Coming September 9, 2025 from Graphic Universe™, Absolutely Everything is a vibrant and emotionally resonant middle-grade graphic novel from Damian Alexander that captures the often-overlooked realities of growing up with inattentive ADHD.
The story follows Marcella, a quirky and lovable sixth-grader who’s trying to keep up with school, friendships, and family—but finds herself constantly distracted, overwhelmed, and unsure why life feels harder for her than everyone else. Homework is forgotten, conversations drift, and even her best friend seems to be slipping away. When her parents announce they’re moving, everything feels like too much all at once.
Alexander, who previously wrote the award-winning memoir Other Boys, drew inspiration from his own experiences navigating middle school with undiagnosed ADHD. “Marcella is actually a character I used to doodle in my notebooks as a kid,” he says. “This story is my way of exploring how I found direction through creativity, even when the world felt overwhelming.”
In an exclusive comment to AIPT, Alexander shared deeper insight into one of the book’s most poignant sequences:
“When Marcella struggles to stay focused in her classes, she often retreats into her head. Especially if she’s met with some sort of conflict, like forgetting an assignment. This sequence is directly pulled from my own experience in middle school. I’d regularly forget assignments and feel my blood run cold as the teacher came around to collect them. I found myself fixating on whatever I saw outside my classroom window, hoping and dreaming that I was anywhere but right there in that moment. I tried my best to illustrate how that might feel through Marcella’s expressions.”
The book blends humor, heart, and expressive art to depict Marcella’s journey toward understanding herself and realizing she doesn’t need to “fix” who she is to find her place in the world.
“Absolutely Everything is a story about growing up and ADHD,” says Graphic Universe Editorial Director Sean Tulien, “but at its heart, it’s about discovering what makes you you. Damian thoughtfully weaves humor, frustration, and hope into Marcella’s story, and it will resonate with anyone who’s ever questioned their place in this world.”
Absolutely Everything will be available September 9, 2025.
Read the preview below.
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