Welcome to Litsy!

This opens in 1981 with his white mother giving 6 year old Darrin The Talk, and ends in 2020 with him giving his own 6 year old son The Talk. For a GN, it‘s not a quick read, or an easy one, because the weight of 40 years of processing the ways in which racism and racially motivated behavior affect his life are fatiguing even just to read about. #blackhistorymonth

A Queer and BIPOC edition of Friday Reads on my booktube channel:
https://youtu.be/pTv1X7WGrII?si=QUgxtzumRWyHXHYx

Biracial American political cartoonist Darrin Bell‘s heartbreaking coming of age memoir is also full of hope and humour. His white mother gave him “The Talk” about her fears for his safety on account of racism, a lesson that was reinforced through his experiences over the years. Later, he must have The Talk with his own young son. If white people don‘t understand why The Talk is necessary, we only have to read this book. A powerful graphic memoir.

One of the many great things about Darrin Bell‘s memoir is learning about his work as an editorial cartoonist.

Bell‘s use of colour is stunning. Most of this book is in moody monochromatic wash, so pages like this with the police car lights really pop. And of course the colours intensify the emotional impact, the sudden fear.

Why doesn‘t it look like a REAL gun?

Finally got this book from the library, and flew through it. So many things threw me in for choosing this book to read first - to break my book slump. I‘m so glad I did. I related to this book, to this author, for SO many reasons. Absolutely amazing. Great read and great illustrations. Loved it

I flew through this graphic memoir today, but I‘m still digesting. Absorbing, powerful, clear-eyed. Bell‘s vibrant and expressive artwork is so effective. Definitely recommend!

The writing, the art, and the content makes this graphic novel so good. Vulnerable and honest, the reader is guided through Bell‘s life, things he didn‘t understand as a youth, to his lessons he learned through his experiences. Wonderful.

Powerful GN.

... And then they'll treat me like a human being?

Apparently, humor does not always defuse tension.

This graphic memoir is very good so far.

Some Saturday #bookmail! Very excited for tagged graphic memoir. We‘ll be discussing for my IRL book club later this summer. And the Harvey is one of our upcoming #GoldenAgeCrimeClub reads.