Tangles by Sarah Leavitt

Book Information
Leavitt, Sarah. Tangles: A Story About Alzheimer’s, My Mother and Me. Calgary, Alberta: Freehand Books, September 2010.

My Review
Tangles is Sarah Leavitt's first book, and is a current finalist for the Alberta's Reader's Choice Award (to be awarded in June, 2011). Leavitt's decision to describe her family's odyssey with Alzheimer's in the graphic novel format is quite inspired -- readers can easily see and begin to understand the changes that Alzheimer's causes.

The drawings are black and white and simple, but quite demonstrative. The way in which Leavitt drew "holding hands" by drawing two connected arms is a visual demonstration of the family's love for one another. This book is filled with the many moments of frustration, love, sadness and humour that are experienced by families who care for people with memory challenges. Sarah Leavitt's mother, Midge, was really blessed to have a family who loved and cared for her so deeply.

More Reading for Caregivers/Families of Individuals with Alzheimer's/Dementia

The Sunshine On My Face By Lydia Burdick is a picture book designed to stimulate conversations with older adults who have Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia.

My Notes
This book was difficult for me to review (in several drafts!), particularly because I cared for my grandmother, who had dementia. Sarah Leavitt has done a wonderful job of depicting the frustrations (and the few joys!) of memory challenges.

The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Nifenegger

Book Information
Nifenegger, Audrey. The Night Bookmobile. New York, NY: Abrams ComicArts, 2010.

My Summary
The Night Bookmobile by Audrey Nifenegger (bestselling author of The Time Traveler's Wife) is a haunting and thought-provoking book. While on a "cool-down" walk after an argument with her boyfriend, Alexandra stumbles on a bookmobile whose operating hours are "dusk to dawn." She learns that the bookmobile carries every single item that she has ever read. Her visit brings an overpowering desire to read and to work within the strange bookmobile, despite all of the sacrifices that she must make.

My Review
The Night Bookmobile raises questions about the act of reading. Is reading a selfish pastime that absorbs a person, preventing him or her from interacting with the community? What are the social dangers of becoming isolated, and of living life vicariously through books? The abrupt ending leaves many questions unanswered, especially with regards to Alexandra's happiness. Reading The Night Bookmobile in a graphic novel format is an "enhanced" reading experience. The graphics complement the story, and provide subtle hints to the reader about Mr. Openshaw, the nature of The Library, and about Alexandra's future. The pop culture music references provide additional food for thought.

In its few short pages, The Night Bookmobile offers readers many opportunities for reflection. Highly recommended.

My Notes
The Night Bookmobile is the first in a series of books collectively entitled The Library. I look forward to the next book!

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life

Book Information

Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life by Brian Lee O'Malley. Oni Press, 2004.

My Summary and Review
By playing in a rock band and dating a cute girl, Scott Pilgrim leads an ideal life for a twentysomething artist. Then, along comes Ramona Flowers (and her evil ex) whom Scott must defeat if he wants to date Ramona.



If readers are looking for complex characters, they will not find any here. "Scott Pilgrim's Precious Little Life" offers readers a fast read that leaves them hungry for more and eager to see Scott develop, mature, and find creative ways of defeating Ramona's exes. The real highlight of this book is the musical rock band climax, where Scott and one of Ramona's exes "duke it out" comically in song. Canadians will also enjoy seeing Toronto's skyline prominently drawn on one of the pages.

The Arrival by Shaun Tan

Book Information

Tan, Shaun. The Arrival. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006.

My review

The Arrival is the story of an immigrant to a new and unfamiliar country. It follows the main character as he journeys from his home to the unknown, which is filled with creatures and scenery that are so strange to him. Will he ever belong in his new home? And who can he trust?

Shaun Tan tell's the immigrant's story by communicating only through pictures. In this wordless graphic novel, readers are able to see the new world through the newcomer's eyes. Unlike many graphic novels, the images are not drawn or coloured with pen or ink. Tan's style of shading with pencils makes the characters realistic and memorable, and gives the impression that this story could have been the story of countless immigrants in the past.

Aya: The Secrets Come Out

Book Information

Aya: The Secrets Come Out. By Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie. Translated by Helge Dascher. Drawn & Quarterly, 2009.

My Summary/Review

Aya: The Secrets Come Out is full of complicated romances and social change. It's the third book in the award-winning Aya series. Aya, the main character in this colourful graphic book series, is a studious African teenager growing up on the dynamic Ivory Coast of the 1970s.


In this book, Aya patiently prepares her friends Bintou, Adjoua, and Felicite for the local beauty pageant, and provides ongoing support for them throughout all the difficulties they face. The tensions in this book come to a head quickly, when Aya's father's mistress brings her children for a visit and abandons them. Added to this, Bintou's father decides to marry one of Aya's friends, and Bintou plans to leave.


Readers will find that Abouet's writing and Oubrerie's illustrations tell Aya's story in a way that is sensitive, realistic, and at times, even humorous. Additionally, the recipes, tips and glossary at the back of the book give readers a light-hearted wider view of African culture.