#Jarrett J. Krosoczka

[kingsbridgelibraryteens]

Reluctant Reader Wednesday: Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka 

This follow-up to Krosoczka’s heartbreaking memoir Hey, Kiddo tells another pivotal chapter in his young life. He’d heard that working at Camp Sunshine helping terminally ill children and their families would be a profound and emotional experience, but he had no idea that it would affect the course of his whole life. 

This book is about one week that evolved into years of helping people who needed it, and how working to help others helped a young man get a sense of perspective about his own life and his own obstacles. It’s also about how that man mourned the deaths of the kids who lost their battles with cancer, and how he celebrated the lives of the kids who grew up to start their own careers and families.

Give this book to teens and adults who were moved by Hey, Kiddo, as well as readers who are looking for emotional and heartfelt journeys. 

[graphicpolicy]

Marvel Super Stories Amazing Adventures Vol. 2 is an anthology with adventures for young readers

Marvel Super Stories Amazing Adventures Vol. 2 is an anthology with adventures for young readers #comics #graphicnovel #ncbd

The second volume in a brand-new middle-grade anthology series with Marvel Comics, edited by John Jennings. Featuring 15 all-new six-page stories written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics for young readers, this all-star lineup features original stand-alone stories featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, the Incredible Hulk, Doctor…

[afabstract]

'Sunshine: A Graphic Novel' Review

"Sunshine," the graphic novel memoir by Jarrett J. Krosoczka, chronicles the author's time at a camp for terminally ill children. Read our book review to help you decide whether you should pick it up.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5. I loved Jarrett J. Krosoczka’s first graphic novel memoir “Hey Kiddo” so much, I always recommend it to anybody to who loves graphic novels. It’s a profoundly personal and poignant story of how the author was raised by his grandparents while his mother battled addiction and his father was absent. So, I’ve had my eye on his next graphic novel memoir, titled “Sunshine,”…

[smashpages]

Out this week: Sunshine (Graphix, $27.99):

Jarrett J Krosoczka, creator of the award-winning Hey, Kiddo, is back with a new book about his time as a counselor at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. 

See what else is coming to your local comic shop this week.

[joezy27]

Clint Barton in... MARVEL SUPER STORIES - AMAZING ADVENTURES

The second volume in a brand-new middle-grade anthology series with Marvel Comics, edited by John Jennings. Featuring 15 all-new six-page stories written and illustrated by some of the biggest names in comics for young readers, this all-star lineup features original stand-alone stories featuring Spider-Man, Captain America, The Avengers, Guardians of the Galaxy, the Incredible Hulk, Doctor Strange, Silver Surfer, Thor, Moon Knight, Silk, Spider-Man 2099, the Fantastic Four, Black Panther, Ant-Man, and Hawkeye. This all-star roster takes a fun, fresh look at everyone's favorite Marvel super heroes, delivering delightful stories that will introduce them to first-time fans for a whole new generation of readers.

Stories by Ethan M. Aldridge, Ryan Andrews, Mike Cavallaro, Chan Chau, Gabriela Epstein, Tim Fielder, Brian Fies, Dean Haspiel, John Jennings, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, Kat Leyh, Jamar Nicholas, Amber Padilla, Carlisle Robinson and Judd Winick.

- Release date: November 13, 2024

[the-forest-library]

July 2023 Reads

Will They or Won't They - Ava Wilder

Going Bicoastal - Dahlia Adler

Hello Stranger - Katherine Center

You, With a View - Jessica Joyce

The Seven Year Slip - Ashley Poston

Kit McBride Gets a Wife - Amy Barry

We Could Be So Good - Cat Sebastian

The Duchess Effect - Tracey Livesay

The Prince & the Apocalypse - Kara McDowell

Ghosted - Amanda Quain

End of Story - Kylie Scott

Their Vicious Games - Joelle Wellington

Four Three Two One - Courtney C. Stevens

The First Thing About You - Chaz Hayden

The Golem and the Jinni - Helene Wecker

Mooncakes - Suzanne Walker

Sunshine - Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Lucy Maud Montgomery - Isabel Sanchez Vegara

100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli - David LaRochelle & Loan Cho

Beyond the Wand - Tom Felton

Wildflower - Aurora James

Lips Unsealed - Belinda Carlisle

Kiss Me in the Coral Lounge - Helen Ellis

Directions to Myself - Heidi Julavits

The Life Council - Laura Tremaine

Everybody's Favorite - Lillian Stone

Life on Delay - John Hendrickson

I Will Teach You to Be Rich - Ramit Sethi

Finance for the People - Paco de Leon

Unmasking Autism - Devon Price

Self-Care for People with ADHD - Sasha Hamdani

Organizing Solutions for People with ADHD - Susan Pinsky

You've Got This - Michaela Dunbar

Easy Crafts for the Insane - Kelly Williams Brown

Pottery for Beginners - Kara Leigh Ford

Conscious Crafts: Pottery - Lucy Davidson

Bold = Highly Recommend Italics = Worth It Crossed out = Nope

Thoughts: 

Lots of good reads this month, but no five stars reads, which I didn't realize until putting this together.

Goodreads Goal: 246/400 

2017 Reads | 2018 Reads | 2019 Reads | 2020 Reads | 2021 Reads| 

2022 Reads | 2023 Reads

[librarycomic]

Sunshine: How One Camp Taught Me About Life, Death, and Hope by Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Scholastic Graphix, 2023. 9781338356311. 240pp. http://www.powells.com/book/-9781338356311?partnerid=34778&p_bt

This is a sequel to Krosoczka's graphic memoir Hey, Kiddo, about his parents and being raised by his grandparents. It's worth noting if you loved that book, there are some great moments featuring Krosoczka's grandparents in this one. But those are bookends to the main story, which is about the summer when he was sixteen when Krosoczka worked at Camp Sunshine, a place for kids with life-threatening illnesses. At the beginning, he says it changed his life, and if you're an adult you can probably imagine what he learned from helping kids. But it's the characters that bring it to life -- Sister Francis, who puts up with no BS; Mrs. Gormley, the chain-smoking chaperone; Gary, team leader for the Teen Group; Diego, the quiet-at-first kid who Krosoczka helps one-on-one (his drawing skills help them connect); and the Orfaos, the family he dines with throughout the week. There's a mascot costume that really stinks, and some great campfire conversations in addition to all the normal camp hijinks one would expect. Somehow the positive attitude and general corniness of all camp experiences don't get in the way and everyone has a great time (including me, an adult reader who is usually too cynical to enjoy books like this).

I'd put this in any grade school and middle school library, and many in high school would enjoy it, too. It's lovely, and it's going on my shelf next to Mike Dawson's Troop 142 (still the funniest camp book out there), Vera Brosgol's Be Prepared (I'll never forget the outhouse), and Chris Grine's paranormal Secrets of Camp Whatever.

[libraryleopard]

March reads

Be Holding by Ross Gay

Slippery Creatures by K.J. Charles

Everything I Learned, I Learned in a Chinese Restaurant by Curtis Chin

City of Laughter by Temim Fruchter

The Summer of Bitter and Sweet by Jen Ferguson

Murder Book by Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell

Here, the World Entire by Anwen Kya Hayward

The Once and Future Witches by Alix E. Harrow

World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa

Consort of Fire by Kit Rocha

Wild Geese by Soula Emmanuel

I Didn’t Sign Up For This by Anita Kelly

Help Wanted by J. Emery

Our Hideous Progeny by C.E. McGill

Camp Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

How to Get Over the End of the World by Hal Schrieve

Delilah Green Doesn’t Care by Ashley Herring Blake

The Salt Grows Heavy by Cassandra Khaw

[jonberry555]

Ackbar by Jarrett J. Krosoczka COMIC REVIEW -- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi From a Certain Point of View

#fromacertainointofview #starwars #returnofthejedi Ackbar by Jarrett J. Krosoczka REVIEW #shorts

My Review of 'Ackbar' by Jarrett J. Krosoczka the twenty-second story from From a Certain Point of View: Return of the Jedi 40 Stories Celebrating 40 Years of Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi.

[ireadyabooks]

Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka: Read an Excerpt!

The extraordinary -- and extraordinarily powerful -- follow-up to Hey, Kiddo.

When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was in high school, he was part of a program that sent students to be counselors at a camp for seriously ill kids and their families. Going into it, Jarrett was worried: Wouldn't it be depressing, to be around kids facing such a serious struggle? Wouldn't it be grim?

But instead of the shadow of death, Jarrett found something else at Camp Sunshine: the hope and determination that gets people through the most troubled of times. Not only was he subject to some of the usual rituals that come with being a camp counselor (wilderness challenges, spooky campfire stories, an extremely stinky mascot costume), but he also got a chance to meet some extraordinary kids facing extraordinary circumstances. He learned about the captivity of illness, for sure but he also learned about the freedom a safe space can bring.

Now, in his follow-up to the National Book Award finalist Hey, Kiddo, Jarrett brings readers back to Camp Sunshine so we can meet the campers and fellow counselors who changed the course of his life.

READ AN EXCERPT

Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka Excerpt by I Read YA on Scribd

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[nevinslibrary]

Comic Book Saturday

This was nerdy and funny good. Five friends, Madison, Ava, Emma, Aidan, and Dylan are all twelve and the love science. For the annual science fair they invent a candy-making machine (awesome project!). But, um…. Well… their candy creation sorta kinda comes to life and gets loose, and then, they sorta kind have to save the entire city from it. It’s a sugary read, a hilarious read, and a really fun read.

You may like this book If you Liked: Monday by Ralph Lazar, The Adventures of Invisible Boy by Doogie Horner, or Lunch Lady and the Schoolwide Scuffle by Jarrett J. Krosoczka

The Not-So Secret Society: Tale of the Gummy by Matthew Daley

[whavradio]

New York Times Bestselling Author Krosoczka to Address Students at Haverhill’s Gateway Academy

To submit school announcements, click on image. New York Times bestselling author, National Book Award finalist and TED speaker Jarrett J. Krosoczka addresses a special assembly of students at Haverhill’s Gateway Academy on Wednesday. Organizers say, Krosoczka will share insights into his creative process, discuss the importance of storytelling and encourage students to explore their own…

[afabstract]

5 Graphic Novels Published in 2023 Worth Reading

Here are some graphic novels you might want to add to your 'to read' list.

It’s 2024, and while the year has ended, it’s impossible to have read everything from 2023. Here’s a quick list of 5 graphic novels published in 2023 that might be worth your reading time. These are all standalone works and not comic-book series. Click on the pictures for detailed reviews. 1. Sunshine by Jarrett J. Krosoczka – this is a graphic novel memoir that follows the author’s experience…

[lastchancevillagegreen]

Another Top Ten Favorite Graphic Novels Read in 2023:

#11

Monica Daniel Clowes (2023)

Daniel Clowes’ first novel in six years is a challenging read about a mother who despises motherhood and marriage and dumps her daughter with her parents and splits.  Where does she go?  That’s what her daughter Monica attempts to discover.  In typical Clowes fashion this takes so many detours and does so in the style of a variety of old comic books (war, romance, EC Horror, etc).  I did this book a tremendous disservice by not reading it in one sitting as I do 95% of all graphic novels.  Had I done so, it might have appeared higher in my list. 

#12

We Are On Our Own Miriam Katin (2006)

Letting It Go Miriam Katin (2013)

In We Are On Our Own, Katin tells the true story of her life between the ages of two to six as she and her mother who are forced to escape Budapest on foot (the husband is in the Hungarian army fighting the Nazis).  They fake their deaths (as suicides), get fake papers and end up in the country living with a couple as a servant and her illegitimate daughter.  Harrowing and heartbreaking.  The biggest shock: this was Katin’s first graphic novel and she wrote, drew it and had it published at the tender age of 64.  In Letting It Go, Katin leaps forward in her life to tell the story of her adult son’s decision to move to Berlin and register to become a citizen. Miriam freaks out believing that Berlin is still the same city it was during World War II.  With the help of her husband Geoff, her son Ilan and his Swedish girlfriend Tinet, not to mention plenty of martinis, Miriam discovers that letting go of her anger can become a good thing.

#13

Just Another Meat-Eating Dirtbag Michael Anthony and Chai Simone (2022)

Michael is an Iraq War vet and his girlfriend Coconut is a nurse.  And a vegetarian.  And she has difficulty with Michael’s meat eating.  Long story short: she becomes an animal activist on top of her vegetarianism, and he decides to convert to her way of thinking but only because he believes he can convert her back to eating meat via a sly method he calls the Trojan Tofu Horse methodology.  This book is based on the authors own marriage and it is the funniest and most unexpected book to appear on this list.  A sheer delight but it begs the question, why are boys so stupid?

#14

Who Will Make The Pancakes Megan Kelso (2022)

This is an anthology of five of Kelso’s stories for a variety of publications all in different mediums and Kelso, a self taught artist, is a master of all of them.  Her story Watergate Sue about having a mother who loved watching the Watergate hearings more than she did motherhood is hilarious.  But the book’s masterpiece, from 2011, is story four: Korin Voss a heartbreaking tale of a single mother of two girls, Athena and Penelope.  The things this mother does to keep food on the table is heart wrenching and destructive, but ultimately it proves again just how difficult motherhood can be. 

#15

Queenie Godmother of Harlem Elizabeth Colomba and Aurélie Levy (2023)

Exceptional bio-graphic novel about Stephanie St Clair, the godmother of Harlem who exerted quite a grip on Harlem as she ran her numbers racket.  This all took place during the Harlem Renaissance and when prohibition ended suddenly all the big time gangsters wanted to take over St Clair’s numbers racket.  Elizabeth Colomba’s artwork is simply stunning.

#16

The Man In The McIntosh Suit Rina Ayuyang

Taking place in Watsonville, California during the Depression, this novel about the Filipino experience in the US is captivating.  Steeped heavily in noirish qualities and filled with gangsters, mistaken identities and plenty of circumspect happenings in the shadows, this ensures I will seek out Rina Ayuyang’s work from this point on.

#17

Sunshine Jarrett J Krosoczka (2023)

Jarrett Krosoczka spent two weeks of his life as a senior in high school attending a camp where he worked as a “counselor” (ie: a person who tends to the moods and needs of) for kids who had cancer.  As a social worker who had plenty of high school kids die on my caseload because of disabling conditions I wasn’t sure I wanted to read this, dreading a schmaltzy Hallmark feel-good novel.  I feared overdosing on the word “courageous” and “brave,” words which my students never appreciated because they were just living their life.  But to his credit Krosoczka avoids them (he says “courageous” once) and even better he allows his counselors to get angry with the kids.  Since these kids come to camp to experience a normal life situation, what better way to give them that?  Even better, the author befriended many of them and kept in contact with them until Death came knocking at their door, but he kept right on being friends with the families.  The best part: Krosoczka’s artwork has improved measurably (his last book Hey, Kiddo suffered because of the artwork).

#18

Lon Chaney Speaks Pat Dorian (2020)

The 30something author/artist of this book admits in an introduction that he is wildly out of step with his peers in his love for silent cinema.  He then admits that Chaney, a notorious man who hated speaking about his life or with the press, was a difficult person to learn about.  Dorian admits this “is not a historical document; an imagined biography is more accurate.”  But this is not fan fiction (something I despise).  Dorian manages to make a lot of discoveries about Chaney and it ends up being a marvelous read.  What would Chaney think?  Well, he would have bothered reading the book and besides, he’s dead. 

#19

The Twilight Man: Rod Serling and The Birth of Television Koren Shadmi (2019)

All Tomorrow’s Parties: The Velvet Underground Story Koren Shadmi (2023)

Koren Shadmi wrote a graphic novel about Bela Lugosi that made my Top 20 a couple of years ago.  Earlier this year I discovered his biography on Rod Serling in which Shadmi rightfully argues that Serling is one of the most important figures in early television.  His most recent bio-graphic novel concerns the Velvet Underground.  He documents how Lou Reed and John Cale got together, following the band through to their fourth album Loaded when Reed suddenly left the band. Both books are expertly drawn, incredibly researched and reveal Shadmi’s love of his subject matter. 

#20 A Guest In The House Emily Bloom

Abby is newly married to a dentist.  It is his second marriage.  She feels slightly uncomfortable in her new guise as a bride and a mother.  She is now step-mother to a preteen and struggles to relate to her.  There are questions about the death of the first wife and as the novel slowly moves forward not only does Abby begin to question what her husband has told her, she also begins getting visits from the dead wife’s ghost.  You think you know where this is going (I sure did) but by the end of the novel, you realize you didn’t have a clue.  And you might even have to read parts of the book again to fully comprehend what happened at the end, but all the pieces of this puzzle are laid out for us to see, we just don’t recognize them. 

Missing In Action spines are all seen below!

[booknutmusings]

Sunshine

by Jarrett J. Korsoczka Support your local independent bookstore: buy it there! Content: There are sick kids and talk of death. It’s in the Graphic Novel section of the bookstore. In the companion to Hey Kiddo, Krosoczka depicts his experiences with Camp Sunshine, a place for sick kids – many of them terminally ill – and their families to go to get away from hospitals and being sick. Krosoczka…