SKU: 70550320442

Midnight "Don't Judge Me" Ruiz

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Description

Midnight "Don't Judge Me" RuizNow Available for Presale! Midnight Dont Judge Me Ruiz This graphic novel tells the true story of Midnight, an abandoned pit bull type dog, who wound up at Philadelphias crowded open intake animal shelter in 2019. Due to a minor nip after being adopted, Midnight is returned to the shelter and becomes at risk for euthanasia. Through Rocky like grit, hard work, and a lot of help from his friends, Midnight goes the distance with his demons and learns to

Now Available for Presale!

Midnight “Don’t Judge Me” Ruiz

This graphic novel tells the true story of Midnight, an abandoned pit bull-type dog, who wound up at Philadelphia’s crowded open-intake animal shelter in 2019. Due to a minor nip after being adopted, Midnight is returned to the shelter and becomes at-risk for euthanasia. Through Rocky-like grit, hard work, and a lot of help from his friends, Midnight goes the distance with his demons and learns to love again.  
 
Written and illustrated by animal advocates S. J. Russell and Anne Koszalka, this graphic novel features the gruff, endearing Philadelphia dialect spoken by the two central dog characters, Midnight and Mister. 
 
Anne Koszalka is a Philadelphia potter and artist. (Believe it or not, each of the hundreds of illustrations in the book began as a ceramic tile: each tile was shaped, etched, painted, and then fired in a kiln before being photographed and incorporated into the design.) 
 
Midnight “Don’t Judge Me” Ruiz is a modern-day Rocky story—and highlights the struggle of underdogs labeled "pit bulls," who enter municipal shelters in droves. These dogs are too often unfairly judged based on their looks, and not on their unique personalities. The underlying message conveyed through a couple of witty pure Phillybreds, is that all dogs, like people, are individuals. 
 
Through humor and unvarnished realism, this graphic novel lends authentic insight into the challenges faced by open-admission shelters in cities across the nation. It also shows that everyone plays a role in saving the lives of these worthy animals by making adoption a first option. Above all, this is a story about hope. 

Early Praise for Midnight "Don't Judge Me" Ruiz

"The hundreds of illustrations (which all began as etched ceramic tiles) give the work a unique, decidedly organic feel—[Anne] Koszalka does an impressive job of conveying a wide scope of emotions (fear, anger, despair, joy) through her art. But the real power here is the narrative, which pulls no punches and is based on a true story. . . .

Exploring a serious issue with compassion and humor, this story should appeal to both animal lovers and Philly residents."

— KIRKUS REVIEWS

“An equally funny, yet heart-wrenching graphic novel that captures the fear, trauma, heartbreak, and love that comes with the work of trying to save at-risk dogs living in open-access shelters. The beguiling words and illustrations also capture the City of Brotherly Love perfectly. It's impossible to read Russell's book without falling in love with Midnight and pitbulls like him everywhere. In a word, Midnight 'Don't Judge Me' Ruiz is jawn.” 

—Ellen Lebrecque, New York Times Bestselling Author

"I loved it so much. I was laughing one minute and crying the next. Midnight 'Don’t Judge Me' Ruiz" is such a unique and creative way of storytelling for such a serious subject as the challenges and realities facing homeless pets and those who care for them in animal shelters. Author, Susan Russell, and artist, Anne Koszalka, have teamed up with help from their talented friends to bring Midnight’s Philly-flavored story to the pages of this beautifully crafted book. We have to keep telling the stories and making the voices of the voiceless heard if something is going to change. Their lives matter and their special someone is out there waiting to hear their stories. Together we can make the changes necessary to save their lives.
 
—Captain Tawny Hammond, Director of No-Kill Advancement at Best Friends Animal Society

"A heartwarming story about a dog's journey to find love
Midnight 'Don't Judge Me' Ruiz is such a touching story told from the perspective of Midnight, a pit bull who's trying to understand why he keeps getting overlooked at the shelter. The way it captures his confusion and frustration as other dogs get adopted so easily while he waits, simply because he's a pit bull, really pulls at your heartstrings. The ups and downs of his journey—getting adopted and then returned because he's too excited over a new toy—feel so real and are highly emotional. By the end, when he finally finds the right home, I had tears in my eyes. This book does an amazing job showing how much every dog just wants love and a happy life, no matter what breed they are. It's a beautiful reminder to give every dog a fair chance.
 
—Anne E. Beall, PhD, Award-Winning Author of Community Cats, Heartfelt Connections, and Heroic, Helpful & Caring Cats

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SKU: 70550320442

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Eyal A.
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
Spacious, organized, and perfect for travel!
Size: Large, Color: Black
This travel laptop backpack is absolutely fantastic! It's spacious and well-organized with multiple compartments for everything you need. It's airplane carry-on approved and fits perfectly in the overhead bin. The laptop compartment holds up to a 17" laptop securely with great padding. The water-resistant material keeps everything protected and the straps are comfortable for long trips. Great quality for the price. Highly recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 26, 2026
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Kaitlin Todd
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 4
Good bag for a good price
Size: Large, Color: Amourpink
Really loved this backpack. I got it after reading all the reviews and wanting something for travel. The inside pockets with extra compartments that are water proof or organizing was a really nice touch. I traveled on airlines with this a few times and then started using it for school as well. It help up really well. I tend to be kind of rough on things and unfortunately the zipper broke. I'm unsure of if I over stuffed it or it was just a cheaper zipper. I would have considered resorting it because I used and loved it so much but my mom's dog got to it and it was not salvageable after that. I would recommend this specifically as a great travel backpack for the air port but it can easily double as an over night bag or school back pack.
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Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2026
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BL60
Pawtucket, US
★★★★★ 5
So big, but lightweight!
Size: Large, Color: Amourpink
I bought this backpack to have as my "personal item" on the many flights I have to take. It is the perfect weight, having a place for just about anything you'd want to have during a flight, as well as having your carry-on items. The charging port is a bit of a challenge to plug in because of how you have to position the cord, but it is doable. I did not end up using the charging feature on my most recent flight, but I can see how it would be helpful for the travel that does not provide many charging stations. I have some serious back issues, but even full, I found this backpack to be a reasonable weight. I cannot attest to it's durability at this time, as I've only taken it on two trips now, but it is a great bag. There are many compartments, which can be good and bad. I recently put my wallet with all my identification and cards in a compartment that was easily missed. I thought I had lost my wallet and was panicked about how I'd get on my return flight if I didn't find it. After completely emptying the bag in my friend's car, and running my hands all over the compartments, I found the wallet. Here's the thing, my wallet is not little, so you can see that the walls of this backpack are pretty thick. The pink color is more of a dusty pink, which I find to be more attractive than a bright pink for something like this.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 22, 2026
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N.B.
New York, US
★★★★★ 5
Durable and easy to carry
Size: Large, Color: Amourpink, Size: Large, Color: Amourpink
I absolutely love this backpack! I got it for our two weeks long Northern Europe trip. It is very lightweight, spacious, and surprisingly comfortable even when fully packed. The compartments are well designed and make it easy to organize everything for travel. I especially liked how convenient it was for airport trips and fitting over the carryon’s handle and under the airplane seat. The material feels durable and the overall quality exceeded my expectations for the price. Stylish, practical, and perfect for short trips or everyday use. Highly recommend!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2026
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Monica
Omaha, US
★★★★★ 5
Very good product
Model: iPad Mini 6/A17 Pro 7th Gen
Nicely attaches to the iPan. Easy and no bubbles. had one and worked it completely out. Had all the need items for the installations. Screen touch works, cover went on without a hitch.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026

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