In spring of 2026, Opting Out by Maia Kobabe (e/em/eir) and Lucky Srikumar (they/them) will be published by Scholastic. The graphic novel tells the story of Saachi, a seventh grader who is facing some challenges as puberty arrives.
Today, Comics Beat is proud to reveal the cover for Opting Out, which was designed by Maddy Price. You can see the cover for yourself by scrolling down to the bottom of this article.
Opting Out
Here’s the description of Opting Out from the publisher:
“Bodies are the worst. I wish I didn’t have a body.
“Saachi is a storyteller. At school, she’s surrounded by kids she’s known forever — including her best friend, Lyla, who shares Saachi’s love of fantasy novels and creating new worlds.
“But as seventh grade starts, kids are changing. Suddenly, it matters who you like and if you can find a boyfriend or girlfriend. Even Lyla seems more interested in hanging out with her new boyfriend than in writing and drawing with Saachi anymore. Saachi’s not interested in any of that boy/girl stuff. Why can’t things just stay the way they were?
“Saachi also doesn’t love all the ways her body is changing. What if she doesn’t feel like a girl — or like a boy, either? In a world where there is so much either/or, Saachi is going to need to find her own options . . . and create her own story.”
Kobabe is the award-winning author/illustrator behind Gender Queer, and previously collaborated with Sarah Peitzmeier, PhD on Breathe: Journeys to Healthy Binding. On Opting Out, Kobabe is collaborating with newcomer Srikumar.
Opting Out is scheduled for publication on May 5th, 2025. Currently, you can preorder the book through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.com. Will you be picking up a copy of Opting Out when it arrives in the spring? Be sure and let The Beat know, here in the comments or over on social media.
