and has trouble when Chloe invites friends to the house. At one point, she suspects that Chloe has poisoned her spaghetti, and spirals to the point where her parents call the paramedics. Mia's grades aren't good, and when Mia's teacher finally calls her mother, the parents find out that Mia hasn't been talking at school. They get her in to therapy, and she slowly progresses from whispering to Alex, which isn't so hard, to speaking in front of groups.
Strengths: One of my second grade classmates was selectively mute, and this was very hard to understand as a child, so it's interesting to see this representation, especially since the author had a lesser degree of this condition when he was young. Mia and Chloe's friend drama makes sense (I personally still have grudges from elementary school!), but I was glad to see that Chloe wasn't really still mean to Mia, and her feelings were a little bit hurt as well. Alex sticking up for Mia and befriending her was also good to see. Mia's animation hobby was intriguing, and it wasn't unusual that her grades slipped in middle school. Steinke's illustrations (Mr. Wolf's Class) will appeal to middle school readers.
Weaknesses: I found it hard to believe that the parents didn't know that Mia wasn't speaking in class. When Mia didn't speak in middle school, the first thing that a teacher would do would be to check her file for diagnosis and accomodations, and when nothing was there, a phone call home would have been made!
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like all of the graphic novels that deal with challenging middle school experiences. Raina Telgemeier set the bar with Smile, and these have continued with Hale's Real Friends, Durfy-Lavoie's Just Roll With It, Libenson's Invisible Emmy, Page's Button Pusher, Palmer's Campy Prodigy, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and many other titles.
April 6, 2025
Gotta say that this book really surprised me. Not because I didn’t think it was gonna be good. I have read Steinke’s other work (Mr. Wolf’s Class series) and loved it! I think what I was surprised by was the beautiful way that everything came together for Mira’s story. I felt like the book started a little slowly, but, once it got into a groove, it really shined! I love the care with which the author takes on a tough subject like Selective Mutism, which is hard for even grown-ups like me to understand. I was (and am) a bit shy, so I could relate to Mira’s social anxiety. And looking back, I do think I knew some kids in school who might have had SM. I hope I was kind in their eyes. The scenes where Mira does her stop motion animation are super special and I think I enjoyed those the most. This may or may not be the most random review ever…
Anyway, props to Aron Nels Steinke for bringing up Selective Mutism (SM) in a children’s graphic novel and making a story that so many can relate to. The characters felt real and you were rooting for everyone in the end. I also like that he clarified that not everyone with SM has the same experiences or is even diagnosed the same exact way. No two people are alike and no two people’s experiences will be the same, even if they have the same disorder. Fiction should not imply that “Everyone with disorder x is this way and has these symptoms,” etc. I feel a note like this in the back of the book is a great reminder. Loved the book. Put it on your list!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 25
Anyway, props to Aron Nels Steinke for bringing up Selective Mutism (SM) in a children’s graphic novel and making a story that so many can relate to. The characters felt real and you were rooting for everyone in the end. I also like that he clarified that not everyone with SM has the same experiences or is even diagnosed the same exact way. No two people are alike and no two people’s experiences will be the same, even if they have the same disorder. Fiction should not imply that “Everyone with disorder x is this way and has these symptoms,” etc. I feel a note like this in the back of the book is a great reminder. Loved the book. Put it on your list!
#WeNeedDiverseBooks
Mia’s 2nd Year of Books: Day 25
April 2, 2025
Speechless: three stars. Neat to see a main character with selective mutism, and while the art style wasn't the type I'm usually drawn to, in this case the dramatic gestures/expressions were an effective way to show emotions that weren't always conveyed in spoken dialogue. However, I think what could have been a really powerful story (about how a kid with a communication disability navigates the modern world) was weakened by some odd writing/plotting choices that didn't quite feel realistic. I didn't buy that Mira could have made it to middle school with her (attentive, caring) parents unaware she wasn't speaking at school, or that her parents weren't very concerned that she secretly makes puppets of all her classmates and uses them to make videos of the classmates turning into monsters and attacking her. There are also quite a few lines of dialogue or narration where certain words are bolded, but they're not the words that someone speaking aloud would emphasize, so they feel kind of unnatural.
Note: there's a section where one character gets sick, and another character is shown as wearing a mask around her at home, but there's no mention of testing or deciding how long she should quarantine. Not sure if the book takes place in a world with Covid-19 or not, or what kind of statement the author is trying to make about it.
Note: there's a section where one character gets sick, and another character is shown as wearing a mask around her at home, but there's no mention of testing or deciding how long she should quarantine. Not sure if the book takes place in a world with Covid-19 or not, or what kind of statement the author is trying to make about it.
August 19, 2024
ARC read full review to follow. I read this one with my own MG reader who absolutely loved it and said they related related to the main character Mira. Can't get much better than that! Mira is a middle schooler who expresses herself by creating stop-motion animated movies, including her own custom-made doll actors and hilarious scripts. But there are many situations where she finds that she can't speak, including at school, and is eventually diagnosed with selective mutism. The Cleveland Clinic defines SM as an anxiety distorder where someone finds themself unable to speak in certain social situations. The story explores how Mira navigates bullying over her disability (including by her former bestie), makes new friends, and finds ways to express herself. It also really captured that feeling of being left out even when you're right in the middle of things because other people won't accept and include you just the way you are. I really appreciated that Mira's therapy sessions were included on the page and that her disability was illustrated as a dynamic condition that presents itself different in different situation. A comic-style author note describes the author's experience with selective mutism and bullying.
March 16, 2025
I read this book because Aron Nels Steinke is a Portland local and the event at Powell’s put its release on my radar. This is an excellent middle grade graphic novel that has vibrant illustrations and is extremely readable. Main character Mira is more than just shy- she’s dealing with selective mutism at school (excellent rep). As she engages with a therapist and struggles with peer social dynamics, there’s a lot of growth throughout the book. I cringed at times because Mira is not perfect or emotionally mature at times and this time in life is just so hard and awkward… but it’s real and so worthy of discussion. Nonbinary Alex is a great character- I hope my own daughters find someone like Alex to help them through rough patches with kindness and patience.
April 6, 2025
This story is about a young girl who is in middle school that has trouble public speaking at school but is quite the opposite at home.
I liked this story. This story wasn't my favorite because I'm not a fan of graphic novels but I think the story has a great message. I have trouble public speaking but at home I can speak just fine. I connect with Mira on a personal level when it comes to speaking at school or just in public in general.
This story could be used in the classroom to encourage students who have a fear of speaking in front of peers to open up a bit more. It is a funny, light hearted graphic novel, and that might help spark an interest in someone who has a fear of public speaking.
I liked this story. This story wasn't my favorite because I'm not a fan of graphic novels but I think the story has a great message. I have trouble public speaking but at home I can speak just fine. I connect with Mira on a personal level when it comes to speaking at school or just in public in general.
This story could be used in the classroom to encourage students who have a fear of speaking in front of peers to open up a bit more. It is a funny, light hearted graphic novel, and that might help spark an interest in someone who has a fear of public speaking.
January 7, 2025
Mira is starting middle school and that means starting fresh and no longer being "the girl who doesn't talk." She quickly realizes this goal is much harder than she realizes. Can't she just stay in her room making her stop-motion films? Well, if she could there would be no story. This graphic novel is perfect for any kid who feels a little different and like they don't fit in. It's a reminder that even if everyone doesn't understand you, there ARE people who will love your kind of weird. This one covers it all: anxiety, first crushes, lost friendships, and found friendship. A must read!
February 27, 2025
B&W ARC. Will probably take another look at a copy with completed coloring.
I'm a sucker for Steinke. Mr. Wolf's Class has been a favorite series for a while.
All of which means I should have more to say about this. It was fine - engaging and tedious by turn.
Gah, I think I'm done writing reviews for the day. Forgive me Speechless (and Mr. Steinke), you deserve better.
I'm a sucker for Steinke. Mr. Wolf's Class has been a favorite series for a while.
All of which means I should have more to say about this. It was fine - engaging and tedious by turn.
Gah, I think I'm done writing reviews for the day. Forgive me Speechless (and Mr. Steinke), you deserve better.
March 4, 2025
A graphic novel that will speak :-) to many of our students; those who have experienced anxiety or selective mutism, or those who know others who do/have and want to better understand their classmates/neighbors/friends/family.
Incredibly cool that stop-motion animation is such a huge part of the story, too. Loved this one!
Incredibly cool that stop-motion animation is such a huge part of the story, too. Loved this one!
March 16, 2025
Oh man, I loved this book so much! It was really interesting to see how Steinke crafted a graphic novel for a slightly older audience (compared to the Mr. Wolf's Class series, which my whole family loves). These middle school characters (and conflicts) were so well written, and I got such a kick seeing stop-motion animation as the main character's passion!
September 3, 2024
I got this ARC and read it. As a middle school teacher and mom to a middle schooler and quiet high schooler, I was able to see my past students and my own kid reflected on the pages. So many of my students will be able to relate to many of the characters! Excited for it to come out!
February 10, 2025
Many kids struggle with having the confidence to speak up, so this is a relatable story, but I also enjoyed the friendship dynamics and the way that previous assumptions were challenged when circumstances forced Mira and Chloe to get to know each other better.
April 8, 2025
4.5 with a GR bump.
Steinke nails all the reasons why middle school can be so hard for so many kids while also talking about deeper anxiety disorders. I loved how everything was woven together and how people are different in different environments. I can't wait to recommend this to others.
Steinke nails all the reasons why middle school can be so hard for so many kids while also talking about deeper anxiety disorders. I loved how everything was woven together and how people are different in different environments. I can't wait to recommend this to others.
September 27, 2024
Thank you to Scholastic for the digital ARC of this graphic novel!
Review to come.
Review to come.
October 1, 2024
Fabulous story about a 6th grader with selective mutism who processes her emotions through stop motion filmmaking. Interesting, authentic characters and a satisfying plot. (ARC review)
March 7, 2025
Really sweet and incredible- about a selectively mute kid (hence the title!) loved this one. ❤️
March 20, 2025
A wonderful middle grade graphic novel that explores anxiety, family, and friendships. Loved that therapy was explored for Mira and that stop-motion animation was her passion!
March 21, 2025
I’ve been hearing more about selective mutism lately, so I was excited to be able to read this. Steinke did a great job of showing Mira’s experiences.
March 24, 2025
Warning: use of pronoun “they” and same-sex crushes. Great book to raise awareness about anxiety and selective mutism.
March 25, 2025
I am grateful for Speechless and the countless authors like Aron who write stories with characters like Madi and her journey to find her voice.
March 28, 2025
This was a super fun read. I particularly enjoyed the author's note that was in graphic novel format.
March 30, 2025
I liked it, I find Mira relatable, she likes to make animation, as do I, She has a speech related issue, I had something slightly similar. We could've been ok friends, if I was her age.
April 5, 2025
a short-ish graphic novel about a middle schooler with selective mutism.
April 8, 2025
another great middle grade graphic novel!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews