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SPEECHLESS: Get to Know Mira in This EXCLUSIVE Minicomic

Love graphic novels? Funny stories filled with big feelings? Books about creative kids trying their best or stories about surviving the chaos that is middle school? Then you’re in luck because Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke, author of Mr. Wolf’s Class, has arrived!

Mira loves making stop-motion videos. She does everything herself, from crafting her own puppets to star in the content to writing her own hilarious scripts, and even shooting and editing the videos. When she’s working on a new stop motion short, she’s basically unstoppable, able to quiet her anxiety and let her imagination run wild – they’re a true expression of Mira’s creative personality. The kids at school love her videos, but what they don’t know is who’s behind them.

While Mira is expressive and comfortable behind the camera and at home with her family, she’s the total opposite at school. Her anxiety takes over, and she doesn’t talk, which gets her made fun of, including by her former best friend, Chloe. Starting the sixth grade, Mira is determined to turn things around and start sharing more of herself at school, but it’s harder than she expected, and her first day doesn’t go exactly as planned.

Book cover for Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke

From Eisner Award-winning author Aron Nels Steinke comes a heartfelt and funny middle-grade graphic novel about friendship, anxiety, and expressing yourself.

Middle school was supposed to be a fresh start for Mira, who struggles to speak in class even though she can speak at home without a problem. She didn’t used to have anxiety speaking–and she used to have friends. Now, her former best friend Chloe is her worst enemy, and Mira’s only solace is making videos for her secret stop-motion animation channel. But when Chloe’s mom has to travel for a family emergency, Mira is horrified to learn that her family has volunteered to let Chloe stay with them. When it feels like everything is going wrong, will Mira ever find her voice?

Speechless
AUTHOR: Aron Nels Steinke
PUBLISHER: Graphix
DATE: March 4, 2025

When Chloe’s mom has to travel for an emergency, Mira’s mom invites Chloe to stay with them, and Mira isn’t sure how she’ll learn to open up more when her worst enemy is living under her roof and making things way more complicated. Will she ever be able to find her voice?

You’ll have to read the book to find out if Mira finally finds her voice, but we’ve got a fun little peek into her world. Author and illustrator Aron Nels Steinke created an EXCLUSIVE minicomic for YAYOMG! readers to get to know Mira before diving into Speechless!

Get to Know Mira from Speechless:

Eight panel comic featuring Mira from Speechless by Aron Nels Steinke. Comic panel one is a title panel Mira appears with one hand on her hip and the other raised in the air with a finger in the air pointing above her. She is wearing an untucked blue button down shirt, black shorts, and an orange backpack. Her short black hair is in low pigtails. and a Text reads "Speechless by Aaron Nels Steinke: A Minicomic" Comic panel two is Mira walking up the steps in her house. Her speech bubble reads "Speechless is a new graphic novel about me. My name is Mira..." Comic panel three is Mira flicking on the light in her bedroom as she walks in. Her speech bubble reads "And I just started sixth grade today." Comic panel four is Mira looking thoughtful, about to sit in her desk chair. There is a pencil and a tablet on the desk. Her bed and a dresser can be see in the background. Her speech bubble reads "How was school? Uh...I'd rather not talk about it." Comic panel five is Mira standing in front of her desk holding up the tablet recording the green t-rex toy on her desk. The tablet is on a tripod. Her speech bubble reads "How was school? Uh...I'd rather not talk about it." Comic panel six is Mira concentrating while adjusting the pose of the t-rex toy. Her recording setup can be seen behind her. Her speech bubble reads "It's all done in steop-motion, which stakes a lot of time, patience, and concentration." There is a voice off screen calling Mira's name. Comic panel seven is Mira standing at her bedroom door chatting with her little sister. Her sister is wearing a blue dress with pink stars and hearts and pink tights. She has short wavy black hair with pink clips. Mira's speech bubble reads "Did I mention that I also have an annoying little sister who is always distracting me?" Her sister's speech bubble reads "You NEVER play with me!" Comic panel eight is Mira smiling wide, holding up a copy of Speechless. Her speech bubble reads "Why is the book called Speechless? I guess you'll have to read it to find out!" There is additional text at the bottom that reads "Coming March 4, 2025 from Graphix/Scholastic."
(Minicomic written and illustrated by Aron Nels Steinke for YAYOMG! For a full-sized version of the comic, CLICK HERE!)

📚MORE MINICOMICS: Want even more minicomics starring your favorite fictional characters? CLICK HERE!

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