Home › Comics & Graphic Novels › Stepping Up: A Graphic Memoir

Stepping Up: A Graphic Memoir

by Kiara Valdez

Belonging, identity, and finding a place to stand

Regular price $18.12 USD
Regular price $30.21 USD Sale price $18.12 USD
Save 40%

Paperback New

Format

Print BookAvailable Hardcover $23.07 USD$38.46 USD
Print BookCurrently viewing Paperback $18.12 USD$30.21 USD
Delivery to your door
In stock·Dispatches in 1–2 business days
Standard shipping* from $4.35
Standard shipping transit* 5–8 business days after dispatch

Faster options are available.

Rates and delivery estimates depend on your destination and item quantity. Estimates are informational only; the final shipping method and rate are selected at checkout.

Secure checkout
American Express Apple Pay DiscoverGoogle Pay Mastercard PayPalVisa
30-day eligible returns Returns & refunds policy

AlbakiReads Editorial

Belonging, identity, and finding a place to stand

In this graphic memoir, Kiara enters an elite boarding school far from her Washington Heights home as one of its few Black students. The contrast between her financial-aid laptop and classmates’ expensive belongings makes questions of class and belonging part of daily campus life. Joining the all-star step team gives her a community, but a tragedy prompts her to reconsider what it means to belong—and what she owes herself and her friends. The memoir connects friendship and self-discovery with the unequal expectations Kiara encounters at school.

Good fit for readers who enjoy

  • Teens and young adults interested in graphic memoirs about school and self-discovery
  • Readers interested in stories about friendship, community, and belonging
  • Readers exploring class and race in a boarding-school setting

Themes

Belonging and identityFriendship and communityClass and raceSelf-reliance

Based on publisher information and book metadata.

Book overview

"A balm to my soul."--Jen Wang, New York Times bestselling author of The Prince and the Dressmaker

A timely and vibrant teen graphic novel memoir about community, friendship, and self-discovery told through the eyes of a high school freshman Kiara, one of the few Black students at her predominantly white boarding school--perfect for fans of Almost American Girl and Brownstone!

Kiara is a long way from Washington Heights. She's at Phillips Academy Andover--the prestigious school of her dreams. But her bulky financial aid laptop in a room full of brand-new Macs, her classmates' endless chatter about overseas vacations, and everyone's pristine North Face jackets have her feeling like she'll never fit in.

Then she discovers the all-star step team, SLAM. Kiara will gladly endure long practices, sore muscles, and chafed palms to finally find her place on campus. That is, until tragedy strikes and those closest to her are hurt, and she realizes exactly what it means to be an Andover student.

Because at a school where her wealthy white classmates can get away with almost anything and students like her are made to feel lucky to even be at the academy to begin with, is belonging really what Kiara wants? And is she brave enough to step up--for herself and her friends?

Shipping & returnsShipping options, delivery timing, and our return policy.

In-stock items normally dispatch within 1–2 business days. The ZIP-code estimator on this page is informational only; the final shipping method, price, and availability are confirmed at checkout for your full order.

For the initial delivery estimate we use these transit windows after dispatch: Standard 5–8 business days, Expedited 2–4 business days, and Priority 1–2 business days. Holiday delays are not included.

Eligible items can be returned within 30 days in accordance with our return policy.

Customer reviews