A Kid Like Me

Feuti, Norm. A Kid Like Me

February 3, 2026 by HarperAlley

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ethan and Ricky live in the Millbrook Estates trailer park, and are apprehensive about starting middle school, since some kids from other parts of town make fun of them as being from "Mill-broke". Ethan's parents are divorced, and his father in Florida doesn't pay child support, so his mother does struggle to provide for him on her salary from the Big Box discount store. He's on free lunch, gets him back pack and clothing from the thrift store, and has an embarrassing flip phone. Ricky, whose noncustodial father at least lives in town, is slightly better off, and is trying to hang out with more well-to-do kids like Dillon. Ethan doesn't like the way Dillon treats him, but does make friends with Aiden and Briana after working with them on a writing assignment and finding out that they share a love of the vintage card game Bio Battle. It's bad enough that Ethan has to deal with his shoes falling apart (and wearing his mom's unisex ones to school!) and racking up a $26 lunch fee, but when he starts fighting frequently with Ricky, it's hard, especially since his mother relies on him going to Ricky's house when she has to work. His friendship with Aiden is a bright spot, even though Aiden is having to struggle through his own's parents' divorce. Eventually, he and Ricky come to an understanding and realize that they should be on the same side!

Strengths: While the vast majority of graphic novels are memoirs of the difficult life that women artists had as children, there are not nearly as many written by men, so it was good to see this updated and fictionalized account of Feuti's upbringing. The artwork is clear and fun to look at, and I loved the details like the mailboxes at the trailer park. It was a good idea to set this story in the present day with all of the students so invested in their phones, especially since Ethan was so embarrassed about his "retro" flip one. There are just not enough books about the friend drama that boys have to deal with, and it is really quite a different dynamic that the relationships and drama that girls have. I loved Ethan's mom, and appreciated all of the details about back packs and shoes falling apart! My daughter lost the sole of her shoe trick or treating one Halloween, but luckily had very understanding friends! I will definitely purchase a prebound copy of this, and might just have to buy two! 
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters, which is completely realistic, but I struggled to remember the names of all of Ethan's classmates. 
What I really think: This is more along the lines of Tatulli's Short and Skinny or Varner's Dog Trouble than Ogle's Four Eyes or Page's Extra Large. Now, could we possibly get some graphic novels that are a little more upbeat? Still, I did enjoy this one a lot.