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A review by popthebutterfly
Maybe an Artist: A Graphic Memoir by Liz Montague
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.0
Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book: Maybe An Artist
Author: Liz Montague
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Black MC with dyslexia, Black and other POC characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, memoir
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Genre: MG Graphic Novel Memoir
Age Relevance: 12+ (war, islamaphobia, anxiety, HP reference)
Explanation of Above: War is mentioned and there are moments of Islamaphobia. There are also scenes that show anxiety. There is one HP reference that spans 2 pages/4 panels.
Publisher: Random House Studio
Pages: 176
Synopsis: When Liz Montague was a senior in college, she wrote to the New Yorker, asking them why they didn't publish more inclusive comics. The New Yorker wrote back asking if she could recommend any. She responded: yes, me.
Those initial cartoons in the New Yorker led to this memoir of Liz's youth, from the age of five through college--how she navigated life in her predominantly white New Jersey town, overcame severe dyslexia through art, and found the confidence to pursue her passion. Funny and poignant, Liz captures the age-old adolescent questions of "who am I?" and "what do I want to be?" with pitch-perfect clarity and insight.
This brilliant, laugh-out-loud graphic memoir offers a fresh perspective on life and social issues and proves that you don't need to be a dead white man to find success in art.
Review: For the most part I liked this book a lot. I loved seeing the author’s journey with her art and all of the throwbacks to 90s kids/early 00s kids things. I liked seeing the character struggle with identity and figuring out what she wants to do and be in life, which I think would hit well with middle graders who are pressured to start thinking about that at their early age. I loved the artwork and the story was beautifully told.
The only issues I had with the book are that the Islamaphobic moments in it weren’t addressed to be wrong and there was a very unnecessary HP reference that participated in the Islamaphobic comments.
Verdict: It was good.
Book: Maybe An Artist
Author: Liz Montague
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3/5
Diversity: Black MC with dyslexia, Black and other POC characters
Recommended For...: middle grade readers, graphic novel, memoir
Publication Date: October 18, 2022
Genre: MG Graphic Novel Memoir
Age Relevance: 12+ (war, islamaphobia, anxiety, HP reference)
Explanation of Above: War is mentioned and there are moments of Islamaphobia. There are also scenes that show anxiety. There is one HP reference that spans 2 pages/4 panels.
Publisher: Random House Studio
Pages: 176
Synopsis: When Liz Montague was a senior in college, she wrote to the New Yorker, asking them why they didn't publish more inclusive comics. The New Yorker wrote back asking if she could recommend any. She responded: yes, me.
Those initial cartoons in the New Yorker led to this memoir of Liz's youth, from the age of five through college--how she navigated life in her predominantly white New Jersey town, overcame severe dyslexia through art, and found the confidence to pursue her passion. Funny and poignant, Liz captures the age-old adolescent questions of "who am I?" and "what do I want to be?" with pitch-perfect clarity and insight.
This brilliant, laugh-out-loud graphic memoir offers a fresh perspective on life and social issues and proves that you don't need to be a dead white man to find success in art.
Review: For the most part I liked this book a lot. I loved seeing the author’s journey with her art and all of the throwbacks to 90s kids/early 00s kids things. I liked seeing the character struggle with identity and figuring out what she wants to do and be in life, which I think would hit well with middle graders who are pressured to start thinking about that at their early age. I loved the artwork and the story was beautifully told.
The only issues I had with the book are that the Islamaphobic moments in it weren’t addressed to be wrong and there was a very unnecessary HP reference that participated in the Islamaphobic comments.
Verdict: It was good.