Every kid is shaped by their family—but not every kid has a brother like Rob. In this bright and thoughtful middle grade graphic memoir, debut cartoonist Gina Chadderton examines the fun and difficult parts of growing up alongside their autistic and nonverbal brother.
So much is changing in Gina Chadderton's life. Her family is moving, she's about to start middle school., and her brother Rob has just escaped out a playroom window ended up over at the new neighbor's house! This coming-of-age memoir explores Gina and Rob's lives. As a nonverbal autistic boy with an intellectual disability, Rob doesn't communicate his thoughts and feelings like most people do. Despite the difficulties that come with that, the Chadderton family has never failed to show each other kindness and love.
But as Gina begins to grapple with her own growing body and whether or not to shave her legs, she struggles with how hard it is to take care of her brother while also taking care of herself.
Compassionate, informative, and emotionally nuanced, Oh Brother is a heartfelt story about the good days and bad days that come with growing up with someone who will always need help. But more than that, it's about how you can fill even the most challenging of days with joy.---from the publisher
288 pages 978-0593488270 Ages 8-12
Keywords: graphic memoir, graphic non-fiction, middle school, new experiences, moving, autism, brothers and sisters, coming of age, puberty, family life, 8 year old, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old, If You Liked Rules by Cynthia Lord
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A brief glance at the blurb of this debut graphic novel suggests it is a situation that will resonate with many students...
New house. New school. New best friend? For a nervous kid who doesn’t like change, it’s a lot to deal with.
But there the comparison ends for most because this is not just another story about such a familiar situation, particularly at this time of the year. Subtitled "a graphic memoir" it is the real-life story of Gina, the author, growing up alongside a brother with high-needs autism and an intellectual disability, including being almost non-verbal with a unique way of communicating with his family, at a time when autism was scarcely understood by lay people, let alone accepted as a genuine disability. Even though great strides had been made in schools, children like Rob were seen as the "naughty" children, confrontational, disruptive and therefore unaccepted and isolated from "normal" children.
So while it's tough enough for Gina to transition to high school in a new neighbourhood where neither she nor her brother's needs are known, and all the changes that that brings, without the additional challenges of puberty, having a brother who "causes chaos" adds another dimension. Although the need for strict routines, and locks on doors and cupboards to keep Rob safe and as balanced as possible are normal for Gina, the situation is strange for those outside of the family and so making friends and participating in commonplace events is not easy for her.
Told in comic format which is Chadderton's preferred medium to express herself, it explores her childhood in Adelaide and the impact living with Rob has, but rather than being dramatic and self-centred, its purpose is to educate and advocate for understanding, tolerance and acceptance, and, in the process, not only gives others in similar circumstances a voice, but also says, "You are seen and understood." Explanations for such things as Rob's meltdowns and what to do when one happens are sensitively addressed in the context of the characters' conversations as well as cartoons which clearly explain the signs to look for such as hunched shoulders, fingers in his ears and "the air feels electric". Yet, rather than frustration, there is a strong undertone of love, joy, resilience and it-is-what-it-is.
Author's notes explain her purpose and that while, on the whole, it is true, memories can be fickle and change with time and perception. We learn where Rob is now, and also that Gina, too, was diagnosed on the Spectrum at 32, but although she suspected that she might have been, that hasn't influenced her story-telling.
Usually, books for upper primary plus students would be passed on to reviewers for that age group because the focus of this blog is stories to encourage younger children to read, but this is such an important one that achieves what the author set out to do so well - educate, advocate, and give a voice to others in a similar situation - that it needs to be as widely shared as possible. One to add to the collection and let all the other Ginas read.
Recommended by: Barbara Braxton, Teacher Librarian, New South Wales AUSTRALIA
See more of her recommendations:
500 Hats http://500hats.edublogs.org/
The Bottom Shelf http://thebottomshelf.edublogs.org/
