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Hey, Kiddo
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
147 posts | 145 read | 83 to read
In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what's going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.
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review
Maggiepesa
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Pickpick

This book follows the true emotionally story of a boy who's parents are stuck in the cycle of addiction. It shows how drawing was able to save the boys life and healed him from his childhood trauma.
The pictures are dark when the story gets emotional and raw, then brightens up as the story gets lighter and the main character is able to heal.
Favorite quote, “Stories keep memories alive and people real to us.” It can bring peace in memories.

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booklover3258
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

My review of this book can be found on my YouTube VLog at:

https://youtu.be/szjgxaGMnds

Enjoy!

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Bookwormjillk
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

Really loved this coming of age graphic memoir about a kid being raised by his grandparents in Massachusetts. It was a great story and since the author graduated high school the year before me it was nostalgic as well.

Reggie Oh man, I still remember the grandparents taking him to Disneyland before they tell him the truth about his mother and how he‘s on the crouch just sobbing. Ughh. I loved this one. 7mo
Bookwormjillk @Reggie yes and when they told him they wanted him to take art lessons 😢😢😢 7mo
68 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Lauredhel
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Wrap-up post for Wicked Words February. Four graphic novel finds, and a novel. All pretty good books this time! I'd say my pick is Ghost Roast. Recommended for teenagers of all ages.

@AsYouWish #WickedWords

AsYouWish Yay!!! Good job!!!!💙💙💙💙 10mo
33 likes1 comment
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Lauredhel
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Surprise 1940s flashback in this graphic memoir about a child dealing with parental addiction. And that's February #WickedWords completed!

 @AsYouWish

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britt_brooke
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Recently challenged in our county (a Nashville suburb), and kept! 🎉 This graphic memoir is about a kid who deals with a parent‘s drug addiction. It‘s honest, thoughtful and relatable. Lovely art as well. There are kids out there who need this book; to know they‘re not alone.

#RightToRead

Suet624 Yay on the successful challenge. 1y
dabbe Sooooo glad one gets to STAY on the list. #readbannedbooks #iteachbannedbooks 🧡💜💛 1y
TracyReadsBooks This is a phenomenal book and an important one for young readers to have access to. So glad to hear it was kept. 1y
See All 8 Comments
Sharpeipup Congrats on the win! 1y
britt_brooke @dabbe 🎉🎉 1y
britt_brooke @TracyReadsBooks Agree! It‘s fantastic. 🫶🏼 1y
britt_brooke @Sharpeipup Thank you! 🫶🏼 1y
74 likes8 comments
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Leftcoastzen
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

Thanks to @britt_brooke for putting this back on my radar. Great book! Kids who have similar issues & friends that don‘t could gain sympathy & empathy through this book. I remember reading things in my young life ,so important, I thought, wow,someone sees the world like I do.People that try to ban this either have a political agenda or are trying to return us to a sanitized 1950s past that we know didn‘t really exist anyway.stop banning Books!

britt_brooke Thank you for bringing more attention to this amazing book!! 🫶🏼 1y
britt_brooke And you nailed it, the banning - at least on my county - is absolutely political. It‘s sickening. 1y
54 likes2 comments
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britt_brooke
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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This book is currently being challenged in my Tennessee county. Reading it so I can properly fight for it‘s retention, and it‘s SO GOOD so far. I‘m so tired of this shit, y‘all.

#RightToRead

S3V3N It‘s such a good book! 1y
KathyWheeler This book was considered for my university‘s Common Read Common World program last year or the year before, so I read it. I liked it and saw nothing I‘d object to my kids reading about. 1y
Leftcoastzen Yes, what you said !😡 1y
See All 17 Comments
AllDebooks It enrages me that books are still being banned. Good for you for standing up for this one. It's crucial children have stories they can identify with so they can feel seen. Discussions around these subjects are essential at any age. Addiction is so hard on family members too. It should not be blanketed over and ignored at all. 1y
Tamra My kids really enjoyed it! 1y
Tamra But fairy tales with all kinds of violence & intolerance are okay to have in libraries. 🙄 1y
britt_brooke @S3V3N @KathyWheeler @Leftcoastzen It‘s so frustrating. So far, we‘ve had a good track record of retaining the challenged books. Thankfully, most of our school board members are reasonable. There are 3 that are constantly trying to stir up shit. 1y
britt_brooke @AllDebooks All of this!! 1y
britt_brooke @Tamra Exactly!! 1y
KathyWheeler @britt_brooke This is so aggravating! If you don‘t want to read a book, don‘t read it; if you don‘t want your children to read a book, don‘t let them; but that is where your right to determine what others read ends! (edited) 1y
britt_brooke @KathyWheeler EXACTLY. Kids don‘t have to borrow anything they don‘t want to. It‘s really quite simple. 1y
S3V3N @britt_brooke I hate to hear that. I will say, this book kept our students engaged and sparked great discussions in the classroom. 1y
britt_brooke @S3V3N That makes me happy! 1y
KathyWheeler @britt_brooke Yes! No one is forcing them to check out books. In fact, when I was a kid (actually even as an adult) the bigger deal people make about wanting to ban a book, the more likely I am to read it. That‘s why I read and loved The Poet X a couple of years ago. I probably wouldn‘t have read it at all without some crazy, unhinged people making a big deal about it. So these people may accomplish the opposite of what they want. 1y
britt_brooke @KathyWheeler This right here. ⬆️ These unhinged people are absolutely selling books for these authors, but are too blinded to see it. I‘m buying every single one as are many others including students. (also, The Poet X was sooo good) 1y
KathyWheeler @britt_brooke It really was. I read Gender Queer for the same reason and it had not been on my radar at all. They are expanding my reading! 😄 (edited) 1y
britt_brooke @KathyWheeler YES!! 😂🫶🏼So much good can come from the nonsense.. 1y
87 likes4 stack adds17 comments
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Erin.Elizabeth10
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

“It is said that books save lives, but I also say that empty sketchbooks save lives too.” This is a fantastic memoir graphic novel about a boy, Jarrett, growing up in Massachusetts. He is raised by his grandparents because his mom is addicted to drugs and his father is estranged. It‘s a hard but also beautiful story of a very challenging childhood and how art saved his life in many ways. Definitely recommend!

19 likes1 stack add
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Christine
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

What a great graphic memoir about a tough childhood, a complicated family, and the early development of an artistic career. Krosoczka drew (in both senses of the word!) his characters so vividly and I loved the art and colors. Several substantial notes sections at the end deepened the reading experience for me.

jlhammar Loved this one! 2y
Christine @jlhammar So good! 💙 2y
Reggie I loved this one and the page that kills me is the one right after they come back from Disneyland when they finally let him know his mother is an addict. 2y
Christine @Reggie Aww yes!! Bawling in their arms. 😢 (Happy New Year to you!) 2y
Reggie Happy New Year to you as well! 2y
47 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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S3V3N
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this book. A memoir written in comic form. The story was amazing! Ja had a rough beginning and it was told in a way not typically done.

Reggie The page right after they come back from Disneyland and explain to him that his mother is an addict and he‘s just bawling kills me. 2y
S3V3N @Reggie I agree. I had the audiobook and hardcover. (I do that sometimes). The picture and narrator got me. 2y
22 likes2 comments
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ImperfectCJ
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Pickpick

I read Hey, Kiddo for a book discussion group I'm co-facilitating at a unique and incredible school that serves children impacted by homelessness. If I think too hard about their situations, it can be overwhelming, but if I focus on them as children/young people, it's just a lot of fun, much like this book. I appreciate the message in this memoir: that even people who make bad choices or who have rough edges can love us deeply, and vice versa.

jlhammar Wonderful book! 3y
55 likes1 comment
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Justintroylarue
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Pickpick

This was an extremely addicting but a little harsh book with the character feeling like his family is more broken the glass after a 200 foot drop there‘s rarely a book that would be higher one my favourites then this one

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m0rgan
Pickpick

A denotation for kiddo is “used as a familiar form of address you'll be OK” which is one of the literal meanings for saying “kiddo.” The connotation for “kiddo” in this book could be represented Jarrett being a teenager and nothing is really “ok” in his life. “He‘s going through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible”

m0rgan + which is true as he‘s had to go through his mom being an addict, his father being a mystery to him, and his very opinionated grandparents. 3y
3 likes1 comment
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Rachiiebookdragon
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Pickpick

A interesting memoir. Read for some prompts for #52bookclubreadingchallenge2022 4/5

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AsYouWish
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

Oh my stars!!! Let me start by saying I like graphic novels - but really only read them because my students like them. This one however won me over!!! I actually listened to it as an audiobook as I read parts of it. The audio added a bit of flair to it and I ended up so emotional over a graphic novel - crying in my office at school emotional!! I highly recommend this book - it is a quick read with a lot of heart.

💙💙💙💙

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underground_bks
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

My childhood self felt so seen by this moving graphic memoir about family addiction, parental absence, and what helps us survive childhoods out of our control and create happy and healthy adulthoods all our own. For Jarrett Krosoczka, it was his love of drawing. For me, it was my love of reading! Highly recommended.

Watch my TikTok review: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMRMgkTWp/

underground_bks Read for August Bookland Challenge: Graphic Novel—5 Star Prediction 3y
24 likes1 comment
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Kenyazero
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

Jarrett shares his experiences growing up with his grandparents after his mom lost herself in drugs and prison. This memoir recountd his childhood and takes a hard look at the complex emotions that he faced. I listened to the audiobook for a while before I realized it was a graphic novel, and the audio naration adds so much to this book. It's also fun that he got his whole family involved in the audiobook! Content warnings for trauma and addiction

Reggie Oof. The day after Disneyland where they tell him the truth. I really, really liked this book. 4y
Kenyazero @Reggie agreed. That looked rough. This book was very well executed. 4y
20 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Kenyazero
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Thanks for the tag, @Mavey ! #3WordReviews

Difficult Trauma Capsule

(I don't think capsule counts since it's a noun, but rules were made to be adjusted)

@batsy @crimson613 want to play?

mavey Thanks for playing! 4y
14 likes1 comment
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Caryl
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

I had a feeling this one would blow me away. What an honest, beautiful memoir. From the Author‘s Note: “It is said that books save lives, but I also say that empty sketchbooks save lives too. I filled up many, and there is no doubt they saved mine.” -JJK

27 likes1 stack add
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Cortg
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AkashaVampie Great job sweet with the bingo! 4y
ElizaMarie Yay for bingo!!!! Also it looks like you read some really great books! 4y
Cortg @AkashaVampie @ElizaMarie Thanks! I needed some short books with everything going on! 4y
AkashaVampie @Cortg ur welcome sweetie 4y
32 likes4 comments
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LaraS
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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I love how the author combines actual ephemera from his past within the graphics. Wonderfully told memoir.

8 likes1 stack add
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WhimsyandRigor
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

This graphic memoir was a National Book Award Finalist and for good reason. The story is raw and honest and the author‘s notes at the end were what clinched this as an excellent book for me.

The author deals with family and drug addiction and friendship in a refreshingly honest way that is, by turns, bittersweet and then frustrating and, finally, uplifting.

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tak.ogita
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Mehso-so

A really deep story about child custody and losing a parent early in your life. Growing up without parents and someone who really takes care of you. Overall this was a really good book, i just didnt like the art style

MrsBabki What didn‘t you like about the art? I often feel like that, but loved this one. I loved the actually copies of real letters. 5y
tak.ogita @MrsBabki the art looked a bit messy, almost like a child finger painting. It wasnt really clear for me and some part I didnt get what was being shown to me. 5y
MrsBabki AHHHH. Thanks for writing back. 5y
3 likes3 comments
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QueenReaderP
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QueenReaderP
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QueenReaderP
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A very relevant read for young and old!

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hilded
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Pickpick

Picked up this graphic memoir from #Libby by chance, and very glad I did! Really good memoir about the author‘s upbringing. The illustrations and backstory were strong. Good one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Tanisha_A Nice review! It's on my list too. 🙂 5y
hilded @Tanisha_A Thanks :) I hope you‘ll enjoy it 🤞🏻 5y
46 likes2 comments
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MeganAnn
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

After some busy weeks on deadline at work, I finally got a chance to sit down with this memoir graphic novel over the weekend.

The black & white style with washes and pops of burnt orange fits the tone of the story beautifully. I enjoyed how he showed both the struggles the family went through as well as how his grandparents and his art saved him from a fate similar to his mother‘s. Axton picked this up as soon as I finished and is loving it too!

AmyG I really liked this book, too. 5y
Megabooks Great book! 5y
See All 7 Comments
monalyisha This one is on my list! I grew up in the same city as the author & even went to the same high school (& had some of the same teachers)! 😮 5y
alisiakae Maya is the one that first introduced me to this one, she was flipping through it at B&N and I asked if she would wait until I read it first, so we could discuss it together. Glad you both like it! 5y
MeganAnn @4thhouseontheleft this one led to a great discussion with Axton. 5y
MeganAnn @monalyisha that‘s so cool! No authors came from the teeny rural town I grew up in... at least not so far. 5y
67 likes7 comments
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Night_Reader
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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Pickpick

4.5/5 🌟
A straightforward, honest & interesting memoir!

13 likes1 stack add
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Night_Reader
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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So true.

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lovelybookshelf
Hey, Kiddo | Jarrett J. Krosoczka
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#BoutofBooks book three is HEY, KIDDO by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and it's a tough one so far. This kid is going through a lot. 😥

#readathon #graphicnovel #memoir

Reggie I cried my eyes out on the page right after he gets back from Disneyland. 5y
lovelybookshelf @Reggie oh my gosh, same! 5y
12 likes2 comments