![]() ![]() He is first and foremost a creator for young readers. But he spent many years as author and illustrator of the eccentrically funny Platypus Police Squad and Lunch Lady series. He recently inherited the Jedi Academy series of graphic novels from Jeffrey Brown. Which should come as no surprise if you’re familiar with Krosoczka’s work. In short, it’s an important book with critical lessons, but it’s also written with younger readers in mind. Krosoczka presents a thoughtful look back at his memories, and he pecks at the surface of the trauma his upbringing instilled. ![]() But it’s also not a head-first dive into substance abuse and the consequences that can have. Hey, Kiddo doesn’t shy away from the sensitive and difficult issues implied by the book’s subtitle. It’s not until much later that Jarrett discovers that his mother was a heroin addict who spent most of her life in and out jail and halfway houses. In other words, events that happened when he was only 5, for example, are mostly shrouded in mystery since 5-year-old Jarrett was kept in the dark and had very little idea what was going on. The story of Krosoczka’s childhood, absent father, and nearly absent mother is told entirely from his own point of view at the time. The subtitle to Jarrett Krosoczka’s new graphic memoir might be a bit heavy (because it is), but don’t let it put you off.
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