Szamosi, Sofia. Bad Kid: My Life as a “Troubled Teen.” Little, Brown, 03/2026. 385pp. Graphic. Trade $25.99. 978-1-5235-2738-0. GRADES 9–12. ADDITIONAL.
As the very apt title says, this autobiographical memoir illustrates the author’s difficult teen years. Her troubles begin at home, with parental issues and insecurity, but her situation soon changes as her mother searches for help and discovers the troubled teen industry. So this white, goth-like girl is dragged off to the first of several troubled teen camps and centers, where Sofie is to be rehabilitated into a good, obedient, and healthy teen. The reality of these places, as depicted in B&W graphic illustrations (with a touch of red), are themselves troubling and difficult to read about, along with the emotional impact of Sofie’s self-destructive tendencies. The author’s depiction of her experiences shows how these types of places often add mental and physical problems and trauma for the teens they purport to help. A worthwhile topic that may be hard for some readers to understand or process, while possibly helping some who are struggling with similar experiences or with understanding themselves and their place in the world.
Joshua Rees—Daly City Public Library