Stitches
David Small
W.W. Norton: New York, c2009
I admit, graphic novels are a format that I tended to stay away from. I was never really into comic strips as a child and somehow I let this color my view on this amazing format and method of story telling. I recently read Stitches, a memoir written and illustrated by picture book artist David Small, for a young adult literature class and was deeply moved not only by the story but also the hunting depictions of Small's childhood.
Stitches tells the story of Small's devastating childhood from the time he was 6 to about 16. When a lump is discovered on his neck at age eleven, his parents elect to ignore it fearing that treatment will be too expensive, even though his father is a doctor. It is obvious that David's parents neglect his needs and think of their son as an expensive annoyance. Three and half years later he finally has surgery on his neck which leaves, "a crusted black track of stitches; my smooth young throat slashed and laced back up like a bloody boot." Not only must David now live with this horrible scar, his is also left partially mute. He leaves home at 16 and lives amongst starving artist and addicts in the rough areas of Detroit's inner city.
Eventually, David gains his voice back. And finds a kind of solace and refuge in his artwork. He goes on to be the recipient of the Caldecott Medal, the Christopher Medal, and the E.B. White Award for his illustrations in picture books.
Stitches is a story that broke my heart and gave me hope. I would highly recommend this memoir for avid fans of graphic novels and for those who are new to the format.
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