Speechless

January 1, 2025
At the start of sixth grade, Mira Toledano-Stone, an aspiring animator with social anxiety, decides this will be the year she conquers her fears and starts speaking in school. In the comfort of her home, Mira has no problem talking, but no matter how much pressure she puts on herself, she can't find her voice at school. On the first day of middle school, her plan to start fresh falls apart, and soon she's become a target of bullying once again. Making stop-motion animation films is Mira's outlet, but her younger sister always invades her space. To make matters worse, Mira's parents betray her when they invite Chloe, her "pretend nice" former best friend, to live with them while her family deals with a crisis. With the help of a therapist, Mira navigates middle school woes and confronts her social anxiety. This coming-of-age graphic novel depicts a diverse world around Mira (who's Jewish and has light-brown skin and dark hair), including her crush, who usesthey/them pronouns. The relationship-focused plot has high appeal, but Mira's parents' complete lack of awareness--until a teacher calls home--that she hasn't been speaking in school stretches the limits of believability. Additionally, the narrative, which Steinke explains in an author's note reflects some of his own experiences, primarily focuses on Mira's acquiring speech without acknowledging other forms of communication. A compelling school story that could have explored its central topic with greater depth.(Graphic fiction. 9-12)

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Starred review from December 16, 2024
Jewish sixth grader Mira, portrayed with brown skin, lives with selective mutism, a condition that prevents her from speaking in certain social settings. To cope, Mira channels her creativity to develop stop-motion animation videos, crafting unique puppets and offbeat scripts which she anonymously posts online. Mira’s sanctuary is jeopardized by the arrival of her former best friend, Chloe, who’s staying with Mira’s family to finish the academic year before joining her parents following a move to Missoula to care for Chloe’s ailing grandmother. At school, Mira finds an unexpected ally in nonbinary class project partner Alex, who supports her during moments of bullying. As Mira contends with shifting relationships, she attends therapy sessions that mark her progress from whispering to Alex at their seats to speaking at the front of the class. Steinke (the Mr. Wolf’s Class series) draws from personal experience, as addressed in an author’s note, to offer realistic insight into SM and its social stigma. Exaggerated
cartooning highlights Mira’s emotions, blending humor and vulnerability in a heartwarming and visually enticing graphic novel that lauds imagination and self-expression. Characters are depicted with varying skin tones. Ages 8–12. Agent: Judy Hansen, Hansen Literary.

February 14, 2025

Gr 4-7-In sixth grade, socially anxious Mira is determined to finally speak at school, but no matter how hard she tries, the words won't come. Her classmates mock her, dismissing her cruelly. At home, Mira is a different person-chatty, confident, and a skilled stop-motion filmmaker who spends hours perfecting her claymation projects while bickering with her nosy little sister. Mira's world turns upside down when her parents invite Chloe, her ex-best friend and biggest bully, to stay with them during a family emergency. Chloe acts sweet in front of Mira's parents, but Mira knows better. As tensions rise, Mira begins therapy and connects with a new friend and crush, Alex, who uses they/them pronouns. With their support, Mira learns to communicate through writing and filmmaking while working toward her goal of speaking at school. Steinke's signature cartoon-style illustrations and diverse cast make this visually appealing and engaging. The exploration of selective mutism is thoughtful and relatable. However, readers might find Mira's parents frustratingly oblivious, particularly for their disbelief in Chloe's behavior and ignorance of Mira's silence at school. Despite this, the graphic novel offers an empathetic portrayal of Mira's journey to self-expression. The author's note, which elaborates Steinke's own experiences with selective mutism, is welcome. VERDICT A heartfelt and relatable portrayal of selective mutism; recommended for all libraries serving upper elementary and middle school readers.-Amy Ribakove

Copyright 2025 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

March 1, 2025
Grades 3-7 On her first day of middle school, Mira strikes out: in class after class she is unable to speak. Worse, Chloe, her former friend and current enemy, is there ready to "help" by telling everyone that Mira doesn't talk. But Mira speaks just fine when she's at home. She also communicates through stop-motion animation, her passion/obsession and the activity that keeps her from doing her homework--and pretty much everything else. When Chloe moves in with Mira's family and Mira's crush fails a group assignment because Mira refuses to focus, Mira must make changes if she wants to move forward. The adults in Mira's life are supportive: teachers adjust assignments to accommodate Mira's needs, and Mira's parents take her to see a therapist. The book also shows that some of Mira's issues are of her own making and that her feud with Chloe is a two-way street. Drawn in a deceptively simple style, with bright colors and easy-to-follow storytelling, this book will appeal strongly to fans of realistic and biographical fiction.

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