Hey, Kiddo

Bibliography

Krosoczka, J. J. (2018). Hey, kiddo. Graphix.

Plot Summary

Hey, Kiddo is a graphic memoir of Jarret Krosoczka’s life growing up in Worcester, MA. We learn about the circumstances that surround Jarret’s birth and how he comes to live with his grandparents. We learn about Leslie’s, Jarret’s mother, problems with addiction and how it affects Jarret as he grows up. We follow Jarret as he faces difficulties in his life and how he leans of his family to help him deal with those difficulties. 

Critical Analysis

Krosoczka’s Hey, Kiddo is a graphic novel that allows the writer to literally paint a picture of each character. We are able to see as Jarrett ages and the feelings on his face. As we follow Jarrett’s story we see the themes of love, loss, parental responsibility, resilience, finding purpose, and creativity. It is easy to readers to relate to the characters in this book because it is an autobiography in graphic novel form. The book also includes an author’s note and notes about the art in the book.

Review Excerpts

From Booklist Online:

“There have been a slew of graphic memoirs published for youth in the past couple of years, but the raw, confessional quality and unguarded honesty of Krosoczka’s contribution sets it apart from the crowd.” -Sarah Hunter

From Kirkus Reviews:

“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.”

Awards and Honors

2019 Harvey Awards, Book of the Year

National Book Award Finalist

Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor

New York Times Notable Children's Books of 2018

Connections

Books that are similar to this one include:

• Home After Dark by David Small

• The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui

• Picture Us in the Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert

• Darius Great is Not Okay by Adib Khorram

Students can compare the protagonists of each story. Students can also use the stories to discuss how the characters face some of the same challenges that young adults face in society today.