Small, David. (2009) Stitches: A Memoir.
5Q, 5P, JS
Illustrator David Small uses the graphic novel format to write about his turbulent boyhood. David grew up in Detroit with an older brother, distant father and abusive mother. His father is a radiology doctor and experiments on David using radiation to cure his ailments not really knowing the full affects of the radiation on his son. His father escapes from his marriage and children by working late hours and being unavailable to David emotionally. David suffers daily verbal abusive taunts from his mother while using drawing as his escape. In his teens, David is physically scarred by the removal of a tumor in his neck caused by the radiation experiments and in the process losses his ability to speak effectively.
Luckily David Small leaves home and becomes an accomplished illustrator. The affects of his childhood are vividly illustrated and relayed to the reader through Small's simple sketches. The fact that it is a graphic novel with few words but so effectively portrays the emotion of his childhood is a great achievement in illustration. This is a story that will stay with you in a hauntingly sad way.
40 Developmental Assets: Internal Assets: resistance skills, positive view of personal future.
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