Lacks cohesion but still a relatable look at bodies and self-acceptance.
Spanning 1989 to 1990, Page’s latest graphic memoir looks back on seventh grade, when he navigated shifting friendships and body-image issues.
After winning an extra-large T-shirt in a competition and having to buy husky jeans during back-to-school shopping, Tyler begins to look at himself differently: “I’m not fat. Am I…?” While changing in the locker room, Tyler struggles with the ways his body differs from those of other boys, especially those who are developing muscles; even watching TV shows like He-Man reminds him that he doesn’t resemble society’s physical ideal. While Page’s cartoon art is appealing and clearly presented, the narrative loses focus as it juggles multiple storylines, including brief encounters with a bully, Tyler’s frustration as lighthearted jibes between friends turn mean-spirited, his own casual cruelty toward a fellow student, and a budding relationship with a classmate wrestling with her own insecurities. Tyler’s father’s quest to lose weight and to get the rest of the family to adopt healthier habits takes up a lot of narrative space while barely affecting Tyler’s examination of his own body. Though related, these elements don’t hang together well, leaving the book uneven in spots. Nevertheless, Tyler’s journey feels authentic as he slowly finds “a place for myself in the world…where I [can] just be myself.” Tyler and most characters present white.
Lacks cohesion but still a relatable look at bodies and self-acceptance. (author’s note) (Graphic memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: March 11, 2025
ISBN: 9781250851574
Page Count: 208
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 23, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 2025
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things.
A 1989 summer trip to Europe changes Caldecott Medal winner Santat’s life in this graphic memoir.
Young Dan hasn’t experienced much beyond the small Southern California town he grew up in. He stays out of trouble, helps his parents, and tries to go unnoticed in middle school. That plan gets thwarted when he is made to recite poetry at a school assembly and is humiliated by his peers. When eighth grade is over and his parents send him on a three-week study abroad program, Dan isn’t excited at first. He’s traveling with girls from school whom he has awkward relationships with, his camera breaks, and he feels completely out of place. But with the help of some new friends, a crush, and an encouraging teacher, Dan begins to appreciate and enjoy the journey. Through experiences like his first taste of Fanta, first time hearing French rap, and first time getting lost on his own in a foreign country in the middle of the night, he finally begins to feel comfortable just being himself and embracing the unexpected. This entertaining graphic memoir is a relatable story of self-discovery. Flashbacks to awkward memories are presented in tones of blue that contrast with the full-color artwork through which Santat creates the perfect balance of humor and poignancy. The author’s note and photos offer readers more fun glimpses into his pivotal adventure.
Full of laughter and sentiment, this is a nudge for readers to dare to try new things. (Graphic memoir. 10-14)Pub Date: Feb. 28, 2023
ISBN: 978-1-250-85104-8
Page Count: 320
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 28, 2022
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 15, 2022
PERSPECTIVES
PERSPECTIVES
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality.
An examination of the history of Chinese American experiences.
Blackburn opens with a note to readers about growing up feeling invisible as a multicultural, biracial Chinese American. She notes the tremendous diversity of Chinese American history and writes that this book is a starting point for learning more. The evenly paced narrative starts with the earliest recorded arrival of the Chinese in America in 1834. A teenage girl, whose real name is unknown, arrived in New York Harbor with the Carnes brothers, merchants who imported Chinese goods and put her on display “like an animal in a circus.” The author then examines shifting laws, U.S. and global political and economic climates, and changing societal attitudes. The book introduces the highlighted people—including Yee Ah Tye, Wong Kim Ark, Mabel Ping-Hua Lee, and Vincent Chen—in relation to lawsuits or other transformative events; they also stand as examples for explaining concepts such as racial hierarchy and the model minority myth. Maps, photos, and documents are interspersed throughout. Chapters close with questions that encourage readers to think critically about systems of oppression, actively engage with the material, and draw connections to their own lives. Although the book covers a wide span of history, from the Gold Rush to the rise in anti-Asian hate during the Covid-19 pandemic, it thoroughly explains the various events. Blackburn doesn’t shy away from describing terrible setbacks, but she balances them with examples of solidarity and progress.
Deftly written and informative; a call for vigilance and equality. (resources, bibliography, image credits) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: March 26, 2024
ISBN: 9780593567630
Page Count: 288
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
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