Welcome to Litsy!

I loved Reynolds‘ Long Way Down when I read that, so when someone in here posted about this, I knew that I had to read it

Told in three sentences and 300 illustrations. Set during the pandemic, a young man feels isolated from his family as he watches his mum looking at the TV, his sister on her mobile and his father lying coughing in another room

I loved Jason Griffin‘s illustrations. Using mostly black, grey & white, but also red, blue & green

#12Booksof2023 My September pick is Jason Reynolds‘ Graphic Novel about 2020. Told in “Three breaths, three long sentences“. I wouldn‘t recommend this to everyone I know, but going back to lockdown, George Floyd‘s murder, and everything that went along with that moment, through this incredible piece of art really worked for me because it was experiential, immersive and transporting, but quick, so you don‘t linger in that pain too long. @Andrew65

An of the moment record of 2020 that is multilayered, beautiful and thoughtful. It is heavy, but still leaves the reader room to breathe.

This is written for the people who experienced this, not for those who will come later. I was reminded of reading my parents copy of Be Here Now growing up. I found pages that spoke to me, I‘d even love to read it again as an adult, but my initial reaction was that I just didn‘t get why it was such a big deal.

I found Oxygen Mask by Jason Reynolds incredibly moving. It's a brutally honest account of all the societal difficulties we've been through over the last few years from the viewpoint of a child. He does this skillfully using 3 long sentences, in brief pieces over the stunning artwork by Jason Griffin. It's a stunning format and thought-provoking piece of artwork from both men.

I liked this book so much I decided to do a yarn pairing. Not the easiest combo, but I found this colourway - "Harvest Time" - at Blue Barn Fiber. #litsycrafters

Set over a moment, or a day, or 2020, or a generation. This is a glimpse into what is like to not be able to breathe, and about searching for oxygen in the tiny moments of life and family.

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

I really don‘t need to review this. It‘s a gorgeous, devastating, hopeful depiction of 2020 through the eyes of a black youngster in the US.

Three breaths of text by Jason Reynolds. Stunning art work by Jason Griffin. Breath-taking all round.

Go buy it. But buy the US version (tagged below) for the more in-keeping title and cover.

I was so thrilled to win the Instagram drawing that reynoldsngriffin had for a copy of the British edition of “Ain‘t Burned All the Bright”.
It is signed by the incredibly talented artist, Jason Griffin! I actually got emotional when I held the package from Brooklyn in my hands. #treasure

So this was on the new children‘s books shelf when I went into work this morning. I might not read it on the way home though.

It‘s a very beautiful, very heavy object - but the US title and cover were so much… more.