Families who loved Monstrous: A Transracial Adoption Story by Sarah Myer often look for books with a similar feel. These 20 recommendations were selected for their similarity in style, theme, and reading level.
A parent should reach for this book when their teenager is struggling with the isolation of being the only person who looks like them in their community, or when they are navigating the complex layers of transracial adoption. It is an essential resource for adolescents who feel a simmering, unexpressed rage due to systemic exclusion or racist bullying. Through the lens of a graphic memoir, the story follows Sarah, a Korean-American girl adopted by white parents in a rural area, as she navigates the pain of not belonging and the salvation she finds in art and cosplay. This is a visceral and honest exploration of identity and self-regulation. While the content is emotionally heavy and deals with the reality of racism, it offers a powerful roadmap for how creative expression can serve as both a shield and a bridge. Parents will value how it validates the difficult feelings of adopted youth while celebrating the resilience found in finding one's tribe through shared passions like manga and fandom.
