I've read a lot of Graphic Novel Memoirs. And I've read a fair number of fictionalized personal stories of folx with marginalized identities feeling mI've read a lot of Graphic Novel Memoirs. And I've read a fair number of fictionalized personal stories of folx with marginalized identities feeling marginalized growing up in White straight cis America.
Here, Myer tells their story, which fits in both of those boxes. But as you can see from the cover, they bring in some visual metaphor too. It brings to mind Epileptic, the work of Laura Lee Gulledge, Mis(h)adra, and Black Hole: A Graphic Novel. Oh, and a touch of Stone Fruit too. Really startling imagery, when it breaks into the fairly cutesy style dominating most of the book.
When I read the subtitle, I wondered if it would dig deep into the Issue of Transracial Adoption. The topic is appropriately fraught and problematic. Myer's story is complicated by the fact that they had a sister growing up, who was also transracially adopted. And their sister conformed to desirable traits and stereotypes that Myer could not fit into. This is not a treatise on transracial adoption. It's just one kid's story of feeling that they did not fit in on a profound level.
I very much appreciated the way Myer depicted their theatre friends and process of coming out. Some relatable stuff there for me.
I love alternate history. I'm pretty sure I watched every episode of Sliders on DVD over a decade ago. I've always loved the question of what things cI love alternate history. I'm pretty sure I watched every episode of Sliders on DVD over a decade ago. I've always loved the question of what things could be like if we tweaked just this one thing...
There's something about the art style here that reminds me of the work of Patrick Nagel. But I'll bet there's a better comparison/influence to name. There's something about the style that feels very... still.
Obviously love the representation here. Lots of skin tones and cultural heritages that aren't White, and yay for historical Trans folx! Some great breakage of gender norms.
Looking at who the creators are, though, I wouldn't expect anything else. Definitely looking out for what they make next....more
Pedro lives in California with his 8 siblings and parents. One day, his parents tell him that his grandfather is coming to live with them - and the whPedro lives in California with his 8 siblings and parents. One day, his parents tell him that his grandfather is coming to live with them - and the whole family of 11 is going to road trip down to the middle of Mexico to pick their Abuelito up.
I'm so glad this won a pile of awards and honors. I have a special soft spot in my heart for graphic novel travelogues, and this is a great one - for a kid-audience, no less! I'm planning to take it out to local elementary schools - the booktalk practically wrote itself.
I love the way that this story is told - how the parts depicting the grandfather when he was younger are in ye olde superhero style. The wide variety of panel layouts. The backmatter (photos of the real people are always desired in autobio work). Full color - it's great! The style is consistent with what's visible on the cover. There were occasionally times when I had a hard time telling siblings apart, but I loved being able to flip to the early pages where he introduces all of them in rapid succession.
Yep, great, get it.
Edit to add: I took this out to local elementary schools in May/June 2024. I didn't talk about this book with every group, and after one of the presentations when I didn't feature it, I had a kid come up and ask to look at it. They said they were excited about the cover, and lit up when they saw that the author's name is Pedro. "My dad's name is Pedro!" they told me. Representation matters!...more
Historical bc it's the late 00s, yo. (wild) Not-Amerika bc all the characters and the author are originally from Toronto (though the author's lived in Historical bc it's the late 00s, yo. (wild) Not-Amerika bc all the characters and the author are originally from Toronto (though the author's lived in the US for many years now).
Interpersonal drama of a very familiar kind. Friend #1 visits Friend #2 in NYC. Friend #2 brings Friend #3, who's never met Friend #1 before. The trip doesn't turn out the way any of the three friends intend or like.
This is squarely New Adult - about college students doing adult things for some of the first times in their lives. The title refers to cell phones, among other things - whether or not to use Roaming minutes is big thing in the plot, since (like I said) the characters are from Canada.
Jillian Tamaki's gorgeous illustrations are in black and white with beige and gray-blue accents and shadowing throughout. She's magical.
They stay in a hostel. They like to do museums differently. It's one of those formative experiences where you Find Out Who You Are.
Brought back some memories. Even though I'm over five years older than these characters must be....more
Victoria loves her life in Cuba. She loves visiting her grandparents' farm, and riding her horse there. She loves being best friends with her charismaVictoria loves her life in Cuba. She loves visiting her grandparents' farm, and riding her horse there. She loves being best friends with her charismatic and outgoing cousin, Jackie. Victoria is looking forward to gaining the skills to be a good wife in upper-class Cuban society. Then, Fidel Castro gains power, and Victoria's lifestyle has to change.
Her parents decide to move their immediate family of five to Miami, where Victoria's father can only get a job in construction, even though he was an engineer back in Cuba. Victoria takes on the bulk of the responsibility of caring for their family, including finding them an apartment where they can live once it becomes clear that their stay in the States is not going to be as temporary as they thought. Meanwhile, Jackie struggles with worsening conditions back in Cuba.
This story is based on the author's parents life stories. I appreciated the way she portrayed the different cultural norms in Cuba vs. the USA, particularly around the race and class dynamics Victoria encounters. The socialist part of me started to itch a little with all the anti-communism stuff. I wish Diaz had chosen to tell at least one story of a person who wasn't rich back in Cuba, but I suppose since it's based on her family history, that may have limited some aspects of the storytelling. I also liked how each cousin handles their performance of gender differently.
I'm putting this on my list to recommend for Battle of the Books 2025, and might take it out to middle schools too....more
Date read is very approximate - picked this up in college sometime after doing a project focusing on Abbie Hoffman. Found it fascinating at the time. Date read is very approximate - picked this up in college sometime after doing a project focusing on Abbie Hoffman. Found it fascinating at the time. In 2023, read Backderf's version of the story, which calls out some of the narrative agenda in this book. ...more
Maybe I'm fulfilling some kind of stereotype, but I've long been fascinated by the social movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. As such, I'd alMaybe I'm fulfilling some kind of stereotype, but I've long been fascinated by the social movements of the late 1960s and early 1970s. As such, I'd already read a book with this title and subject ( Kent State: What Happened and Why), years and years ago. I've read and enjoyed much of Backderf's work, so I was intrigued to get his take.
Since it had been so many years since I'd read it, I didn't remember many details or names. So, I was surprised by elements of the ending.
Backderf's illustrative style feels well suited to the subject matter and time period. All the illustrations are in grayscale/black and white. Backderf includes over twenty pages of notes and citations (all of which I read). Great way to consume history....more
I'm really happy I'm living in a time when people who aren't necessarily "graphic novel people" are making their personal stories into graphic novels.I'm really happy I'm living in a time when people who aren't necessarily "graphic novel people" are making their personal stories into graphic novels.
The images of Tommie Smith and John Carlos raising their black-gloved fists in the air at the 1968 Olympics are iconic. Here, Smith gives context to that act. He tells his life story, from his youth as one of 12 children living in Texas, through his running career at San Jose State University, to his post-Olympics life. While his iconic act was a flashpoint, it had real consequences to his life. He was fired from his job at a car dealership "before we even left Mexico City." He writes, "I did whatever I could to feed my wife and son: swept streets, washed cars, you name it. I held eleven track and field world records, but no one would hire me." He did eventually make a career out of coaching, but as a reader, I could feel the heartbreak of what he lost after that famous moment in time.
I'm so glad Smith is telling his story, and in a form that will be accessible to lots of people. We need to know our history. Especially the ugly parts....more
People may be familiar with Kate Beaton from her viral webcomic, Hark! a Vagrant or possibly her adorable picture book, The Princess and the Pony. HePeople may be familiar with Kate Beaton from her viral webcomic, Hark! a Vagrant or possibly her adorable picture book, The Princess and the Pony. Her stuff is typically snarky and smart, referential and sharp.
Here, she describes what she was doing while she built a following on Hark! Turns out, she was one of many Canadians to go to Alberta to make money (read: pay off student loans, at least in Beaton's case) in the mining industry.
This is a thick piece of work - over 400 pages long. In it, Beaton gives us a play-by-play of her time working in Tool Cribs and offices for the mining companies. cw: sexual harassment, rape Throughout her time there, the overwhelming theme is the constant sexual harassment she and the other women endure from the male mining employees. It is vivid, shocking, eye-opening, and neverending.
As someone who enjoys learning about the minutiae of Work and various industries, I found the parts about the workflows and structure of the mines fascinating. Beaton does acknowledge the ... problematic... nature of mining in general, including addressing the land theft from First Nations and pollution. I could have used more of that for sure. It's almost like it's a foregone conclusion that mining is inherently evil - that she knows it before she even starts. She just feels desperate to pay those loans off and like her personal participation won't make a difference either way. But that's all mostly subtext - the emphasis here (it may well have been a decision she made with an editor) is all on the misogyny, sexism, and personal danger she feels all the time.
Beaton's polished up her signature style a bit here. It's far less scribbly than Hark! Everything's in grayscale, and there are maps.
Part of me wishes there had been more timeline markers. Each page or so there's a new anecdote, and it's hard to track how long she's been at various sites, or how much time has elapsed between scenes. I suspect that's a holdover from her episodic Hark! habits. Many of the anecdotes have the feel of having been drawn in the days shortly after they happened, like a diary comic. There are some indications that Beaton tried to give it more structure. There are character keys at the beginning of each new location where she worked. And the maps, like I said. And maybe she hesitated to put in specific dates and times because memories are fuzzy and she doesn't always remember the order of when things happened? Surmising here, obvi. Regardless of all that (which is all meant as constructive feedback)...
Highly recommended, though it may well be triggering to many. I'm genuinely tempted by that fifth star....more
Rosa is sure that she loves to dance. What she isn't sure about is whether she wants to be a professional ballet dancer for her father's dance companyRosa is sure that she loves to dance. What she isn't sure about is whether she wants to be a professional ballet dancer for her father's dance company. It doesn't help that Prince Rogers Nelson is rehearsing just upstairs.
It's 1983 Minneapolis, and Torres brings Block E of Hennepin Ave to life. We spend significant chunks of time in Teener's Theatrical, a "costume shop" that defies that definition. I found a pic of the place online which transported me on sight. Moby Dick's bar is a location pivotal to the plot.
I especially appreciated how queer this book was. Rosa's love interest wears makeup and skirts, talks about his gay father, is involved in the local drag scene, and says something to the effect of he "loves who he loves" at one point. I think it's easy for those of us who grew up in the 90s to miss how queer parts of 80s culture really were. Torres includes depictions of the local gay bar, police brutality and harassment of queer people, AIDS (she does use the term AIDS only, and I assume it was an intentional choice to be anachronistic), and more. I imagine that people who lived through it and Prince fans would tell me that queerness is a required theme in a book that shows Prince's impact on a person.
There were times here when I was a little nervous about how Torres depicted Rosa's sister's disability. But ultimately, I think the way that she rounded out that character steered it away from the potential missteps. Curious about what other people think about this.
Part of me wonders if this will be popular with today's teens. Do pandemic-era teens care about ballet? Do they know who Prince is? He died six years ago, as I write this, which is a long time ago both during the pandemic era and to a teenager in general.
Wrote a booktalk though, and next time I go to a high school, I'll see if it takes.
This was written by a friend of a friend who lives in my town, so I was pleased to get to review it for my work-related reviewing gig. If I'm not mistaken, a character's last name is a nod to Oly's local ballet school....more
Alma is thirteen. It’s the early 1980s, and Alma lives in the Village in New York City. She listens to her Walkman, hangs out on the roof with her friAlma is thirteen. It’s the early 1980s, and Alma lives in the Village in New York City. She listens to her Walkman, hangs out on the roof with her friends, avoids eye contact with the Girls who stand in doorways, and buys Mary Janes candy to eat. She might be about to have her first kiss. Her parents fight a lot. And she goes to Chinatown regularly to visit her mom’s side of the family. Cane tells Alma’s story in verse, using evocative language and lots of cultural references from the 1980s. While some of the titled poems could stand alone, most of them benefit from the context of the surrounding story. Cane explores Alma’s mixed Chinese-American and White American heritage to some extent, but that aspect of the book is more of an enrichment of the environment than a focus. Alma learns about ancient mythology, and musings about figures like Leda and Zeus mingle with references to the Pretenders and David Bowie. This is a coming-of-age book full of atmosphere and it’s recommended for middle schools and public libraries. /review for another source
There are a couple of poems in here I liked so much I stopped reading and took the time to find a sticky note to mark them. Then I tried to copy them here, but that also messed up spacing. They're on pages 2 and 116.
There were times when I wondered if there were too many cultural references for poetry - that without the context of prose, maybe teens would just be confused?
I loved the part where Alma travels to San Francisco with her mom. The experience of visiting a new place can be very eye opening. I also dug the parts where Alma is figuring out her feminism. Some great stuff there.
I felt muddled about the plotline with Dario. And it wasn't ever really explained in a way I understood. But muddled feels like a good word to describe 8th grade, so maybe that's ok?
This definitely felt like a book I should read slowly. Take breaks between every poem or few. It takes some digestion....more
Historiography fascinates me. Why do we know what we know about our human past? It is important who the historians are. And what we choose to study. IHistoriography fascinates me. Why do we know what we know about our human past? It is important who the historians are. And what we choose to study. It is difficult for anyone to grasp just how huge the history of human existence is. So, how we focus our lenses MATTERS.
Here, Hall not only tells about the history of women-led revolts, but shows how that history has been obscured. The barriers she encountered attempting to research the topic.
I love that she chose to tell the story in Graphic Novel form. I'm struggling with whether the dense b&w illustration style helped or hampered the text. On the one hand, it was difficult to decode at a glance. On the other hand, having to take a moment to decode it meant I looked at each illustration a little more deeply than I might have otherwise.
One of those books that makes me appreciate the value of archives, historical records, and academia.
Read this after a local teacher asked for suggestiOne of those books that makes me appreciate the value of archives, historical records, and academia.
Read this after a local teacher asked for suggestions of middle school-appropriate historical fiction set in Washington. I was eager to learn about the history of the enslavement of Black people in my town (I live within walking distance of the site where the family in question lived).
The bulk of each chapter describes the lives of James Tilton and Charles Mitchell using a fairly factual, narrative-nonfiction-style approach. At the end of each chapter is a short passage in italics imagining specific scenes alluded to in the preceding text, which seems to be an attempt to give some life and emotion to the facts.
I appreciate that the two authors are coming at this from a scholarly perspective. They include an extensive bibliography (8 pages, and it's titled "Selected Bibliography"), and a four-page Methods and Sources section. Reading between the lines, I can tell that they probably felt that they'd have to fictionalize too much of the story of Charles Mitchell to make a book that would appeal to their target audience* if they focused exclusively on Charles Mitchell. Hence the inclusion of major sections about James Tilton, regarding whom there's a much more robust historical record.
As a person who is interested in history, and scholarship, and untold stories, and marginalized people, and midrash, and Olympia, Washington, I found the whole thing fascinating. I'm so glad I read it. That being said, I don't know that it will appeal to a wide middle grade audience.
I would love to read a version of this story with at least one Black author in the mix. Particularly if that Black author actually lived in Olympia. It was published in 2013, by two apparently White ladies from the Seattle area, and I can feel that it's already dated and also feels a bit distanced from Olympia itself. There are moments of what could be described as microaggression, and if I noticed a few of those (as a White lady myself), I'm sure BIPOC eyes would catch even more. The title itself is also problematic. Although the person in question is a kid, and based on historical record could be described as a boy, that word has historically been used as a slur toward Black people of all ages. I hoped that the authors would address this choice, but they did not, at least inside the book itself. When I picked up the book, based on the summary information available to me, I was under the impression that there was a sustained "underground railroad" in the West. This is not exactly the case. The authors state that as far as their research revealed, Charles Mitchell was the only person who was transported over the Canadian border for the purpose of escaping enslavement in Washington.
With those major caveats, I'm so glad this book exists. Without it, I would probably never have heard this story, or read this history. I highly value that these authors took the time to collect all this scholarship and put it into a form that is accessible to a wide audience.
Extra star because of how critically important it is for stories like this to be told in the wider culture.
*We shelve this in the Juvenile Nonfiction at my library, so that tells me that it was marketed to middle grade readers....more
I love consuming media about niche history. In this case, I got to learn about a rock band that proudly branded itself as "Native American" way back iI love consuming media about niche history. In this case, I got to learn about a rock band that proudly branded itself as "Native American" way back in the 1960s and 70s. The members came from a few different tribal nations.
I appreciated the illustration style - it's very French, atmospheric, kind of meandering, with a wide variety of approaches and layouts (kinda like life). Much of the text is first person from one of the members of the band. This is something of an authorized biographical piece, although the primary author/superfan is a white French man.
I appreciated the representation of how people of various Native American backgrounds have been mistaken for Latine people. Obviously there are some blurred lines there too in some cases, but in the experience of Pat and Lolly Vegas, it was an example of white assumptions. There's a great scene with Jimi Hendrix along those lines. I loved the section about AIM and Redbone's activism. Originally published in French. And there are points when you can tell.
I feel like the people who will appreciate this the most are probably the people who are familiar with the band. So, although this is currently shelved in our YA GN section, I'm going to suggest we move it to the adult GNs. There's a level of assumed knowledge that I don't think most teens will have. And the aesthetic will fit more in the Adult GN section in our library....more
I picked this book up at a library conference in 2015, but it took a pandemic for me to get around to reading it (#whyidontbuybooks). Nothing against I picked this book up at a library conference in 2015, but it took a pandemic for me to get around to reading it (#whyidontbuybooks). Nothing against the book, I just have access to many reads that have due dates attached at all times.
This was the first book I've read that told the story of the Stonewall Riots. And now I feel like I have an actual picture of what happened. Since it's been 6 years since it came out, there are newer books on the same topic. Bausum is forthright about the fact that she's an ally, not a queer person herself. She spends some time in "A Note from the Author" at the end talking about the decision to write this book. She was an experienced nonfiction writer who specialized in nonfiction for teens and kids. And this story cannot be told too many times. Extra star with that in mind.
It felt important for me, personally, to read a book that described the Village of the late 1960s. It felt important to get some of the context for the raid that sparked the riots. It felt important to read a depiction of this pivotal moment in queer history. And this book has been on the shelf next to my bed for 6 years.
Narrative nonfiction like this feels very much like the professional version/natural descendent of writing a college research paper. I loved the experience of delving deep into a topic - each topic I chose to write about changed me and my lens on the world in some way. Bausum includes photographs, an index, and many citations. There are times when the writing feels a bit dry and academic. There are also a few places where I can feel the 6 years between this book's publishing date and the year 2021. Ways things are phrased that feel a touch out of date. One major issue (if my memory serves - please correct me if I'm wrong) is that most, if not all, of Bausum's primary sources were white. Marsha P. Johnson, an icon and Black person whose legacy in my mind is inextricably linked with Stonewall, doesn't come up, unless I completely missed it. Johnson isn't a listing in the index. Same for Sylvia Rivera.
But for the most part this feels like a well-intentioned depiction of a historical event and the context around it. I'll be keeping it on my shelf (she signed it to me, for one thing), at least for now, but I'll be keeping my eye out for one with a different lens....more
There are not enough books by and about the Deaf community.
I believe I am more aware of the Deaf community than the average hearing person. When I wasThere are not enough books by and about the Deaf community.
I believe I am more aware of the Deaf community than the average hearing person. When I was a child, my mom's best friend was Deaf. I was taught ASL before I spoke.
Show Me a Sign is an amazing ownvoices historical fiction story about a (real, historical) community with a high proportion of Deaf people. I loved how LeZotte depicted communication in this book. I loved the way she handled the science of what makes people deaf. I'm glad it won a well-deserved Schneider award.
For me, the tone felt fairly subdued at the beginning, and then shocked me when the plot took its turn. It quickly becomes a story with a lot of horrible traumatic experiences. Maybe I'm more horrified by that kind of thing in books now than I used to be, since I've become a parent. Or maybe I'm extra sensitive to these things since the world has been living in a collectively traumatic experience for over a year now.
There needs to be more ownvoices books by Deaf people....more
Here, he works with three collaborators to tell the story of his internment as a child. He and his family were in captivity fGeorge Takei is an icon.
Here, he works with three collaborators to tell the story of his internment as a child. He and his family were in captivity for four years. Four YEARs! 2020 has been scary and sad for lots of reasons, but one thing that has a lot of people worried is the longterm effects on kids living through this pandemic during important developmental stages. Imagine spending FOUR YEARS of your childhood literally in a cage because of something you can't control about yourself - that's trauma. Pure and simple.
I've read a few stories of the Japanese Internment, and I feel like most I've read focus on the feelings, the day to day, the trauma. Here, maybe because Takei was quite young at the start, or maybe because Takei is a big time celebrity who worked with collaborators, there's more context given to the internment experience. I learned about Civilian Exclusion Orders for the first time (the "justification" for the internment, and the reason this was a West Coast thing). The Roosevelts did some soberingly terrible things.
The book is illustrated effectively by Harmony Becker. I'm glad that 2/4 creators of this are not white dudes, as far as I can tell. It is illustrated in black and white, which kind of surprises me. This felt like a big/heavily promoted release, and I see no artistic reason to not use color. So that felt a little strange to me. But the panels flow well. I liked the inclusion of maps in a few places. The renderings of real people were recognizable, but they also integrated well with the slightly more cartoony illustrations of George and his family in the camp.
I read this within a few months of reading Displacement by Kiku Hughes, and as I'm sure others have noted, they are really wonderful companions. I'm very tempted to reel off a list of all the ways they compare/contrast - would be great for a class!
I'm one of those people who reads a lot of graphic novels, but I really struggle to get into manga for whatever reason.
This one pulled me in ok. Not eI'm one of those people who reads a lot of graphic novels, but I really struggle to get into manga for whatever reason.
This one pulled me in ok. Not enough that I feel compelled to pick up the next volume, but enough that I had no problem finishing it. Maybe it was the setting (I've traveled to Mongolia, so the Silk Road/nomad setting is familiar to me). Maybe it was the arranged marriage plot element. Maybe it was the relationship building between the characters.
If you haven't cracked this, it's black and white. There were a few times when I had trouble distinguishing between characters at first glance, but closer examination of clothes, etc. helped me out.
Maybe I say it too much, but I have this thing in my head about not liking Historical Fiction. Which keeps being disproved, over and over again.
SharoMaybe I say it too much, but I have this thing in my head about not liking Historical Fiction. Which keeps being disproved, over and over again.
Sharon Draper was the Lacey Loves to Read feature author of 2020. Which was the last big community event before the Weirds. One of the events surrounding Draper's visit was a book discussion group for 9-12 year-olds about this book, which I hosted.
What stood out to me when I read this book was the characters. Stella and her family are specific, and I felt for them. I also appreciated seeing the ways the Black community necessarily supported each other in their part of their small town. Cars and screens have driven us farther and farther from our direct physical neighbors.
We should all read more books that force us to face the ugliness of racism....more
One of the first books to come out describing the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue, written by a middle school author I've been watching for years.
I'm always looOne of the first books to come out describing the 2018 Thai Cave Rescue, written by a middle school author I've been watching for years.
I'm always looking for books that tell true, exciting stories, in a way that is accessible to a middle school audience. So when I saw this existed, it was a no-brainer to slide it into my middle school visit tour list.
As other reviews will tell you, this book isn't perfect. But I appreciate Aronson's inclusion of the ten-page afterword which goes into detail about how the provenance of the book. It's well-researched, given the constraints Aronson was working with.
This story has drawn some comparison with the Chilean Miner Accident story of 2010, which Aronson also authored a book about. As someone who's done a fair amount of caving (in a totally tourist capacity), it tugs on me a bit when some draw that comparison. The miners were working. There not by their own choice. These soccer players were in that cave strictly for fun, and by choice.
When I talked about this book with the middle schoolers, I described one of my own minor adventures going into a cave, and then briefly revealed the ripped-from-the-headlinesness of this book.
It's a great story, respectfully told. I hope that some day one of the kids who lived through the experience writes their own book, aimed at a middle school audience....more
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