“Stitches” by David Small

This 2009 award-winner is a striking book. A graphic novel memoir, Mr. Small tells the story of his childhood – a troubling time with an emotionally distant father, an angry mother and an undiagnosed health issue that put his life at risk. The artwork is both simple and complex – pen and ink drawings with a gray overwash sets the tone, while the detailed artwork does an excellent job of conveying emotional depths. Tears turn into curtains, rain, and move laterally to become the stairs in Small’s home. The shock of his situation creates faces within faces – the layered meanings all too clear. Mr. Small has a storied career full of notable work. He has created material for everything from The New Yorker magazine to the 2001 Caldecott Medal book, “So You Want to Be President?” but this book is, perhaps, his most impressive. The honesty with which he portrays his childhood is both touching and enlightening. He ends the book with a very specific note of determination and hope, and follows with a succinct epilogue which gives an adult perspective to it all. Quite good and should be a hit with those more mature graphic novel readers who are ready for something to complement the Harvey Pekar works.