Hey, Kiddo; How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, And Dealt With Family Addiction

New York: Graphix [An Imprint of Scholastic], 2018. First Edition [Stated], First Printing [Stated]. Trade paperback. Very good. Jarrett J. Krosoczka. The format is approximately 6 inches by 8.5 inches. [8], 294, [20] pages. Color illustrations. Front cover is decorative and has slight wear and soiling. Signed by the author sticker on front cover. Signed by the author on the title page. Jarrett J. Krosoczka (born December 22, 1977, in Worcester, Massachusetts) is the author and illustrator of a several graphic novels and picture books, most famously his Lunch Lady series. Krosoczka was raised entirely by his maternal grandparents, Joseph and Shirley Krosoczka, who took legal custody of him when he was three because of his mother's drug addiction. He saw his mother only sporadically throughout his childhood, and didn't learn the truth about her addiction until he was in the fourth grade. The "J" in his professional name is in tribute to his late grandfather. Krosoczka later went on to graduate from Rhode Island School of Design, and received his first book contract six months after graduation. (He had been submitting for two years at that point.) His first book, Good Night, Monkey Boy, was published on June 12, 2001, by Random House. In 2003, Krosoczka was chosen by Print as one of their 20 Top New Visual Artists Under 30. A Universal Studios movie based on Krosoczka's Lunch Lady series was in development with Amy Poehler in the lead role. Additional film and television options for Krosoczka's work have been with DreamWorks Animation, Walden Media, and MGM. Weston Woods produced an animated adaptation of Krosoczka's Peanut Butter and Jellyfish. Hey, Kiddo won the 2019 Harvey Award for Book of the Year. Derived from a Kirkus review: A childhood beset by generations of family addiction is revealed in this raw graphic-novel memoir from a well-known children's author and illustrator. Though he doesn't realize it until later, Krosoczka's mother suffers from addiction, which brings turmoil into their family's life. Basic needs go unmet, promises are routinely broken, and the stability and safety most take for granted are never guaranteed. Krosoczka is raised by his grandparents when his mom can no longer care for him. The contradictions prevalent in his childhood will resonate with readers who have experienced addiction and educate those who have not. Yes, there is chaos, but there is also warmth, seen, for example, when Krosoczka's mom fakes his birthday for an impromptu party at a fast-food chain, or in the way his grandfather never misses an opportunity to tell him he is loved. Krosoczka learns self-reliance as a survival strategy. He also learns to express himself through art. The palette, awash in gray and earth tones, invokes the feeling of hazy memories. Interspersed are tender and at times heartbreaking images of real drawings and letters from the author and several family members. Krosoczka as an author generously and lovingly shows his flawed family members striving to do the best they can even as Krosoczka the character clearly aches for more. Honest, important, and timely. (author's note, note on the art).