ARC Review: Hey, Kiddo

ARC Review: Hey, Kiddo

Books are a line of communication with story to be told from the year 1345, to the magical lands of Hogwarts. Books have the power to transport you to new and different worlds. But the book Hey, Kiddo, transported me into the point of view of Jarrett Krosoczka. His life as a boy from when he was a kid, to graduation. His family life wasn’t too good either. He grew up up with his grandparents because his mom was a drug addict, in recovery for most of his childhood. This is what makes him grow up with trust issues, and have depression. At the same time the stories getting good it also,  touches upon sensitive topics such as depression and family life. Even though the book is a great read it helps you learn lessons, and learn from the author's mistake. The book illustrates the cause and effect of the people surrounding him to his own life. This book is at the cost of 6 dollars. If you asked me, that's a bargin for your money.

Review By: Anthony B,

I recently completed an advanced reader copy of Hey, Kiddo. It is an autobiographical graphic novel written and illustrated by Jarrett Krosoczka. Hey, Kiddo follows Jarrett from his birth and right up to his high school graduation. The novel demonstrates how Jarrett is able to overcome and mask the setbacks that were nearly completely out of his control. This novel does an excellent job at discussing very taboo topics such as parental separation and the effects that drug addiction not just has on you but also your family. Hey, Kiddo is more than your average graphic novel, it's more of an experience more akin to that of a major motion picture. With its rich storytelling and oddly creative plot driving Hey, Kiddo stands a novel that young and old can get themselves invested into. As soon as, Jarrett Krosoczka was born, his life was thrown into disarray. Even in his youth he knew that his mother was associating with some very suspicious people. With no father in sight, Jarrett’s mother is forced to raise him all on her own. But Jarrett isn’t her only burden, she was a crippling drug addict and her drugs seemed to control her life. Though soon, the rest of the Krosoczka family began to notice the problematic and dangerous environment young Jarrett was living in. So they take action and Jarrett came to live with his grandparents. Once this living situation change happens, Jarrett’s mother is sent to rehab by the grandparents. In rehab, she stays for a majority of Jarrett’s pre-adult life. But in her absence, he discovers his true passion, art. He loves drawing even at his young age and this passion soon develops into a talent. This talent soon becomes a way for Jarrett to ground himself and try to hide the absurdities of his home life. As Jarret goes through life he uses art to try and normalize himself in a sense. He attends classes and follows his passion as much as he can. But as he as he develops as a person, Jarrett starts to piece the shattered shards of his family together. Yet one thing stands in his way, his mother. To him, her trying to sandwich her way back into his life after never being there when he needed her most is worse than not being there in the first place. Follow Jarrett through his rollercoaster of childhood experience. Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka is a 320-page emotional rollercoaster. The gripping storytelling is coupled with excellent illustrations that fit the mood and tone of the entire novel. Personally, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars. After only a few pages you become invested in both the conflicts and characters inside the story. From seeing Jarret evolve as a person as the world around him changes to seeing him.

Review By: Caleb C.

  Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka introduces a boy named Jarrett who is a young boy who has to deal with his mother being a drug addict, a missing father who he doesn't know and two grandparents that are raising him. He is recognized as an artist and he takes this as a good thing and he pursues this and he continues to draw and he visits his mother who is in rehab as he is old enough to drive.

Jarrett Krosoczka has had a rough life with his mom being a drug addict and a missing father and he has lived with his grandparents for most of his life and Jarrett has drawn his whole life from kindergarten to his adult life and he continues to do this as its a hobby he has. Jarrett has always wondered where his father was and when he gets a driver license, he finds his father and he connects with him and he finds out that he has two siblings that are young and he meets them and he eventually loves them. He visits his mom who has overcome her drug addiction and Jarrett realizes that his mom has gotten her life together and she even has a new boyfriend that Jarret likes. Jarrett's life of drawing really helped him get through obstacles that were pretty challenging.

The 322 book by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is a heartbreaking and loveable book that everyone should read. The novel I enjoyed a lot and for that I will give the book a 5/5 rating as this book can help others who have had similar things happen to them and this book is also amazing as it is Jarrett J. Krosoczka actual life.

Review By: Evan G.

Author: Jarrett J. Krosoczka 

Publisher: Scholastic, Inc 

Genre: Autobiography/ Graphic Novel

Release Date: October 9, 2018