I saw a TikTok where the author of a book had stitched a meeting of a local school board. They were proposing to ban the book because of foul language and depictions of drug abuse. This is a YA autobiographical graphic novel of the author’s life through the end of high school. The author is also the illustrator.
It starts with depictions of him as a child having nightmares; seeing his mother with several men; and, spending his night on the floor outside her room. The language is a child’s observation and perception. As adults we know what the scenes represent. The author’s illustration style is brushed ink drawing with no harsh lines, which contributes to the feeling that this is a story of the past.
He is sent to live with his grandparents but does not know why. He asks about his mother, only to be told that she is away; however, he does receive periodic letters. The letters are copied into the book. What follows is his journey through his teenage years, depicting such typical events as first friend, first fight, first girlfriend, first breakup, etc. He realizes during this time that he wants to be an artist, despite his grandparent’s indifference to his goals.
He eventually learns that his mother is in jail. His grandparents explain her drug abuse, criminal actions and subsequent legal consequences. The illustrations for this section include a couple of scenes of drug abuse, but because of the author’s use of the gray watercolor wash, the impact is softened.
Even though teens who read the book may not have had the experiences of the author, there is a familiarity to the scenes that will resonate with them; especially those who are going through similar situations with school, family, and worries about the present and future.
My observation about the stated concerns of the school board is that the cursing is normal in any family, and while the drug abuse is the catalyst to the path his life took, the story is about is life and journey.
I really connected emotionally with this book. It accurately captures the awkwardness of being a teenager and trying to find your place in the world. I believe both teens and adults will enjoy it.
This review only scratches the surface of the amount of story told. I could go write on and one because each chapter is rich with descriptions of events.