Kobabe, Maia. Opting Out. Maia Kobabe, Illus. Addl. Creator Swati “Lucky” Srikumar. Scholastic/Graphix, 05/2026. 255pp. Graphic. Trade $25.99. 978-1-5461-1012-5. Paper $14.99. 978-1-339-01224-7. GRADES 5–8. HIGH ADDITIONAL.
It’s the end of sixth grade and Saachi is suddenly feeling left behind. Not only is she uninterested in the crushes her friends are so excited about, but the idea of puberty is debilitating. Through her love of reading and stories, plus guidance from her supportive family and Hindu faith, Saachi is able to understand that although she can’t opt out of relationships and community, she can deviate from the gender binary and create her own definitions of gender and adulthood. Saachi and her family are Indian, and notations in the book indicate when they are speaking in Tamil. Gender expansive puberty education is built into the narrative of the story, with several panels showing the text of the puberty book Saachi is given by her amma. While the novel excellently portrays gender variance and Indian culture, the narrative plot takes a backseat, seemingly prioritzing representation over storyline. Readers may feel unsatisfied by the lack of resolution in some of the story’s secondary conflicts.
Sicilia Smith—Alameda Free Library