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sizrobe's review against another edition
4.0
Somewhat tragic tale of a whiz kid from a child trivia show from wartime radio, leading into television's infancy. The story is told through the viewpoint of his child, who discovers the past via a series of scrapbooks.
panelparty's review against another edition
5.0
Read to catch up on IRCB 2019 Challenge
Read for Popsugar 2020 prompt: Three Word Title
I'm really glad I loved this so much, since I dropped a latte on it and will almost certainly be buying the library a new copy!
As a huge fan of game shows and trivia old and new, I was super excited to read this book. Though it ended up being a lot less about a quiz show and about the author's own father, I found it really tender and could really relate to his feelings about not really knowing his own family.
My one gripe is the way author draws himself with no eyelids - he appears to be perpetually in a state of wide-eyed WTF even when those around him appear relatively normal. Maybe this was an intentional stylistic choice, but his weird face took me out of the story a bit.
Read for Popsugar 2020 prompt: Three Word Title
I'm really glad I loved this so much, since I dropped a latte on it and will almost certainly be buying the library a new copy!
As a huge fan of game shows and trivia old and new, I was super excited to read this book. Though it ended up being a lot less about a quiz show and about the author's own father, I found it really tender and could really relate to his feelings about not really knowing his own family.
My one gripe is the way author draws himself with no eyelids - he appears to be perpetually in a state of wide-eyed WTF even when those around him appear relatively normal. Maybe this was an intentional stylistic choice, but his weird face took me out of the story a bit.
dsullivan's review against another edition
3.0
I feel like this book was made more for the author than for his readers, but I enjoyed the historical aspect of the Quiz Kids show it related.
snchard's review against another edition
3.0
The meandering storyline was more informative than empathetic, and I had hoped for more of the latter. It was very easy to put myself in the author's shoes, becoming more invested in the story with each revelation of history, but for such a personal subject, the pages were largely lacking emotion, so there was a significant mental/emotional disconnect happening as I read. The art was good, but again, lacked emotion. I feel like I learned something, starting from a place of near zero knowledge about Joel Kupperman's historical significance, but also that I could never be satisfied with the information given and gleaned.
ljrinaldi's review against another edition
4.0
I like to think I know all about radio int he 1930-1950s. I have listened to, and still listen to, recordings of shows gone by, such as the Jack Benny Show, or Burns and Allen, or the Loan Ranger. And yet, I have never heard of the Quiz Kids, of which this story is about.
The author does, what good children do, and try to find out their family history before it is swallowed up by time, and memory. In this case, Michael, is trying to find how his father, who was a child prodigy on a game show during the war years, went from those heights of fame, to a reluctant, and introvert teacher. Micheal does as much research as he can on his own, but also talks to his father about it. There is deep pain from being a performing monkey, and it is something he has carried with him all his life.
The pictures, drawn from photographs, depict the time of his father's childhood. When he draws in the present time, the pictures still keep that angular style, so that his father loks as though he came from a photograph.
It is a moving and sad biography, as sometimes happens when children lose their childhood due to their stage mother's ambition to get them out there. In doing the work, his son learns about himself.
Fairly quick read, but sad and poignant.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
The author does, what good children do, and try to find out their family history before it is swallowed up by time, and memory. In this case, Michael, is trying to find how his father, who was a child prodigy on a game show during the war years, went from those heights of fame, to a reluctant, and introvert teacher. Micheal does as much research as he can on his own, but also talks to his father about it. There is deep pain from being a performing monkey, and it is something he has carried with him all his life.
The pictures, drawn from photographs, depict the time of his father's childhood. When he draws in the present time, the pictures still keep that angular style, so that his father loks as though he came from a photograph.
It is a moving and sad biography, as sometimes happens when children lose their childhood due to their stage mother's ambition to get them out there. In doing the work, his son learns about himself.
Fairly quick read, but sad and poignant.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
hidinginstacks's review against another edition
4.0
I've never heard of The Quiz Kid before this graphic memoir.
I'm sure Joel Kupperman wouldn't mind, but I found myself wondering why I didn't. Thanks to my parents, I have the television habits of a senior citizen. I can recount episodes of Leave It to Beaver by heart, and get really excited when I hear Gunsmoke coming on. I can recount most classic TV programs and some radio programs...but The Quiz Kid?
I liked this. It seemed very much as personal as it was something to be shared. It's difficult to read about people who've had childhoods far from perfect. Michael seems to want to uncover the most traumatizing past of his father, which sorta reveals why he is the way he is. I appreciated this book from a historical perspective, but it also seemed like I was "invading" in a life of a man who clearly did not want to relive his days of being a child prodigy.
It's a quick read, but one that is worth the time given. If anything, you'll learn more about what happened to the once very famous Quiz Kid. At times I felt I could relate to Joel. No one wants to be the obnoxious know-it-all that all the other kids hate. While I never rebelled outwardly (like Joel, I am adverse to conflict)--but did so in other ways. Purposely losing the spelling bee. Not trying at all in school like I should. Is being gifted worth the trouble if you suffer from bullying from your peers? From people always expecting the most of you? You can no longer be normal, and Joel lost his childhood trying to please his parents, his peers, and show business.
I'm sure Joel Kupperman wouldn't mind, but I found myself wondering why I didn't. Thanks to my parents, I have the television habits of a senior citizen. I can recount episodes of Leave It to Beaver by heart, and get really excited when I hear Gunsmoke coming on. I can recount most classic TV programs and some radio programs...but The Quiz Kid?
I liked this. It seemed very much as personal as it was something to be shared. It's difficult to read about people who've had childhoods far from perfect. Michael seems to want to uncover the most traumatizing past of his father, which sorta reveals why he is the way he is. I appreciated this book from a historical perspective, but it also seemed like I was "invading" in a life of a man who clearly did not want to relive his days of being a child prodigy.
It's a quick read, but one that is worth the time given. If anything, you'll learn more about what happened to the once very famous Quiz Kid. At times I felt I could relate to Joel. No one wants to be the obnoxious know-it-all that all the other kids hate. While I never rebelled outwardly (like Joel, I am adverse to conflict)--but did so in other ways. Purposely losing the spelling bee. Not trying at all in school like I should. Is being gifted worth the trouble if you suffer from bullying from your peers? From people always expecting the most of you? You can no longer be normal, and Joel lost his childhood trying to please his parents, his peers, and show business.
carroq's review against another edition
3.0
Certainly an interesting read about someone who became a child celebrity through a radio quiz show. I felt kind of disconnected the whole time I was reading this book though. None of the people/characters really captured my attention. Art seemed appropriate for the nature of the book.
taylorstakeoff's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this, it felt very Fun Home esque, except for it was much more about the father than the child. It read quickly, and was something I knew nothing about since it was far before my time. Very interesting personal subject matter.
bethnellvaccaro's review against another edition
4.0
This is a sad and gripping memoir that doesn’t resolve neatly or at all but that reflects real life.
jeremyhornik's review against another edition
4.0
A very closely observed story, answering the question of 'Why was my father unable to have a normal relationship with me?' with a carefully researched history of his experiences as a celebrity Quiz Kid during his childhood and adolescence. A good read for stage parents and people who would pursue fame for their children. Plus, dryly funny. Michael Kupperman is a great cartoonist with a sharp sense of the absurd. This book helped me understand where some of that sense of the absurd came from.