Caldecott winner Dan Santat (The Adventures of Beekle; The Aquanaut) found his protagonist for the charming graphic novel A First Time for Everything in the mirror. Santat's illustrated memoir depicts his regularly awkward, sometimes downright embarrassing middle school experiences, with a focus on a European trip that opened his eyes to the world beyond the discomforts of adolescence.
Before middle school, Dan "did normal kid stuff." When he got to middle school, though, being a kid suddenly felt "stressful." He learned that the "best way to survive was to keep a low profile," to "be invisible." Despite his best efforts at staying inconspicuous, he was still teased and bullied, so the idea of a school-sponsored trip to Europe terrifies him more than it excites him. Though he tells his mother, "I'd rather stay in my room and not be bothered by people," his parents don't give him that option. The three-week trip turned out to be the kind of early-adolescent experience that would shape the man Dan became.
Santat's authentic voice and realistic characters will likely take older readers back to their own middle school days while reminding current middle school-age readers of their own teen angst. Santat's splendidly expressive digital illustrations cement those emotional connections and highlight the humor even in the most agonizing of moments. He unpacks his transformational experience with vulnerability and raw honesty--the sincerity is heartening and the outcome inspiring. --Jen Forbus, freelancer