Rob Harrell is the author/illustrator of Wink and the Batpig series, created the Life of Zarf series, the graphic novel Monster on the Hill, and also writes and draws the long-running daily comic strip Adam@Home, which appears in more than 140 papers worldwide. He created and drew the internationally syndicated comic strip Big Top until 2007. He lives with his pup in Indiana.

ALSC Notable Children's Books
NCTE Charlotte Huck Award Honor
CLA/NCTE 2025 Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts
Children's Book Council Favorites Award 2025

★ "Harrell's illustrated novel shines with a humorous, authentic depiction of a middle school student with anxiety and OCD . . . The text and art provide relatable and creative descriptions of how anxiety feels in the body, as well as real coping skills . . . A must-purchase." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Harrell's conversational tone, snappy pacing, and realistic dialogue make each chapter eminently readable. The accompanying black-and-white doodles, notes, and comics lend humor to some serious situations. Harrell does a fantastic job of explaining the symptoms accompanying anxiety and panic attacks in simple terms . . . Readers will also appreciate the accurate depictions of talk therapy and of the tics that accompany Andrew's OCD. Heartwarming, insightful, and surprisingly funny." --Kirkus

" . . . beautifully combines first-person, self-aware narration with 'the Anxiety Files, ' black and white (often very funny) comics drawn by the narrator that further elucidate his anxiety and OCD." --BCCB

"Readers who connected with Raina Telgemeier's Guts will appreciate this thoughtful story about managing anxiety delivered in an inviting, Wimpy Kid-like format." --Booklist

Publisher: Bound to Stay Bound Books

Pub date: 2024-09-03

Length: 269 pages