Awkward

From 2015 onward, Yen Press published Awkward, a single-issue comic that launched a celebrated middle-grade graphic novel series. The story centers on a shy, artistic girl navigating the social minefields of a new school, where she must balance her love of drawing with the pressures of fitting in. This series is most closely associated with creator Svetlana Chmakova, whose warm, expressive art and nuanced storytelling made it a standout in the slice-of-life genre. Its honest portrayal of friendship, anxiety, and creativity helped cement Chmakova's reputation as a key voice in young-reader comics.