I Wish I Didn’t Have to Tell You This

Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling stifled by systemic pressures, struggling to find their artistic voice, or navigating the heavy transition into adulthood under difficult circumstances. This graphic memoir follows Yevgeny, a young artist in the Soviet Union who faces the looming threat of the KGB and a forced military draft during the war in Afghanistan. It explores the lengths a person will go to for freedom, including the heartbreaking choice to enter a state-run mental asylum to avoid the front lines. It is a sophisticated, emotionally complex read suitable for older middle schoolers and high schoolers. Parents will appreciate its historical depth and the way it validates the intense, often messy process of self-discovery and resilience in the face of oppression.