Review Detail

Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar combine forces to tell the story of a kid named Saachi. Saachi is thrown into a new world as seventh grade starts; a world of gender separation and dating. Saachi’s initial discomfort only grows as her best friend Lyla gets a boyfriend and they start growing apart. OPTING OUT is a graphic novel aimed towards early middle grade readers, ages 10 to 12.

Saachi is a heart-breakingly real character to follow as they begin to explore their identity. Their struggles with gender and friendship are real, raw in a way that draws readers into the story but makes them want to cry at the same time. The authors manage to perfectly encapsulate that feeling of “otherness” that Saachi feels multiple times during the story.

This book does get a bit heavy, but it never strays from being an age-appropriate heaviness. It remains relatable and honest to what kids Saachi’s age are struggling with.

Even when OPTING OUT does get heavy, the authors manage to add some lightness to the stories to keep it from getting too dark. The humor is solid, built up well and handled by characters that have been established as being funny. The jokes don’t feel forced, nor do they remove from the seriousness of some of the topics.

There are a few different plot points in this story and they are developed to varying degrees. Some of them, like Saachi’s struggle with gender and “otherness”, are handled exceptionally well. They are given a lot of time to develop and grow, blossoming under the skilled hands of Maia and Lucky. Other plot points feel more rushed, thrown in but not fully developed. None of the plot points feel pointless, but they won’t all resonate with all readers.

The illustrations in this graphic novel are neat and colorful. There aren’t a lot of background details, instead focusing on the main focus of that frame. There are plenty of colors used in this book, even when Saachi’s emotions begin to be “too much” and things feel overwhelming. This artwork fits beautifully with the story, conveying the characters’ emotions really well.

OPTING OUT is an exemplary exploration of self, chronicling one character’s struggle with identity as the world that they know changes. Maia Kobabe and Swati “Lucky” Srikumar really knock Saachi’s story out of the park.