1. Stitches by David Small

Now an award-winning children’s illustrator and author, David Small grew up in a claustrophobic and terrifying family. His mother, Elizabeth, didn’t know how to express her rage at her family, and instead took to not talking to them. His father, Edward, was a Detroit physician who decided to “cure” David’s numerous sinus problems with x-rays. When he was eleven, a growth was detected on his neck, but a doctor told his parents that it was probably just a cyst. At fourteen, he went in for surgery to have it removed, and later found out that he had actually had cancer (a fact hidden by his parents for years) which may have been caused by his father exposing him to so many x-rays. He also couldn’t speak because some of his vocal cords had been removed.

Small tells his heartbreaking story in graphic novel, or comic book, format. The stark black and white drawings ooze with his anger, confusion, and hurt for his family. I have to admit that I am not a fan of graphic novels, but this doesn’t matter because his story is so powerful and compelling that you actually forget how you are reading his life story. It isn’t until he is fifteen, and starts to see a therapist, that Small’s life begins to change for the better. While most of the graphic novel explores his early life, he does write about leaving his family at the age of 16 and resolving issues with his mother later in life.

I read this when it first came out a few months ago and couldn’t stop thinking about it, so I decided to read it again. I don’t think Small’s story is over, and would love to see another book that details his later years and how he became a successful artist. Highly recommended, especially if you have never tried a graphic novel before.