Stitches

Stitches by David Small, 329 pages

This is an autobiographical graphic novel detailing the author/illustrator's experience throat cancer and losing his ability to speak as a teenager, as well as the horrors of family life. The illustrations bring to mind a silent movie, complete with a mad scientist doctor (in the form Small's father, who gave him cancer by subjecting him to a ridiculous amount of x-rays as a child) and a mean spiteful witch of a mother (yup, Small's mom). Even though Small is an illustrator of children's books, this is definitely not a kid-friendly graphic novel. It's a compelling story, yes, but not for the kiddos.