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Cover of Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel

Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel

Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Ages 12–18

Readers rate it 4.3 (49 on Hardcover)

322 pages · Released Oct 9, 2018

Content report card

Hey, Kiddo: A Graphic Novel parent’s guide: what’s inside

High confidence

Violence

Sexual content

LGBTQ+ themes

What it offers

Educational value

A note for parents

This is a powerful graphic memoir about a child navigating family addiction, parental absence, and instability—serious topics handled with honesty and age-appropriate care. The book models resilience, creativity, and emotional growth, with loving grandparents providing stability and unconditional support. While it addresses heavy themes like substance abuse and family dysfunction, the narrative arc is ultimately hopeful and healing. Best suited for mature middle-grade and teen readers ready to process complex family dynamics.

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From the publisher

The powerful, unforgettable graphic memoir from Jarrett Krosoczka, about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents. A National Book Award Finalist! In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarre... The powerful, unforgettable graphic memoir from Jarrett Krosoczka, about growing up with a drug-addicted mother, a missing father, and two unforgettably opinionated grandparents. A National Book Award Finalist! In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery -- Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents -- two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along. Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what's going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father. Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.

Shelved under

  • Young Adult Fiction
  • Young Adult
  • Biography
  • Comics
  • Graphic novels
  • Genocide

Books in the Hey, Kiddo series

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ISBN 9780545902496 · Scholastic Inc.

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