Not Yet Defined is a beautifully illustrated teen fiction diary about identity, creativity, and learning to feel comfortable in your own skin.
Told through handwritten notes, taped pages, and drawings that shift from grey to colour, this creative journal follows A., a thoughtful teen trying to make sense of who they are in a world that demands labels. Through everyday encounters, late-night sketches, and quiet reflections, A. begins to understand that becoming isn't about choosing one box-it's about learning to accept your whole self, layer by layer.
Set within the pages of a sketchbook, Not Yet Defined blends art and storytelling in a way that feels deeply personal and true. Readers are invited to step inside A.'s inner world: the messy notes, half-finished drawings, and private moments of uncertainty that fill every creative mind. Through art, poetry, and short diary-style entries, A. explores the questions so many teens ask but rarely say aloud-Who am I? Why don't I feel like everyone else? Will I ever feel enough just as I am?
When A. meets Ari, an outspoken and kind stranger who sees the world through colour and empathy, everything begins to shift. Their friendship becomes the mirror A. didn't know they needed-one that reflects back both confusion and courage. From rainy afternoons at McDonald's to art class experiments and unexpected connections, this story unfolds gently, showing that identity is not a single revelation but an ongoing, creative process.
Not Yet Defined touches on themes of gender expression, body image, and belonging-but it does so with empathy, openness, and no fixed answers. This book doesn't tell readers who to be. Instead, it gives them permission to explore, to question, and to breathe. It is for teens who feel unseen, misunderstood, or still figuring things out; for creative souls who use drawing, writing, or daydreaming to make sense of the world around them.
Written and illustrated by Tiina Hoddy, a lifelong educator, artist, and storyteller, Not Yet Defined combines visual art, lyrical writing, and real emotion to create a reading experience that feels both intimate and healing. Tiina's background in education and child development shines through each page, offering gentle reassurance that it's okay to be in progress-that life is about discovery, not perfection.
This book is the first in The Art of Becoming Series-a collection of creative teen diaries about identity, healing, and hope. Each title in the series explores a different theme through art and narrative: self-acceptance, emotional growth, mental health, and the quiet courage of becoming who you truly are.
Perfect for readers aged 13 and up, Not Yet Defined will resonate with fans of illustrated fiction, journaling, and coming-of-age stories told with honesty and heart. It's ideal for educators, counsellors, and parents looking for a reflective, artistic way to open conversations about self-image and identity.
"Maybe I'm not unfinished. Maybe I'm still becoming."
