Content warning: heroin addiction, absent parents ( )

This is a powerful story, no doubt. I think maybe this book didn't impact me as much because I've seen the author's TED talk that covers most of what's in the book. It's still a great book.

My favorite character was Grandma Shirley or "Shirl" as she's called. She reminded me of some older women I know who go against every grandma stereotype. Rough language, rough manners, a kind of coldness on display most of the time. In an early sequence in the book, Krosoczka takes a full spread to address Shirley's miscarriage which seemed like an curious choice to me. But after finishing the book, I think he wanted the reader to know that Shirley's early motherhood wasn't a perfect, pretty picture. He sets us up to sympathize with her before showing us her cruel streak. It's a very Betty Draper Mad Men scene with her kids glued to the TV and her having a cocktail and a cigarette. Every time she was a jerk I flashed back to that spread and wondered when she put that hard shell around her.

I could go on and on about Shirley, I really could. The part where she's so mean to Jarrett when he gives her a portrait he drew for her anniversary almost made me cry. And when Jarrett is telling Shirley about meeting his siblings for the first time and her response is to tell him not to interrupt her TV show. Yikes. Yet we know she loves her kids and meets their basic needs. Somehow I had a hard time holding her bad behavior against her. That is a good character -- my feelings about her are all mixed up and she has really stayed with me.

In terms of the Newbery, I can see this having a chance even though it's on the mature end of "children's literature." Generally, I'd say this is ages 14 and up, but I can see a 12- or 13-year-old with interest in the subject matter (drug addiction, parent in jail, childhood trauma) getting a lot out of it.

To nitpick, there's one grammatically questionable sentence. On page 95 narrator Jarrett says, "And it was really nice having my mom there. I liked being able for her to meet some of my friends, and for them to meet her." The phrase "being able for her to meet" makes me cringe. I wonder how it got past editors, though I recognize that grammar can be fluid and maybe it doesn't sound jarringly awful to everyone. In my opinion it would sound better as "I liked her being able to meet my friends..." or "I liked that she was able to meet my friends.."
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I knew HEY, KIDDO would likely be a heavy story for me to read. Like Krosoczka and many others, I grew up with addiction in my household. This is an honest portrayal of bittersweet childhood experiences, interspersed with mementos like letters and old drawings that root the story in reality. It is not all sad, but Krosoczka does not shy away from the darker moments and complexities of his family members. The family we are given are not always perfect, but they are ours, for better or worse. Krosoczka's inkwash illustrations and limited palette lend an extra touch of somberness to the story. And throughout it all, there is hope; a key part of the story is the love and appreciation for art that eventually leads Jarrett Krosoczka to a career in children's books. At 300 pages, this is a meaty, cathartic read. ( )

Fantastically produced audiobook. Kudos for converting a graphic novel into an engaging audiobook.

A moving and poignant story of kid, whose mother suffers from substance addiction. Without any self pity or getting sappy, the book shows how he overcame the odds. ( )

This book is a touching and humorous graphic memoir. Through expressive illustrations, Krosoczka navigates his early life with a drug-addicted mother and the supportive yet imperfect upbringing provided by his grandparents. Art becomes his refuge and creative outlet, helping him survive life's challenges. The memoir follows his journey to find his father, revealing the power of art and resilience in overcoming difficult circumstances. ( )