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A First Time for Everything
A First Time for Everything | Dan Santat
12 posts | 14 read | 6 to read
*Winner of the 2023 National Book Award for Young People's Literature* A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life. Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe. At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change himfirst Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers... and first love. Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir based on New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat's awkward middle school years. It celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life-changing as well. Praise for After the Fall The author gives wings to both his protagonist and his message about the importance of getting back up after a fall and the realization that recovering from a trauma takes time. Booklist, starred review Santats precise illustrations and sensitive text combine for more emotional depth than the typical nursery rhyme remix. A terrific redemptive read-aloud for storytime and classroom sharing. School Library Journal, starred review
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blurb
Karisimo
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To start off nonfiction November, let's share memoirs for #middlegrademonday !

The tagged is about the author's trip to Europe in his middle school years and captures all the insecurities of that age so well. Graphic memoirs like this one are becoming quite the trend!

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Daisey Ooh, interesting choice. I‘ll try to remember to check my shelves when I‘m back at school tomorrow. 3w
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BiblioLitten
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Pickpick

What a beautiful way to remember your teenage years…the angst, the self-consciousness, the adventure, friends…! All of this with spot-on illustrations.
I liked the author‘s note in the end comparing childhood in the 80s to now.
P.S : I used to love Fanta too! 🧡

Tamra My kids like Fanta. 😊 5mo
BiblioLitten @Tamra It‘s so good! I find Crush very similar tasting. 😊 5mo
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DebinHawaii
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Pickpick

#ReadAway2024

Finished this for my #QUABC 40-Book Challenge prompt: “A National Book Award winner.” It was the 2023 Winner for Young People & it was delightful. I think everyone can relate to the trauma/drama of middle school & Sanat captures it in all its glory in his illustrations & text. Set mainly on a life-changing school trip to Europe, I enjoyed reading it while listening to the Spotify “mix tape” playlist he includes the QR code for.💙

suvata I‘m doing that challenge as well. But, I have only completed 15 books so far. The National Book Award winner category is going to be difficult for me. 7mo
DebinHawaii @suvata This was a good quick & easy way to knock it out if you haven‘t read it. 7mo
suvata @DebinHawaii I‘ll keep that in mind. Thanks. 7mo
DieAReader 🥳Great!! 7mo
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DebinHawaii
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#ItTakesAllKinds

I have this #GraphicNovel checked out from the library to fill a “National Book Award Winner” prompt for my #OUABC 40 Book Challenge. It won the 2023 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. 🥇📚

TieDyeDude I loved this! 8mo
Eggs Ahhh looks so good 😊 8mo
33 likes2 comments
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jlhammar
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Pickpick

Sweet and charming middle grade graphic memoir. Santat writes about a life-changing trip to Europe in 1989, just before starting high school. He really manages to capture what being thirteen was like in all its awkward glory.

TieDyeDude So good! 8mo
Caryl I thought this was a wonderful book. I love Dan Santat! 8mo
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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

Heart warming, filled with great illustrations and an innocent first crush before high school. Really good read that I recommend highly.

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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

Santat‘s National Book Award winning graphic novel about a school trip to Europe when he was in middle school is marvelous in every way—from the delightful art to the heartfelt, poignant detailing of all the awkwardness that comes with being thirteen—and definitely deserving of all the accolades it‘s received. A wonderful story about finding yourself, exploring the world, and discovering your place in it. A fantastic book.

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TieDyeDude
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A near perfect encapsulation of the joy, awkwardness, naivete, isolation, curiosity, insecurity, friendships, and trials of teen years. The author recounts a life-changing class trip to Europe. His experience really spoke to my inner child; introverted, self-doubting, finding it easier to be alone than potentially end up with my foot in my mouth, and occasionally finding someone who doesn't care about all that. #firstsecondbooks

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sarahgreatlove
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Pickpick

Such a fabulous graphic novel. What I loved was its a really good long length. You can‘t really just sit and get it done in one sitting, you can spend some time with it. A coming of age type story centered around a class trip to Europe. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Sharpeipup
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What a relatable book! A stunning tribute to the power of travel.

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LibrarianRyan
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⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐5 ⭐Looking through my years of reading Dan Santat‘s books, I realize that every single one of them I have rated five stars. This does not break that streak. This book was fantastic. It was a love story. It was an adventure story. It was a story about finding yourself. And Dan does that all through an autobiography in graphic format about going to Europe for the first time while in middle school. There is so much heart and love in this

LibrarianRyan book and that Dan added the pictures at the end and the envelopes with Amy with the letters going back-and-forth… It was just perfect. You come away from this book with a smile on your face, just wanting more and going man is this author good. He can tell a story not just to keep kids entertained and interested but to keep adults entertained and interested as well. This author already has a Caldecott Medal now he‘s going for Newbery, and I hope 1y
LibrarianRyan he gets it. 1y
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Twocougs
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Pickpick

What an absolutely,charming graphic novel. Brought back memories of middle school and study abroad, even though I was in college, instead of starting high school. Lots of fun!