Mixed Feelings

Through a mix of humor and heart, this charming middle grade graphic memoir explores evolving friendships, puberty mishaps, and finding a place to belong. Perfect for fans of Real Friends, The New Girl, and Pizza Face.

Things are getting hairy!

What could go wrong on the first day of sixth grade?

A: You wake up with leg hair out of nowhere.

B: You have zero classes with your BFF and watch her run off with her new (annoying) friend.

C: You struggle to decide which school club to join because being mixed race makes you feel like you don't belong anywhere.

D: All of the above. SERIOUSLY?!

At first, Sara's got mixed feelings about middle school. But she finds comfort in TV -- whether she's watching it, performing her favorite scenes, or imagining her life is a show itself. So when she joins drama club, Sara discovers a community where she can be anything she wants -- including herself. Has Sara finally found a place to fit in? Or will she instead find herself buried under her growing leg hair and off-stage friendship drama?

In Sara Amini's semi-autobiographical story, navigating life as a mixed-race girl has never been more hilarious or heartfelt, with family, friendship, and fuzz all at the forefront of this laugh-out-loud and painfully relatable middle-school memoir.

Sara Amini is an Iranian-Colombian actress who has starred in various television series, been the face of nearly two dozen commercial campaigns, and voiced characters in both video games and animation. Originally from Houston, Texas, Sara now lives in Los Angeles, California, with her husband and son. Mixed Feelings is her graphic novel debut. Learn more about what Sara's up to at saraamini.com.

Shadia Amin is a Colombian cartoonist and illustrator based in Savannah, Georgia. She graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) with a bachelor's degree in sequential art, minoring in illustration. She later earned her master's degree in sequential art, also from SCAD. Her art aims to capture the fun of superheroes, fantasy, and life itself, and her works include Shiny Misfits, Spider-Ham, Aggretsuko, and Olive & Popeye. She has also contributed to anthologies like Alloy: Electrum and Votes for Women: The Battle for the 19th Amendment. Shadia is also a teacher, and when she is not working, she can be found cooking, playing video games, or spending time with her husband, dogs, and cat. Find her online at shadiaminart.com.