Scan barcode
kelly_e's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
4.0
Title: A First Time for Everything
Author: Dan Santat
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: February 28, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Relatable • Heartwarming • Sincere
📖 S Y N O P S I S
After being bullied in middle school, Dan has low expectation about everything, including the class trip to Europe with the same girls who love to make fun of him.
But during his travels, a series of firsts begin to change him - first Fanta, first fondue, and maybe even... first girlfriend?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled upon A First Time for Everything while exploring the 2023 National Book Award nominees in order to fulfill a prompt for a reading challenge. Chosen as a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, this graphic memoir is a relatable coming-of-age story.
Dan Santat captures the highly relatable awkwardness of middle and high school, a universally challenging time for many young people, through a vulnerable account of a class trip he took as a teenager. With beautiful and meaningful artwork, he demonstrates the trails and tribulations of navigating the world, as well as the benefits of stepping outside of your comfort zone, and how a world of opportunity opens up when we do so. My heart definitely went out to Dan for the bullying he had to endure.
A First Time for Everything is a quick and nostalgic read, yet one that felt like I'd read before. It's a great reminder of how this time period in our lives doesn't define us, and would be a good book for young readers who have gone through bullying or felt self-conscious.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• middle schoolers
• travel enthusiasts
Author: Dan Santat
Genre: Graphic Memoir
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: February 28, 2023
T H R E E • W O R D S
Relatable • Heartwarming • Sincere
📖 S Y N O P S I S
After being bullied in middle school, Dan has low expectation about everything, including the class trip to Europe with the same girls who love to make fun of him.
But during his travels, a series of firsts begin to change him - first Fanta, first fondue, and maybe even... first girlfriend?
💭 T H O U G H T S
I stumbled upon A First Time for Everything while exploring the 2023 National Book Award nominees in order to fulfill a prompt for a reading challenge. Chosen as a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, this graphic memoir is a relatable coming-of-age story.
Dan Santat captures the highly relatable awkwardness of middle and high school, a universally challenging time for many young people, through a vulnerable account of a class trip he took as a teenager. With beautiful and meaningful artwork, he demonstrates the trails and tribulations of navigating the world, as well as the benefits of stepping outside of your comfort zone, and how a world of opportunity opens up when we do so. My heart definitely went out to Dan for the bullying he had to endure.
A First Time for Everything is a quick and nostalgic read, yet one that felt like I'd read before. It's a great reminder of how this time period in our lives doesn't define us, and would be a good book for young readers who have gone through bullying or felt self-conscious.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• middle schoolers
• travel enthusiasts
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying
Minor: Alcohol, Vomit, and Chronic illness
greenlivingaudioworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Vomit, Alcohol, Bullying, and Chronic illness
betweentheshelves's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
This is such a fantastic middle grade graphic novel about finding yourself, getting the courage to try new things, and gaining some independence. Based on Santat's own experiences in middle school traveling abroad, there's a lot that middle schoolers will relate to. Honestly, getting to do a trip abroad like this in middle school would have been kind of cool!
As expected, the illustrations are fantastic throughou. Santat uses a different color palette when focusing on past memories, and features some of the drawings he did when he was actually in middle school. It was just an overall great reading experience!
As expected, the illustrations are fantastic throughou. Santat uses a different color palette when focusing on past memories, and features some of the drawings he did when he was actually in middle school. It was just an overall great reading experience!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Chronic illness, and Bullying
Minor: Vomit
daisycakesco's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Vomit
More...