5 / 5 ⭐️'ˢ

“Hey, Kiddo” By Jarrett J. Krosoczka

📕 Edition: eBook & Audiobook

This was a recommended read from my ALA reading planner. I chose the audiobook format, which was a surprising delight. I was skeptical about experiencing a graphic novel through audio, but the narration was impeccable, pulling me into the story with vivid voices and emotions. I did also follow along in the ebook so that I could experience the artwork.

Krosoczka's memoir chronicles his turbulent childhood, growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and his two opinionated grandparents. The story unfolds with poignant artwork and honest, heartfelt narration.

As a kindergarten assignment asks Jarrett to draw a "normal" family with a mommy and a daddy, he struggles to make sense of his own complicated family situation. The journey of self-discovery through his art is touching. Only as a teenager does he begin to unravel the mysteries of his family's past.

This was a fun way to explore an addiction's impact on families and the resilience that can be found in the creative process. I’d recommend this book in any format, but the audiobook experience, surprisingly, adds a unique dimension to this touching narrative.