Spectacular; a book to make anyone think seriously about society’s preordained gender roles (Graphic memoir. 14 & up)
Prince explores what it means to be a tomboy in a magnificently evocative graphic memoir.
From the age of 2, Liz knows she hates dresses. As a child, she wears boys clothes and plays with boys. However, as she enters her teen years, things change. Still wishing to dress like a boy and disdainful of all things girly—including the inevitable biology of puberty—she stays true to herself and her identity, but not without struggling to fit into a teenage society that neatly compartmentalizes how boys and girls should act. Liz’s troubles are magnified as she navigates the ways of the heart, falling for boys who often pass her over for girls who are more feminine. As she stumbles and bumbles her way to friends who will accept her, she pulls readers along that oh-so-tough and bumpy road of adolescence. Simple, line-based art provides a perfect complement to her keen narration, giving this an indie, intimate feel and leaving readers feeling like they really know her. Liz’s story, captured with wry humor and a deft, visceral eye, is a must-read for fans who fell for Raina Telgemeier’s work in middle school.
Pub Date: Sept. 2, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-936976-55-3
Page Count: 256
Publisher: Zest Books
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2014
Honest, important, and timely.
A childhood beset by generations of family addiction is revealed in this raw graphic-novel memoir from a well-known children’s author and illustrator.
Though he doesn’t realize it until later, Krosoczka’s (The Principal Strikes Back, 2018, etc.) mother suffers from addiction, which brings turmoil into their family’s life. Basic needs go unmet, promises are routinely broken, and the stability and safety most take for granted are never guaranteed. Krosoczka is raised by his grandparents when his mom can no longer care for him. The contradictions prevalent in his childhood will resonate with readers who have experienced addiction and educate those who have not. Yes, there is chaos, but there is also warmth, seen, for example, when Krosoczka’s mom fakes his birthday for an impromptu party at a fast-food chain, or in the way his grandfather never misses an opportunity to tell him he is loved. Krosoczka learns self-reliance as a survival strategy. He also learns to express himself through art. The palette, awash in gray and earth tones, invokes the feeling of hazy memories. Interspersed are tender and at times heartbreaking images of real drawings and letters from the author and several family members. Krosoczka as an author generously and lovingly shows his flawed family members striving to do the best they can even as Krosoczka the character clearly aches for more.
Honest, important, and timely. (author’s note, note on the art) (Graphic novel memoir. 14-adult)Pub Date: Oct. 9, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-545-90247-2
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Graphix/Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 23, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2018
SEEN & HEARD
A moving chronicle of a real humanitarian tragedy.
The collective tale of Syrian refugees’ attempt to escape the horrors of their country’s civil war in search of a better tomorrow.
When war broke out in 2011 between the armed forces loyal to the country’s potentate and a growing number of insurgents fighting his tyrannical rule, millions of Syrians fled the war zone, overflowing neighboring countries and creating a refugee crisis in Europe, their wished-for ultimate destination. Rather than focusing on individual stories, Brown (Up & Down, 2018, etc.) zeroes in on particular situations, providing compassionate snapshots of the harsh realities facing the displaced populations: cunning smugglers, unwelcoming neighbors, hostile legislation, the refugees’ own disenchantment with their difficult conditions….Brown’s poignant testament is fittingly titled The Unwanted, as the book damningly chronicles the slowly building resentment among host communities and the mounting legal restrictions on the asylum-seeking populations. Most importantly, by alternating sheer tragic moments (rockets falling, the capsizing of a boat, drownings, rejection) and glimpses of joy (a child’s successful resettlement, a compassionate neighbor, family reunions), he succeeds in offering a window into the humanity of displaced groups—their resilience and tenacity but also their inspiring, hopeful nature. The pen-and-ink digitally colored art has a loose, informal style that vividly expresses the intense emotions contained in the book.
A moving chronicle of a real humanitarian tragedy. (maps, author’s note, source notes, bibliography) (Graphic nonfiction. 14-adult)Pub Date: Sept. 18, 2018
ISBN: 978-1-328-81015-1
Page Count: 112
Publisher: HMH Books
Review Posted Online: July 16, 2018
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2018
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