14
15 16
17
18 year olds
a gap year adventure
Australian graphic novel
books for 13
camping
Category=XAB
Category=XQS
Category=YFMF
Category=YNUC
coming of age
education
eq_bestseller
eq_childrens
eq_fiction
eq_graphic-novels-manga
eq_isMigrated=1
eq_isMigrated=2
eq_new_release
eq_nobargain
eq_teenage-young-adult
fun teen book about physics
gap year book for teens
humour
relationships
road trip through WA
school leaver
science
YA book about a road trip
YA book with neurodiverse characters
Product details
- ISBN 9781761181689
- Weight: 568g
- Dimensions: 152 x 216mm
- Publication Date: 31 Mar 2026
- Publisher: Allen & Unwin
- Publication City/Country: AU
- Product Form: Paperback
Secure
checkout
Fast Shipping
Easy returns
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
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
