Earth to Christ Cleevy by Christof Bogacs, Hannah Krieger, Sammy Savos

Aliens have invaded Earth—or so it would seem—in this contemporary middle grade graphic novel that follows 11-year-old Chris Cleevy as he navigates the emergence of his OCD and his mom’s new boyfriend. Perfect for fans of Very Bad at Math and Real Friends. Chris Cleevy’s out-of-this-world imagination has always been fueled by his love of sci-fi. Thankfully, simple routines like tying his shoelaces and picking out his socks have kept him grounded right here on Earth. But his carefully constructed world is shattered when his mom brings home her new boyfriend, Phil. Despite Phil’s friendly demeanor, Chris becomes convinced Phil’s a member of the mind-controlling alien race from one of his science-fiction stories. Chris believes, however, that his routines will shield his mind from Phil’s alien influence. As the world becomes harder and harder to navigate, Chris discovers the source controlling his behaviors may have a different, more earthly origin. Earth to Chris Cleevy is a poignant exploration of mental health, the ups and downs of middle school, and what it means to accept yourself for who you are even when you’re still trying to figure that out.