Starred review from September 19, 2022
While struggling to “create something from nothing,” Montague wonders as an adult, “Why do I do this?” She answers that question in this sincere graphic memoir debut by doing what comes naturally: drawing it out, and examining the motivations she discovered in her childhood leading up to her publication as one of the first Black female cartoonists to be featured in the New Yorker. Growing up post-9/11 as one of the few Black girls in Marlton, N.J., Montague struggled to see herself in visiting career day professionals (when a classmate asks which one she’d grow up to be, Montague replies, “None of them—they don’t have the right hair”). She uses art to overcome obstacles such as dyslexia and her classmates’ casual racism, as well as to contextualize the world around her. Embracing a sense of entrepreneurial spirit after first being paid for her art, she determinedly pursues art as a career. Told with a classic comic strip flair and divided into chapters that recount each life stage, Montague’s illustrations, rendered in a flat pastel color palette and paired with deadpan humor and insightful social commentary, crafts an inspiring journey of self-discovery, self-expression, and self-love. Ages 12–up. Agent: Wendi Gu, GreenbergerKids.
October 1, 2022
Gr 7 Up-This graphic-format memoir is told from the POV of Montague as an adult, looking back on her childhood and exploring how her life changed from grammar school through adulthood. She reflects back to her earliest days, when she was trying to figure out what she wanted to be when she grew up. Growing up as a Black girl with severe dyslexia, she spent time trying to find her voice as an artist while trying to break through barriers at the same time. The book is very effective in capturing the frustration and confusion of a young person dealing with a learning disorder and using her love of art to help her navigate reading. The cover, which puts a new spin on Rockwell's famous Triple Self-Portrait, grabs our attention right away, and the accomplished cartoons inside the book will hold the attention of even the most reluctant readers. The pace of this book takes its time until it ends quickly, with Montague's cartoons being published in the New Yorker, helping to pave the way for more inclusive comics. Montague's story is sometimes poignant but ultimately sweet and uplifting, and it will provide inspiration for young artists everywhere. VERDICT For fans of cartoons, true stories, overcoming odds, and women who carved out a unique place in the world.-Andrea Lipinski
Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.