Written by: Jarrett Krosoczka
Published by: Graphix, 2018
ISBN: 978-0-545-90247-2
Plot Summary
In Hey, Kiddo, Jarret Krosoczka tells the story of childhood. He begins with how his grandparents met, and how his grandfather went from upselling ties from a department store to opening his own piping factory. Krosoczka tells about his mother's strained relationship with her own mother and about her addiction, which led to him living with his grandparents. As a child, Krosoczka struggles to understand why he can't see his mother more often, but as a teenager, he becomes angry with her for never being there for him. He receives a letter from the father he never knew and eventually ends up building a relationship with him and his family.
Critical Analysis
The main character in Hey, Kiddo is the author himself, Jarrett Krosoczka. The story is unique because it is a memoir in a graphic novel form written for young adults. Because it is a memoir, the characters in the book are very realistic (because they are real people). You are able to see the journeys of several characters throughout the book. Jarrett grows into a young man and the reader is able to see the way he changes along the way. When he's young, he yearns to see his mother, but after years of being let down by her and likely partly as the result of becoming a moody teen, he becomes angry with her for never being there for him and for choosing drugs over him, evidence of how hard it is to truly understand addiction and the fact that it isn't a choice.
Jarrett's grandmother, Shirley, is an interesting character. We learn that she was an alcoholic and her drinking led to some of the tension that existed between her and Leslie, Jarrett's mother. While often appearing crass and blunt, it's obvious that on the inside she's a very loving person. At one point, she tells Jarrett that art is a waste of time and that he should focus on more realistic pursuits. This was likely a result of her growing up during the Great Depression and always having a sense that being financially secure is more important than following your dreams. But, she eventually lets him apply to the Rhode Island School of Design and is just as upset as he is when he does not get in initially. Shirley is a good example of a character with depth and is a realistic character because of her flaws.
The plotline and events in the story are true to life, largely because they are the actual events of Jarret Krosoczka's life. He discusses what it was like for him to go to pre-school, how he made friends in his neighborhood and at school, as well as his grade school and high school years. He includes events and emotions that will resonate, particularly with young adult readers. He is upset when his grandparents want to send him to a private high school because he wants to go to the public school where all his friends will be.
There are surprising elements in the story, one example of this is when Jarrett decides to drive to his father's house to meet him. His father isn't home but he meets a woman who says she's never heard of him. Jarrett is crushed because he assumes this is his father's new wife and he thinks that he never told her about him. After he returns home, his father calls to explain that the woman was his sister-in-law and that he had told his wife about Jarrett. He invites him to his home to meet his family.
The setting is recognizable as the very recent past, and the events are similar enough that they will not overtake the plot of the story. There are no major historical events mentioned that would date it. Overall, the feelings and themes mentioned will resonate with readers growing up today.
The book definitely carries Krosoczka's style throughout its entirety. The drawings are shades of black, white, and grey with orange being the only color integrated into them. He explains in a note at the end of the book that the orange was inspired by his grandfather. He always wore a pocket square when he dressed up and when he died, Krosoczka's toddler daughter claimed a burnt orange pocket square and kept is as her security blanket. The orange hues in the drawings are a tribute to his grandfather and that orange pocket square. Krosoczka's preferred art form is the comic, which is something that he stays true to. His art teacher encouraged him not to include any cartoons in his portfolio for Rhode Island School of Design because they would be looking for work from observation. However, he felt that by not including any, he wouldn't be staying true to himself. It is clear that this is an art form he loves and the pictures add so much to the story. In the chapter where his mother is making bad choices or he is having a nightmare, the pictures are darker and ominous. The only illustration in the book with colors other than orange is a recreation of the crayon-drawing the author drew of his family in preschool.
In addition to the cartoon drawings, each chapter opens with photos of actual mementos from Krosoczka's life. There are letters, photographs, drawings, newspaper clippings, and more things that help to give a more personalized sense of his life throughout the book. He also explains that the yellow pineapple print on the chapter title pages is inspired by wallpaper that his grandmother loved. This book is not just the story of his life, it is a record of his love for his grandparents.
Awards Won
2018- National Book Award Finalist
Review Excerpt
From Kirkus Starred Reviews, published October 25, 1999
"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."
Connections
Jarrett Krosoczka has a series of "Draw Every Day" videos linked on his website. Watch the videos and practice drawing like he does.
Listen to the NPR interview in which Krosoczka discusses his childhood and the book.
No comments:
Post a Comment