by Zadie Smith
First published 2021
Leila is a loner, an outcast in her small town. Bullied by her peers and misunderstood by her parents, she retreats into her own imagination, finding solace in the stories she writes. But when a shocking act of violence shatters her fragile world, Leila is forced to confront the harsh realities of her life and her own sense of identity. As she navigates the treacherous landscape of adolescence, Leila must decide whether to conform to society's expectations or embrace the very thing that makes her different. Zadie Smith's "Weirdo" is a poignant exploration of the power of self-acceptance in the face of adversity.
Genres: fiction, literary-fiction, contemporary, adolescence
Vibes: dark, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: outsider, self-acceptance
Period: 21st-century
32 pages · ebook · Puffin
Content warnings: violence