Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me
written by Mariko Tamaki ; illustrated by Rosemary Valero-O'Connel
Walter Award, Teen Category
Summary
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel that follows Freddy, a high school girl caught in an on-again, off-again relationship with her charismatic yet emotionally unavailable girlfriend, Laura Dean. As Freddy navigates the emotional turbulence of love, friendship, and identity, she begins to question what she truly deserves in a relationship and discovers the value of self-respect and support from those who genuinely care for her.
Justification
Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me tackles relatable, real-life issues that many teens face, especially surrounding identity, relationships, and emotional growth. The graphic novel format also makes the content accessible and engaging for visual learners, while the themes offer meaningful opportunities for self-reflection and discussion. The book authentically represents LGBTQ+ experiences and provides a diverse, inclusive lens that is essential for modern middle and high school libraries. Its honest exploration of teen love, heartbreak, and personal empowerment aligns with criteria for strong young adult literature—relevance, representation, and emotional impact.
Reader Response
As most girls can relate, I saw parts of myself in Freddy’s journey—especially the confusion and pain that come from toxic relationships and the hard-won strength it takes to walk away. Like Freddy, I’ve had to learn how to set boundaries and recognize my worth, and that process deeply resonated with me. This story reminded me that finding self-confidence is often messy, but necessary, especially during those pivotal years from high school to college. The book didn’t just reflect my past experiences—it reinforced values I now hold firmly, like emotional independence and the importance of healthy support systems. I appreciated how the novel didn’t glamorize the relationship but showed its flaws honestly, encouraging readers to reflect on what love should really feel like. It addresses issues I care deeply about, such as emotional health, friendship, and queer representation. As a parent of an LGBTQ child, it also struck a powerful chord in helping me better understand the challenges my child might face in relationships and identity. Seeing these experiences reflected honestly and sensitively in literature matters—not just for young readers, but for the adults in their lives trying to support them. That makes this a powerful and important read for anyone learning to value themselves or to be a more understanding ally.
References
Tamaki, M., & Valero-O’Connell, R. (2019). Laura Dean keeps breaking up with me. First Second.
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