by Pina Varnel
First published 2026
Kiki sits in class, her mind wandering while the teacher drones on about history. She loses track of assignments, shows up late, and feels her emotions more intensely than her classmates. Her friends seem to navigate high school effortlessly while she struggles with basic tasks like managing time and following rules that make no sense to her. Through countless mistakes and small victories, Kiki develops her own strategies for getting through each day. She learns to work with her brain rather than against it, finding ways to connect with family and friends despite feeling like an outsider. When Kiki finally receives an ADHD diagnosis, everything clicks into place. The label doesn't change who she is, but it gives her tools to understand herself and access real support. Varnel tells Kiki's story through comics that capture the daily reality of living with an undiagnosed learning difference, mixing personal narrative with educational segments about ADHD symptoms and management strategies.
Genres: mental-health, coming-of-age, graphic-novels, young-adult, comics, disability
Vibes: empowering, honest, relatable, supportive, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family, self-acceptance
Period: contemporary
336 pages · Hardcover · Rocky Pond Books