HOW DO I DRAW THESE MEMORIES?

An illustrator unpacks memories of her upbringing through short stories, photographs, and drawings.

Opening with her earliest memories from Savannah, Georgia, Joshua leads readers through her life growing up with a mother who had bipolar disorder. Following a nonlinear track, the author presents a story about family, faith, and self-discovery, using excerpts from conversations with her family members, including her mother, brothers, and grandparents, alongside the memories she’s held on to. Through sharing elements of her life—such as her few memories of her father, who passed away early in her life, and her family’s migration between Georgia and Willingboro, New Jersey—Joshua’s goal seems to be to piece together not just memories but an understanding of how her family influenced the person and artist she would become. Colorful drawings interspersed with the text illuminate exchanges between Joshua and her brothers, giving breadth to the work’s presentation. The author includes some rough and emotionally difficult scenes among the brief stories, which vary in length from a few paragraphs to several pages. The individual entries sometimes end abruptly with no resolution before jumping to the next one. Since the narrative isn’t presented in chronological order, it can be difficult to stay connected to the book, although the bursts of artwork and family photos help to reengage readers.

A deep and sometimes confusing dive into memories through diverse media.