Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!: A Graphic Novel

Poupeh needs to speak up for her parents at an embassy interview--the problem is that she's been rendered mute! Smile meets New Kid in this funny, heartwarming, poignant graphic novel about the toll immigrating to the United States takes on a kid's mental health.
Poupeh Babaee is an Iranian girl sent to live with her relatives in the United States. Although Poupeh understands and speaks English, the stress of entering a new school in a foreign land renders her mute, and she is diagnosed with selective mutism. Worse yet, a travel ban--which labels Iran a "dangerous country"--has barred her parents from entering the US!
In order to help her parents immigrate, Poupeh must find a way to speak up for them during an interview with an embassy officer or risk being separated. This powerful, heart-warming graphic novel debut shows the bravery and courage of a young girl who will do anything to reunite her family.

Dr. Haleh Massey has blossomed from an awkward teenager to an awkward mother. She is a clinical psychologist and marriage and family therapist with almost two decades of experience working with children and their families. She met the love of her life at a non-profit agency in the big, bad city, then returned to the suburbs where she and her husband run a private practice and are awkwardly raising two amazing children. When she's not working, Dr. Massey enjoys building Lego and eating turkey sandwiches.
Ghazal Qadri is a Kashmiri-born illustrator. Born and raised in a conflict area, Ghazal enjoys working on daily comics about her real-life situations, especially ones that she experienced while living in Kashmir. Changing a mundane moment into a relatable story is the way she makes sense through her art. Ghazal's work focuses on storytelling through comics and Illustrations for books, digital products, and more.