I received this book as a part of a promotion however all views and opinions are my own.
TW: This post will discuss suicide
I had been eagerly anticipating this book for quite some time. Over the summer, I began searching for new books featuring Black boys as the main characters, and I came across an advertisement for Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr. Intrigued by the cover, I delved deeper and discovered his TikTok account. From that moment, I knew this middle grade comic book is what I needed to read.
When I received this book for promotion from Mac Kids Books, I decided to test its appeal. Casually walking past my 4th-grade son, I gauged his reaction. As expected, he immediately exclaimed, “Hey! What’s that?” (My plan had worked perfectly). I responded nonchalantly, “Oh, it’s just a new book I’m planning to read.” However, I didn’t anticipate that my 6th-grade daughter would also express interest in reading it too!!
As soon as I opened the book, I felt like I was looking at a future version of my own sweet boy. The story follows Tony, a 7th grader starting yet another new school. There’s a conversation between Tony and his mother about Pokémon characters, and she hilariously gets them all wrong—something I could completely relate to when my son talks about Pokémon cards. From that moment on, I was completely hooked.
At his new school, Tony is eager to make friends and fit in. While he could easily join his cousin Bria’s friend group, he hesitates, fearing they won’t accept him, and instead chooses to forge his own path. As Tony navigates the challenges of the gifted program, a new environment, and a lack of close friends, he becomes the target of bullying. Not only do fellow students harass him, but he also faces issues with his English teacher. This conflict discourages Tony from pursuing his passion for writing, causing him to give up on what he loves most.
This experience causes poor Tony to fall into a very dark place and he tries to end his life. He shares this information with his cousin, Bria and his parent intervene and get him the help he needs.
Now at yet another new school, Tony begins again. Make sure to get a copy to see how circumstances work out for young Tony.
REVIEW
This 310-page illustrated middle-grade book is absolutely phenomenal. From start to finish, it took me on an emotional rollercoaster that I wasn’t expecting. I laughed, cried, and rejoiced—feeling deeply connected to the characters and their journey. I found myself fully immersed in Tony’s world, experiencing a range of emotions with each turn of the page. There were moments of humor that lightened the heavier themes, moments of heartbreak that brought tears to my eyes, and moments of triumph that made me want to cheer out loud. Tony weaves a beautiful message of perseverance, self-love, and the importance of community through his own life experiences, which are powerfully reflected in the narrative. This book is not just a story; it’s a valuable resource for children facing bullying, offering them a language to express their struggles and a sense of validation and acceptance in their experience. At the same time, it is also a great tool for children who may not be dealing with bullying, as it helps foster empathy by allowing them to connect with a character who is. Tony’s story serves as a powerful reminder that no matter how tough life gets, we are never alone, and there is always a way forward with the support of others.
I hope we can make this a New York Times bestseller and help Tony’s wish come true!! 😉
I plan to have my daughter read it next to see how she handles the darker themes before giving it to my 4th grader. He’s not quite 10 yet, so he’s a bit younger than the recommended age range of 10-14, but I believe there is a lot he can learn from Tony’s character. Despite the challenging subject matter, I think the story’s messages are important to share.
Thank you for reading!
Enjoy!
Maya
