Speak Up!

Speak Up! written and illustrated by the talented Rebecca Burgess is an inclusive graphic novel about Mia, who has always found it hard to fit in. She faces bullying, sensory overload and social expectations from both her mother and her peers at school. Thankfully, she has a wonderful best friend, Charlie who understands her and encourages her to be herself. Unknown to her peers, she is also a talented musician, Elli-Q who posts songs online and is beginning to have a large following. Her best friend, Charlie understands her and encourages her to reveal her identity.

When her online fans encourage her to perform live at the school talent show, Mia must decide whether she is willing to reveal who she really is. Throughout the story she learns about: self advocacy, authentic friendship, accepting her autistic identify and speaking up for herself and learning to be brave. The graphic novel format makes emotional experiences easier for many readers to understand. The facial expressions, sensory overload, and internal thoughts are illustrated visually, making it especially engaging for upper elementary and middle school students.