Carlos Morales
In a world where every moment can become content, what happens when the spotlight isn’t a choice?
Maverick, the young adult imprint of Mad Cave Studios, is proud to announce I DIDN’T ASK FOR THIS, a bold and deeply empathetic YA graphic novel from Jennie Wood (Paper Planes, Flutter), recipient of a Next Generation Indie Book Award, and Josh Cornillon (Questlike: Pocket Adventure, Maverick Presents: Outlaws), a GLAAD Award winner. With colors by Michael Wiggam (Love is Love, Marvel Voices: Pride) and letters by Charles Pritchett (Student Government), this timely release blends social awareness with heartfelt coming-of-age storytelling to deliver a moving, fiercely relevant story about reclaiming identity in an age of oversharing.
If your entire life was online against your will—if everyone knew about your potty training, your first breakup, and even your coming out story—how would you feel? I Didn’t Ask For This follows the members of Not Your Baby Anymore, a group of kids who share one thing in common: their parents are social media influencers who have shared their entire lives online. The group forms a chosen family as each member struggles with how to break away from a life and fame that they didn’t ask for and do not want.
“Growing up in a small town where everyone knew my business and with a mother who didn’t respect my boundaries, I deeply relate to the members of Not Your Baby Anymore and their need for privacy and self-definition,” said Jennie Wood. “Like Daisy in I Didn’t Ask For This, I found my way through music and a chosen family while living in Chicago. I hope this story encourages readers to keep forging their own path. It may be turbulent at times, but it is the journey that leads you to your people and your place in the world.”
Illustrator, Josh Cornillon, added,
“I can’t wait for young readers to get their hands on I Didn’t Ask For This and see the story of Daisy and her pals learning to advocate for themselves and the importance of their voices! I hope our readers, across every spectrum, can feel the passion and dedication Jennie and I had for crafting these confident and creative characters, and can learn that their voice matters too. This story is ultimately about the value of building community – something we all need more of in these turbulent times.”
In a time when headlines and viral discussions around the legal ramifications of child influencers are intensifying—from Ruby Franke to broader debates on labor and privacy—I Didn’t Ask For This stands at the heart of a conversation young readers are already having.
For fans of activism books for teens like Drawn to Change, realistic portrayals of teen relationships like Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up With Me, and cultural reflection like Displacement.
I Didn’t Ask For This is available wherever books are sold on April 14, 2026, and in comic shops on April 15, 2026. Preorders are available now through comic shops, bookstores, digital retailers, and directly from Maverick!
