The Flip Side: A Graphic Novel

by Jason Walz

Overview

This breathtaking, page-turning graphic novel is a supernatural survival story in which a grieving teen finds himself in a haunting alternate reality—the frightening embodiment of his depression. For fans of Stranger Things and Nimona.

Theo’s best friend has died, and he can’t pull himself out of his sadness—a sadness that those around him don’t seem to respect or even notice. And then something even more disconcerting happens: His town literally flips upside down and everyone disappears, except for a threatening, shape-shifting monster and a snarky teenage girl who knows her way around this flipped world. Is Theo doomed to spend the rest of his life in this scary state?

Tremendously unique and suspenseful, The Flip Side tackles grief and depression in a fascinating and affecting way.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593618035
Publisher:	Penguin Young Readers Group
Publication date:	04/22/2025
Sold by:	Penguin Group
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
File size:	141 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Jason Walz worked for many years as a special education teacher, and is the creator of several previous graphic novels, including the Last Pick trilogy and the Eisner Award-nominated Homesick.

Editorial Reviews

"The Flip Side is a truly sinister place, with labyrinthine cityscapes and apocalyptic colors. Details, such as the grotesque body of the shape-shifting monster, which is born of negative emotions, effectively convey the nightmarish tone, and bold black lines enhance the well-paced action. The intriguing premise and striking visual representation convey lessons about depression and grief. Imaginative horror meets honesty about emotional pain." —Kirkus

"This emotionally resonant graphic novel depicts vulnerable, bittersweet friendship against the backdrop of a high-concept, speculative premise. Walz balances heavy ruminations on death and mental illness with a tragic omic tone and earnest intention." —Publishers Weekly

★"Walz transcends the already top-notch adventure story and gives readers something more profound,more accessible, and more relevant. This makes for a riveting, heartfelt ride. ”—Booklist, starred review

"Color is as much a part of the storytelling as the text, with muted panels showing Theo’s real world and memories before his friend died contrasting sharply with garish reds, blues, and yellows reminiscent of bruising that create the saturated, sometimes visually overwhelming flipped world." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

From the Publisher

2024-12-28
Theo, reeling from his best friend Evan’s recent death from cancer, finds the world literally flipped upside down.

Amid the chaos of a topsy-turvy world, with his phone battery at 1%, Theo receives a mysterious warning text: “Don’t let it in.” He’s utterly alone until he finds Emma, a fellow survivor who’s living with multiple mental and physical health diagnoses. She’s named this world, where she’s been isolated for a long time, the Flip Side. Emma is determined to help Theo escape from the monster that’s chasing them. She asserts that “the only way to survive is to give up hope,” but nevertheless, the young people’s friendship brings hope to them both. The Flip Side is a truly sinister place, with labyrinthine cityscapes and apocalyptic colors. Details, such as the grotesque body of the shape-shifting monster, which is born of negative emotions, effectively convey the nightmarish tone, and bold black lines enhance the well-paced action. The intriguing premise and striking visual representation convey lessons about depression and grief. Evan, who appears in flashback scenes, feels less like his own person than an impetus for Theo’s growth, however. Elements such as the struggle for people to acknowledge grief over a friend and Theo’s relationship with Emma (who has a difficult personality and problems too profound for him to understand) add interest. Theo is cued Latine, Emma reads white, and Evan has brown skin and Afro-textured hair.

Imaginative horror meets honesty about emotional pain. (content note, author’s note)(Graphic supernatural. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews