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4.43 AVERAGE
4.43 AVERAGE
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism
Moderate: Cancer, Transphobia, Medical content
Minor: Ableism, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Trafficking
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
This was a really, really difficult read at times, because the racism and bullying that Myer dealt with all throughout their childhood and young adult years were so unbelievably brutal and cruel. But all of this must pale in comparison to how difficult it was to actually live those things, as Myer did; and the fact that they were able to make peace with themselves, their adoption, and the fact that there are some things (racist classmates and an uncaring administration) that can't be changed was admirable. I loved the portrayal of Myer's super supportive parents (including their awesome dad, who happily watches anime with them and takes them to conventions, even though it's not really his thing) and the way they found a safe space for themselves in anime and cartoons; admittedly, neither of those things are things that I'm into, but I could see this being a very relatable story for a teen who loves anime and manga.
Brutal, but also sweet (?), graphic memoir about an elder Millennial navigating their late 90s/early 2000s teenage wasteland.
So I think Sarah Myer (they/them) and me must be the exact same age cuz BOY DID THIS HIT HARD. I had forgotten - and this book made me horrifyingly REMEMBER - how that 1999/2000 high school business was like. But especially: how damningly socially retrogade we all were? Good Lord.
Myer was born in Korea, adopted by white parents in suburban/rural Maryland, and grows up to be super nerdy, quirky, anime-loving and gender non-conforming. They love drawing and are HUGE DORKS. Boy, did that hit hard too! Unfortunately, their surroundings are... well, middle America in 1999. AKA there's racism, homophobia, transphobia, just a bunch of toxic sludge sloshing around all over the place. Identity politics was just gaining steam, I would say, around those issues, and so it was, indeed, very normal to sling around "gay" as an insult. Confession: I remember one of my bffs, who was gay, once stopped me in my tracks in 2001 by being like, "you know, that's very hurtful". Teenage me was like [Pikachu surprised face] IT IS???? Gawd, I'm so embarrassed, still, about that. Thank you, [redacted], for tolerating my ignorance!!!
So Myer had, unfortunately, some very awful instances of bullying - and this memoir does a good job of both contextualizing that bullying, as well as reflecting on it with compassionate, adult distance. This memoir was also such a sweet, inspiring portrayal of (transracial) adoption gone RIGHT; something I really needed, after the horrors of We Were Once a Family. I really appreciated how Myer's parents ALWAYS had their back - the scene where they go to Otakon with their dad, just SINGLE TEAR.
So I think Sarah Myer (they/them) and me must be the exact same age cuz BOY DID THIS HIT HARD. I had forgotten - and this book made me horrifyingly REMEMBER - how that 1999/2000 high school business was like. But especially: how damningly socially retrogade we all were? Good Lord.
Myer was born in Korea, adopted by white parents in suburban/rural Maryland, and grows up to be super nerdy, quirky, anime-loving and gender non-conforming. They love drawing and are HUGE DORKS. Boy, did that hit hard too! Unfortunately, their surroundings are... well, middle America in 1999. AKA there's racism, homophobia, transphobia, just a bunch of toxic sludge sloshing around all over the place. Identity politics was just gaining steam, I would say, around those issues, and so it was, indeed, very normal to sling around "gay" as an insult. Confession: I remember one of my bffs, who was gay, once stopped me in my tracks in 2001 by being like, "you know, that's very hurtful". Teenage me was like [Pikachu surprised face] IT IS???? Gawd, I'm so embarrassed, still, about that. Thank you, [redacted], for tolerating my ignorance!!!
So Myer had, unfortunately, some very awful instances of bullying - and this memoir does a good job of both contextualizing that bullying, as well as reflecting on it with compassionate, adult distance. This memoir was also such a sweet, inspiring portrayal of (transracial) adoption gone RIGHT; something I really needed, after the horrors of We Were Once a Family. I really appreciated how Myer's parents ALWAYS had their back - the scene where they go to Otakon with their dad, just SINGLE TEAR.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
This graphic memoir chronicles the childhood and adolescence of author Sarah Myer, who struggled with anger and violent reactions as a result of the behaviors of her small-town classmates. Sarah, as a transracial adoptee, struggled to find herself and her voice in her small town. Her incredibly supportive parents couldn't shield her from the racist remarks and cruel behaviors of her peers; however, in working to unpack her anger and her feelings of loneliness in her teen years, Sarah eventually addressed her monstrous tendencies and was able to forge her own path.
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism