The Big Break
On Sale March 31, 2026
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A full-color graphic novel about friendship, drifting apart, and chasing monsters—ideal for readers who loved Real Friends and All's Faire in Middle School.
Best friends Andrew and Russ share one big obsession: tracking down the legendary Jersey Devil said to roam the Pine Barrens of New Jersey, practically in their own backyards. They're even filming a movie about their hunt for any trace of the mythical creature. But when Russ starts spending less time on the project and more time with Tara, an artistic first-chair violinist, Andrew senses the first cracks in their friendship.
All at once, Andrew's favorite pastimes seem too childish for Russ, leaving Andrew to work out where he fits without his best friend beside him. Then a wave of Jersey Devil sightings stirs up their small town, pulling the boys back together for one frantic hunt. Can Andrew and Russ set aside their differences for a final shot at the monster of their dreams—or has the break in their friendship grown too wide to repair?
Syndicated comic strip artist Mark Tatulli delivers a full-color middle grade graphic novel drawn from his own life during the summer after seventh grade.
In middle school, Mark is on the small side of the physical spectrum—being both short AND skinny has taken a real toll on his confidence. Hoping to put an end to the bullying and win the girl (or at least find the nerve to talk to her), he starts looking into bulking up through the miracle cures advertised in the back of his comics. Yet his fixation on getting bigger is soon overtaken by a new passion: Star Wars, the biggest sensation of the summer of 1977. Between exploring his creative outlets and wrestling with his body-image worries, Mark sets out to leave his own mark on the film he loves.
Mark Tatulli's graphic novel debut is a funny, heartfelt story about body image, discovering a creative outlet, and living through a summer in the '70s.