If you’ve decided to hold off on a smartphone for your middle schooler—or even if you’ve given them a "dumb" phone or a hand-me-down—you know the social friction it creates. In A Kid Like Me, Norm Feuti (the mind behind The King of Kazoo) nails the specific brand of isolation that comes from being the only kid in the circle who isn't "in the chat."

The book doesn't treat this like a tragedy, which is why it works. It treats it as a reality. The protagonist isn't a martyr; he's just a kid trying to figure out how to be interesting when he can't rely on the latest app or the newest device to do the heavy lifting for him. It’s a great mirror for kids who feel that "tech envy" and a useful window for kids who might not realize how much their digital-first social lives exclude others.

Feuti’s style is clean, expressive, and moves fast. If your kid is already a fan of Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Big Nate, they’ll fall right into this. But where those series often lean into slapstick and "everything is a disaster" energy, A Kid Like Me feels a bit more observant.

It’s published by HarperCollins and has been picked up by the Junior Library Guild, which usually means the pacing is tight enough to keep reluctant readers engaged but the themes have enough meat for a real conversation. It’s "low-stress" because the stakes aren't world-ending—they're just middle-school-ending, which we all know feels exactly the same.

The book does a fantastic job of illustrating how middle schoolers use objects—phones, clothes, sneakers—as shorthand for "who I am" and "who I'm allowed to talk to." It’s a masterclass in showing, not telling, the class divide. For parents who want to talk about consumerism or the "need" for the latest iPhone 17 without sounding like they’re giving a lecture at a bank, this book is your opening.

The core of the story is about finding your people. Not the people who have the same stuff, but the people who have the same vibe. It emphasizes that while the "rich kids" or the "tech kids" might seem like the default setting for cool, there’s an entire world of interesting, creative, and loyal friends waiting for the kids who are willing to look past the hardware.

If your kid finishes A Kid Like Me and wants more, don't just hand them another graphic novel. Use it to talk about the digital landscape they’re currently living in.

Ask them: "What’s the one thing at school right now that everyone thinks makes you 'cool'?" It might be a specific phone, but it might also be a specific game or even a specific water bottle. Understanding what the "currency" of their social circle is helps you understand the pressure they’re under.

If they loved the visual storytelling here, you might want to point them toward:

The biggest friction point in this book isn't content—it’s the reflection of reality. There’s no "bad" language or "inappropriate" themes to worry about. The "risk" here is simply that your kid might come away with more articulate arguments for why they need a phone.

Pro-tip: If they use the book to lobby for a device, flip the script. Ask them how the characters in the book managed to have fun without one. The book actually provides a pretty good blueprint for "offline" friendship that kids often forget exists.

Q: Is A Kid Like Me appropriate for a 9-year-old? Absolutely. It’s squarely in the "middle grade" sweet spot. While the themes of social status and phones are very "middle school," 4th and 5th graders are already feeling those pressures. It’s a great "pre-game" read before they actually hit the 6th-grade hallways.

Q: Does the book have a "anti-tech" or "preachy" message? Not really. Norm Feuti is too good of a storyteller for that. It’s less about "phones are bad" and more about "not having a phone shouldn't mean you're invisible." It’s a subtle but important distinction that makes the book feel like a story, not a PSA.

Q: How does this compare to books like Wonder or New Kid? It hits similar notes of "being the outsider," but it’s a bit lighter than Wonder by R.J. Palacio. It’s closer in spirit to Jerry Craft’s New Kid in how it handles social dynamics, but with a specific focus on the "tech/money" divide rather than race or institutional culture.

Q: My kid only likes "funny" books. Will they like this? Yes. Feuti’s background in cartooning means the visual humor is on point. It’s not a "heavy" read, even if the themes are significant. It’s a "read it in one sitting on a Saturday" kind of book.

A Kid Like Me is a win for intentional parents because it validates the "no-phone" or "late-phone" experience without making it feel like a punishment. It’s a relatable, well-drawn, and genuinely funny look at how to find your footing when you don't have the latest upgrades.