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The Friendship Paradox
Brief Description
Note to self: no matter how messy or confusing, the universe is an orderly place with physics to guide you.High school is over. Dash is excited to spend their gap year working for the local science museum, travelling and teaching kids about physics. Maybe they'll even...
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Format: Paperback / softback
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The Friendship Paradox
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See moreRoad trips, physics and friendship collide in this gorgeous graphic novel about the highs and lows of a gap year that is perfect for fans of Heartstopper and The Greatest Thing.
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Description
Note to self: no matter how messy or confusing, the universe is an orderly place with physics to guide you.
High school is over. Dash is excited to spend their gap year working for the local science museum, travelling and teaching kids about physics. Maybe they'll even make a friend. People are part of the universe, so the laws of physics should also apply to them, right?
Except Dash discovers the workplace is just as challenging as school - relationships are confusing, students don't follow the rules and co-workers aren't what they expect. Then Dash meets Kay. Can opposites really attract? Or will Dash's attempts to use physics to understand their world repel a potential friend?
A heartfelt YA graphic novel about friendship and finding your place in a puzzling world by the highly acclaimed comic artist of the CBCA Notable graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes.
The Friendship Paradox is perfect for:
- Readers aged 13 and up who love funny and uplifting stories about friendship
- Fans of graphic novels like The Greatest Thing, Stars in Their Eyes and Heartstopper
- Readers who love comics and visual storytelling
Praise for The Friendship Paradox:
- 'Dynamic, nuanced, fun - a road trip and friendship story like no other!' Sarah Winifred Searle, multi-award-winning creator of The Greatest Thing
- 'There are three laws of the universe: 1) Aśka is a great storyteller. 2) This book is good. 3) You need to get this.' Reimena Yee, Eisner-nominated creator of Séance Tea Party
High school is over. Dash is excited to spend their gap year working for the local science museum, travelling and teaching kids about physics. Maybe they'll even make a friend. People are part of the universe, so the laws of physics should also apply to them, right?
Except Dash discovers the workplace is just as challenging as school - relationships are confusing, students don't follow the rules and co-workers aren't what they expect. Then Dash meets Kay. Can opposites really attract? Or will Dash's attempts to use physics to understand their world repel a potential friend?
A heartfelt YA graphic novel about friendship and finding your place in a puzzling world by the highly acclaimed comic artist of the CBCA Notable graphic novel Stars in Their Eyes.
The Friendship Paradox is perfect for:
- Readers aged 13 and up who love funny and uplifting stories about friendship
- Fans of graphic novels like The Greatest Thing, Stars in Their Eyes and Heartstopper
- Readers who love comics and visual storytelling
Praise for The Friendship Paradox:
- 'Dynamic, nuanced, fun - a road trip and friendship story like no other!' Sarah Winifred Searle, multi-award-winning creator of The Greatest Thing
- 'There are three laws of the universe: 1) Aśka is a great storyteller. 2) This book is good. 3) You need to get this.' Reimena Yee, Eisner-nominated creator of Séance Tea Party
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781761181689
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 31 March 2026
Country: Australia
Imprint: A&U Children
Audience: Teenage
DIMENSIONS
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 216.0mm
Weight: 568g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Aśka (she/they) is an award-winning graphic novelist, an ex-quantum physicist and a big fan of the little doovalacky above the 's' in her name (which you pronounce 'Ash-ka'). A hugely engaging and popular presenter, Aśka is passionate about visual literacy education. In addition to a catalogue of self-published comics, they have traditionally published more than a dozen books and graphic novels. Their recent titles include the YA graphic novel Stars In Their Eyes, which was a CBCA Notable Book, Stonewall Honor Book and nominated for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia. She is also a recipient of several government Arts grants, prizes and fellowships. Aśka is an organising committee member for the Perth Comic Arts Festival, contributes regularly to The School Magazine, volunteered as Illustrator Co-ordinator in the WA branch of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators for four years, has single-handedly run an animation festival, held a solo art exhibition about numbers in nature, and has been featured in an ABC TV documentary. When they're not creating children's books, Aśka is travelling across Australia teaching eager students of all ages how to write with pictures. www.askastorytelling.com
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