A first book review of the year...

 

Image copied from Goodreads

So, for my first book review of the year, I'd like to talk about 2023's National Book Award winner for Young People's Literature, the graphic memoir, A first time for everything by Dan Santat. This memoir for middle grade readers, which are readers aged 8-13 years, is a story about Dan's summer adventures in Europe. After enduring a very embarrassing and painful experience at a middle school assembly the end of his eighth grade year, Dan is left dreading high school, or having to ever go back to school at all really. His mother, however, signs him up to go on a trip to Europe with the very teacher who set him up to give that terrifying speech in front of the entire junior high. As you can imagine, he is not optimistic this trip abroad is going to go well. But what unfolds is a story not just of self-discovery but of first love. Santat, in his author's note, even credits the kernel of the idea for this graphic memoir coming from questions one of his daughters asked him about who his first love was. 

As a Gen Xer, I could very much relate to Santat's memories of life in 1989 when the story takes place. Like him, I was at that awkward stage of life between junior high and high school. I still remember some of the horrors I endured as a shy teen trying to stay small, invisible to avoid social catastrophe. Unfortunately, I wasn't always successful. Sometimes because kids are just mean, sometimes from the actions of well-intentioned but clueless adults. However, this is simply my perception of the story as an adult looking back. For a kid in this age range today, I can only imagine that despite the large gap in years between then and now, the experiences and friendships that Dan narrates in the book are still very universal. In fact, going through some of the reviews on Amazon, it was nice to read that the boys who asked for their parents to buy this book devoured it in a few days time, giving up time playing video games to instead read. 

But one of the joys of reading this book is the fact that it appeals to boys as well as girls. That it is a memoir not only of words but of amazing artwork that visually takes its reader on this journey with Dan. As you read it, you often forget when it is taking place and instead are immersed in what is taking place. It is a very talented artist indeed who can engage their audience so thoroughly that they forget everything else in the pages of a book. Another thing I loved about its execution, was the fact that not only were there pictures of Dan and the real friends he traveled with in the back of the book, but there was also a picture of a mixed tape with a QR code that readers could scan to listen to the music from the tape as they read. I did this as I read the last half of the book. It allowed for a more fun and immersive experience as well as even more of a trip down memory lane as I listened to hits from Madonna, Michael Jackson, Talking Heads, and the Cure to name a few.

The honor of winning the National Book Award is well deserved, even though this past year's shortlist of finalists was impressive and diverse. This memoir holds its own among the other contenders for the prize because it speaks to the heart of anyone who reads it about the universal experiences of growing up, finding one's place, and discovering who we are and who we want to be as we move into adulthood. It spans the gaps between generations both young and old and, I think, will be a graphic memoir that will stand the test of time. I look forward to reading and seeing more stories and artwork from this remarkable talent and I encourage anyone who has a young person, maybe even one who is a reluctant reader, to check out this book. It will be well worth your time.

For those interested below is a link of Dan Santat reading a excerpt of his book at the National Book Awards ceremony as well as a link for his acceptance speech when he was announced as the 2023 winner. 

Dan Santat Reading His Work 

Dan Santat National Book Award Acceptance Speech

My next review will be of a contemporary young adult novel set to come out in March 2024 called Breathing Underwater by Abbey Lee Nash. 

 

Description

In this slice-of-life, sensitively written novel, a teen girl grapples with a sudden epilepsy diagnosis, all while figuring out a new crush and an uncertain future.

Tess lives for swimming. In the water, she’s truly alive. It’s the rest of her life—one of demanding grades, anxious parents, and a newly distant best friend—where she’s holding her breath.

Until tragedy strikes. Suddenly, Tess’s health and her future are full of uncertainty. Her summer before senior year is now one of doctor visits, missed swim practices, and a job stuck behind a counter—not sitting high in the lifeguard chair like every summer before. Instead, her spot goes to new guy Charlie. Although his messy hair and laid-back demeanor catch Tess’s attention, this isn’t really the time. She’s in danger of losing the very college swim scholarship she’s worked so hard to secure. She’s got to focus on getting back in the pool—and on getting back to herself.

Lyrically and sensitively written, Breathing Underwater is a slice-of-life story with depth, exploring topics like epilepsy, inclusivity in student athletics, changing friendships, and the power of love and community. With warmth and wit, Abbey Lee Nash has crafted a moving portrait of a teen girl’s journey to self-acceptance and life on her own terms. 

This description and cover image was copied from NetGalley where I was generously provided an advanced reader copy in return for an honest review.