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Button Pusher #1
Button Pusher
A memoir-driven realistic graphic novel about Tyler, a child who is diagnosed with ADHD and has to discover for himself how to best manage it.
Tyler’s brain is different. Unlike his friends, he has a hard time paying attention in class. He acts out in goofy, over-the-top ways. Sometimes, he even does dangerous things―like cut up a bus seat with a pocketknife or hang out of an attic window.
To the adults in his life, Tyler seems like a troublemaker. But he knows that he’s not. Tyler is curious and creative. He’s the best artist in his grade, and when he can focus, he gets great grades. He doesn’t want to cause trouble, but sometimes he just feels like he can’t control himself.
In Button Pusher , cartoonist Tyler Page uses his own childhood experiences to explore what it means to grow up with ADHD. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, Tyler’s story is raw and enlightening, inviting you to see the world from a new perspective.
Tyler’s brain is different. Unlike his friends, he has a hard time paying attention in class. He acts out in goofy, over-the-top ways. Sometimes, he even does dangerous things―like cut up a bus seat with a pocketknife or hang out of an attic window.
To the adults in his life, Tyler seems like a troublemaker. But he knows that he’s not. Tyler is curious and creative. He’s the best artist in his grade, and when he can focus, he gets great grades. He doesn’t want to cause trouble, but sometimes he just feels like he can’t control himself.
In Button Pusher , cartoonist Tyler Page uses his own childhood experiences to explore what it means to grow up with ADHD. From diagnosis to treatment and beyond, Tyler’s story is raw and enlightening, inviting you to see the world from a new perspective.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published April 12, 2022
16 people are currently reading
927 people want to read
About the author
Tyler Page
31 books20 followersTyler Page is an Eisner-nominated and Xeric Grant winning comics artist and educator based in Minneapolis, MN.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 245 reviews
May 6, 2022
Tyler Page recounts how his diagnosis of ADHD and his use of Ritalin affected his elementary through high school years in the 1980s and 1990s. It's intended for a younger audience, but I'm not sure they'll find all the doctor office visits and reports and asides about brain development nearly as engaging as I did. There are also extensive scenes about his parent's tempestuous marriage, aggravated by his father's own ADHD issues.
This makes me eager to read Page's Raised on Ritalin, which covers the history of ADHD and the ongoing struggles Page had with ADHD in adulthood hinted at in the closing pages of this book. It's available to read online at:
http://raisedonritalincomic.blogspot....
This makes me eager to read Page's Raised on Ritalin, which covers the history of ADHD and the ongoing struggles Page had with ADHD in adulthood hinted at in the closing pages of this book. It's available to read online at:
http://raisedonritalincomic.blogspot....
January 20, 2022
3 point 5? A solid graphic memoir both of growing up with ADHD and growing up in a home with an adult prone to sudden explosive anger (and likely an undiagnosed mental illness). Interspersed within the narrative are occasional spreads explaining how ADHD (and Ritalin) work and affect the brain. Like 54 Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers, Button Pusher emphasizes that being unable to control one’s impulses, when it happens, is just that—not willful action or a sign of disrespect. I think we probably can’t hear that message enough. I also appreciated the frank look at a couple raising children, one of whom explodes and one of whom is living with explosions and trying to decide what to do. Kids not only need to see themselves in books, they need to see their families and/or living situations in books.
Am purchasing for library. From a digital ARC via #netgalley
Am purchasing for library. From a digital ARC via #netgalley
July 26, 2022
Right in the middle on this one. An important subject, but I found the mixture of educational material, memoir, and some repetitiveness in the middle (especially telling in the form of doctor notes summing up what we'd already seen - unnecessary) a bit distracting. And when Tyler gained all the weight he went right back to being skinny again in the illustrations -- continuity was lacking. I assume there will be a "sequel" showing Tyler's adult dealing with ADHD from how the graphic novel ends -- "But that's another story."
April 13, 2022
This memoir of childhood ADHD is NECESSARY. Thanks, Raina, for establishing the medical-graphic-memoir-for-kids niche genre: this book will be crucial and empowering for kids and parents.
June 4, 2022
Awesome autobiographical story of a boy with ADHD and how he managed it during his childhood. Loved reading this after Holden’s ADHD diagnosis—super helpful in understanding how it works, as well as Page’s thoughts and feelings.
March 8, 2023
Owen picked this up from the library. After he read it he was telling me about it, and I felt parental concern over one of the scenes he described. I thought I’d better take a look. Button Pusher turned out to be sort of a memoir in graphic novel form. It’s the author’s experience of growing up with ADHD in the early-ish days of Ritalin (seemed like late 80’s-early 90’s). It also seems like his dad has adult ADD which expresses as what I would label as domestic violence, but the book never calls it that outright. His parents have screaming fights and his dad throws things. One time he punches the mom (not illustrated, fyi). There are pages interspersed throughout the book that provide factual information about ADHD, medication, brain function and development... Owen told me he mostly skipped those pages, but I liked them. Even though the content is alarming, it’s treated fairly and the tone doesn’t get too heavy, very understanding and accepting. I am glad that Owen read this. I like when he reads things that help in understanding what other people go through. That being said, this probably isn’t right for all kids. The content is a little more mature, so maybe middle school +. It will definitely be amazing for kids dealing with ADHD in a similar way or tricky home lives. It’s very validating and accepting and ends on a hopeful note. Reading it as myself and not with my mom goggles, I really appreciated how it portrays the parents trying to figure out what was going on with their kid and how to help. They didn’t get it right the first time, but they do get there and that was hopeful, too.
July 2, 2022
This accessible graphic memoir details the author's childhood diagnosis of ADHD and his life progressing through high school with it. I so appreciate the moments in this book where it steps away from the narrative and takes the time to give the social, scientific, and medical definitions and history of ADHD and the medications we have used in the past to help the symptoms. For those who do not have ADHD this story can work to de-stigmatize it as well as lend understanding. For myself as a person with ADHD, I have never felt more seen by any book. As Page notes, ADHD presents very differently from person to person, especially between male and female. I wasn't given medication to manage it and some of the outward facing symptoms weren't as dramatic as his experiences. However, the similarities of what it is like to grow up with a nuerodivergent brain in a time where very little was understood about it, stand out. I found that as I read I even was coming to understand more about myself and my own journey. As someone who was also told that I would "grow out of it" when instead it just internalizes and the suffering becomes masked, it has been very freeing to embrace my own brain and be proud of myself regardless. This is a great book and would benefit to readers of all backgrounds and brains types.
December 7, 2022
This book should be required reading for all teachers everywhere, I can’t believe I found it!
Full disclosure: as a teacher, I’ve always had a hard time really understanding the hows and whys of supporting students with ADHD or ADD. I knew the official advice and guidance but found it difficult to understand why they needed this support any more than the next slightly immature teenager sat next to them.
This graphic novel autobiography has explained it better than any CPD session ever has. I consumed it completely in the space of a few hours and it has helped me (finally) understand *why* students might behave/feel/react in the ways they do. It also makes those CPD sessions over the years seem a little more rational too!
If you work with young people, you should read this book.
Full disclosure: as a teacher, I’ve always had a hard time really understanding the hows and whys of supporting students with ADHD or ADD. I knew the official advice and guidance but found it difficult to understand why they needed this support any more than the next slightly immature teenager sat next to them.
This graphic novel autobiography has explained it better than any CPD session ever has. I consumed it completely in the space of a few hours and it has helped me (finally) understand *why* students might behave/feel/react in the ways they do. It also makes those CPD sessions over the years seem a little more rational too!
If you work with young people, you should read this book.
April 21, 2022
So very well done. Painfully relatable.
November 30, 2022
its been awhile since i picked up a graphic memoir & im so glad that its about growing up with ADHD this time - tyler page tells his childhood experiences and his journey to getting a diagnosis.
rounding this up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. theres so much to say about this book but heres my top 3 reasons on why i really like this book 1) contains lots of great information about ADHD 2) THE BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWN BY TYLER HIMSELF 😍 3) its as raw as it gets, inviting readers to see the world from a new perspective.
personally i would prefer if the pacing could be a little bit slower. the reading experience might be all over the place/quite a lot take in at certain parts especially when it switches to informative mode but funnily its also partly one of the reasons why i like it overall - its an enjoyable read yet v informative at the same time.
would highly recommend if youre not familiar with ADHD in the first place as this would be a great starter to be more aware of it. even though this is targeted to younger readers, i kinda felt that its a more suitable read for adults where you'll get to benefit from it more. some information might be difficult to understand and not too sure if it would catch their full attention as its quite wordy.
rounding this up to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. theres so much to say about this book but heres my top 3 reasons on why i really like this book 1) contains lots of great information about ADHD 2) THE BEAUTIFUL ILLUSTRATIONS DRAWN BY TYLER HIMSELF 😍 3) its as raw as it gets, inviting readers to see the world from a new perspective.
personally i would prefer if the pacing could be a little bit slower. the reading experience might be all over the place/quite a lot take in at certain parts especially when it switches to informative mode but funnily its also partly one of the reasons why i like it overall - its an enjoyable read yet v informative at the same time.
would highly recommend if youre not familiar with ADHD in the first place as this would be a great starter to be more aware of it. even though this is targeted to younger readers, i kinda felt that its a more suitable read for adults where you'll get to benefit from it more. some information might be difficult to understand and not too sure if it would catch their full attention as its quite wordy.
February 19, 2023
An informative, honest and enjoyable graphic novel about living with ADHD and how it has impacted the author's schooling, friendships and childhood.
Not only does the book offer valuable insight into the condition, Tyler Page also addresses a wide range of topics such as medication and the stigma surrounding it, growing up with a volatile (abusive?) parent, as well as how labels can do both harm and good. I love how the technical/medical info was so well-presented, in a manner that's easy to digest and understand.
A great read that I learnt lots from and would definitely recommend.
Not only does the book offer valuable insight into the condition, Tyler Page also addresses a wide range of topics such as medication and the stigma surrounding it, growing up with a volatile (abusive?) parent, as well as how labels can do both harm and good. I love how the technical/medical info was so well-presented, in a manner that's easy to digest and understand.
A great read that I learnt lots from and would definitely recommend.
October 24, 2022
Reading this book was a surreal experience. I was emotional within the first few pages, and over and over it seemed to be depicting moments ripped from my own memories. The specificity--getting up to sharpen my pencils five times in a class, scoring well on tests yet doing poorly in class, the constant foot-tapping, THE TIME BLINDNESS, daydreaming and getting lost in fictional worlds when my own world seemed ugly and violent and traumatic, and so, so much more. I'm a few years younger than Tyler Page, and our lives and backgrounds differ a bit, but still, our stories shared such a throughline that it was at times a challenge to get through the pages. Our biggest difference is, when I was diagnosed with ADD in the early nineties, the fear of Ritalin overprescribing and the stigma of ADD kids was more rampant, and so my traditional Mexican mother rejected both, and kind of just...pushed past it. Where Tyler was medicated more heavily and heavily over the years, I kind of floated around untreated, my mind splattering all over the place until my mid-2os, when I started meditating and going to therapy and really working on coping skills. I probably still need to be medicated, and will likely try it at some point? In the meantime I'm keeping a close eye on on my son, who is still young but exhibiting some of the signs, so that I can try and be aware and help him as much as possible.
As for the book itself, I think it does a wonderful job of giving a case study of ADHD and showing how it can present, evolve, and be so easily dismissed. I think another important aspect that it shows is that ADHD is often comorbid with some sort of childhood trauma, and that it is very likely hereditary, which are two things that I feel are too rarely discussed in ADHD discourse. I would have liked for the book to maybe dig into these things a bit more, to be honest. For a story that covers such serious moments, I occasionally felt that things were being breezed by. My best guess as to why is because this book is A.) an all-ages book, rather than the more complex and mature graphic memoir that I might be used to, and B.) serving as a kind of broad survey that attempted to give a broad and clinical picture of the condition over the span of 10+ years, which held it back from digging in too deep or analytically into some of the items present.
The art is accessible and fun and sometimes surprisingly expressive. It may have been pure projection, but in the first few pages young Tyler is praised for his creative merit--in this case, drawing--and there is a panel of him feeling exulted, and I was struck by how true the image was, I could feel his heart full of validation and joy and triumph all in one little image. This is juxtaposed of course by a sensory-seeking, boundary-pushing act of recklessness, and is that sequence was when I knew that this book was going to cater to me, someone who has lived those moments a hundred times in my messy, chaotic life.
So I might be fish in a barrel with this one! Part of me thinks that every educator and maybe even every parent should read it, because ADHD doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but on the contrary, it is becoming more prevalent, especially in adults like myself, to which point I hope that Tyler Page does a sequel dealing with his adult ADHD struggles! It's rare that I feel seen! I would like more, please!
4.5 stars!
As for the book itself, I think it does a wonderful job of giving a case study of ADHD and showing how it can present, evolve, and be so easily dismissed. I think another important aspect that it shows is that ADHD is often comorbid with some sort of childhood trauma, and that it is very likely hereditary, which are two things that I feel are too rarely discussed in ADHD discourse. I would have liked for the book to maybe dig into these things a bit more, to be honest. For a story that covers such serious moments, I occasionally felt that things were being breezed by. My best guess as to why is because this book is A.) an all-ages book, rather than the more complex and mature graphic memoir that I might be used to, and B.) serving as a kind of broad survey that attempted to give a broad and clinical picture of the condition over the span of 10+ years, which held it back from digging in too deep or analytically into some of the items present.
The art is accessible and fun and sometimes surprisingly expressive. It may have been pure projection, but in the first few pages young Tyler is praised for his creative merit--in this case, drawing--and there is a panel of him feeling exulted, and I was struck by how true the image was, I could feel his heart full of validation and joy and triumph all in one little image. This is juxtaposed of course by a sensory-seeking, boundary-pushing act of recklessness, and is that sequence was when I knew that this book was going to cater to me, someone who has lived those moments a hundred times in my messy, chaotic life.
So I might be fish in a barrel with this one! Part of me thinks that every educator and maybe even every parent should read it, because ADHD doesn't seem to be going anywhere, but on the contrary, it is becoming more prevalent, especially in adults like myself, to which point I hope that Tyler Page does a sequel dealing with his adult ADHD struggles! It's rare that I feel seen! I would like more, please!
4.5 stars!
August 16, 2022
Tyler Page presents a fairly engaging look at his youthful ADHD diagnosis and upsetting family life in Button Pusher. Young Tyler is a ball of energy and seems to act without thinking - ritalin helps. Tyler's dad is a ball of anger, lashing out irrationally and refusing to get help. Tyler's mom can't muster the strength to escape with her boys. It's a sad existence, though Tyler punctuates the fights with calm moments of family togetherness and friendship.
My only issue with Button Pusher is that the narrative is somewhat dry and repetitive. Tyler acts out, Tyler visits the doctor, dad acts out, rinse, repeat. A few infographic pages are inserted to provide more information about ADHD, but this felt like both too little and too much. Either tell the family story or alternate the family story with a history of ADHD science. The 90/10 ratio in Button Pusher wasn't ideal.
Still, the book is fast-moving and largely kept my interest. It's especially good to see ADHD in a treatment-oriented setting - would be a really good read for any young adults with ADHD or similar disorders.
My only issue with Button Pusher is that the narrative is somewhat dry and repetitive. Tyler acts out, Tyler visits the doctor, dad acts out, rinse, repeat. A few infographic pages are inserted to provide more information about ADHD, but this felt like both too little and too much. Either tell the family story or alternate the family story with a history of ADHD science. The 90/10 ratio in Button Pusher wasn't ideal.
Still, the book is fast-moving and largely kept my interest. It's especially good to see ADHD in a treatment-oriented setting - would be a really good read for any young adults with ADHD or similar disorders.
March 13, 2025
Button Pusher
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 7.85/10 overall
Credibility/Research - 8
Authenticity/Uniqueness - 7
Writing - 8
Personal Impact - 8
Intrigue - 8
Logic/Informativeness - 9
Enjoyment - 7
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ (4/5) or 7.85/10 overall
Credibility/Research - 8
Authenticity/Uniqueness - 7
Writing - 8
Personal Impact - 8
Intrigue - 8
Logic/Informativeness - 9
Enjoyment - 7
May 13, 2022
This was quite good. Not exactly what I was expecting, better in many ways and not quite as powerful in others. But this was still excellent and a very fascinating and compelling read. Throughly enjoyable, relatable and entertaining.
January 30, 2025
This was a great book! I read it to my 4th graders (with some censoring of the father’s language) because several of them have ADHD. They all found it to be really informative and engaging and one of them even told me that it helped them to better understand their friends.
March 27, 2025
I loved this! Great insight for teachers with students who have ADHD (or to recommend to their students). Lovely little graphic novel !
August 15, 2022
Strengths:
The visuals, in particular, give a sense of what Tyler's ADHD looked and felt like, and his reflective commentary helps. I wanted to know what happened and was rooting for Tyler and his mom. (And kind of for his dad.) It was pretty easy to follow the elements of the story -- the characters were expressive and the panel flow was natural. The informational panels (while not without challenges - see below - provided helpful context in logical places).
Challenges:
I wanted more cues to keep track of Tyler's changing age, which was pertinent to his experience but pretty ambiguous in the drawings.
When he put on weight, the pictures were very erratic about supporting the written narrative - I often thought I'd missed a page showing him as "fat," because he always looked about the same.
I wasn't sure of the purpose of the doctor's notes in the medical chart - they seemed to summarize what just happened in the story. Maybe that was the point? But I generally felt like Yeah, that's what I just read about. No new info or insight.
The informational asides about ADHD suffered from crowding -- I'm sorry the designers couldn't devote twice as many pages to each info section, so that it could be read and absorbed more easily. Also, they were informative, but the information dumps were pretty dense going (content, terminology, and crowded format), and I wonder if they might serve as road blocks to otherwise interested readers.
The allusions at the end to new challenges as an adult with ADHD seemed like they might have been better suited to an author's note -- they didn't fit with the teen character or the story arc and made for an awkward non-ending.
The visuals, in particular, give a sense of what Tyler's ADHD looked and felt like, and his reflective commentary helps. I wanted to know what happened and was rooting for Tyler and his mom. (And kind of for his dad.) It was pretty easy to follow the elements of the story -- the characters were expressive and the panel flow was natural. The informational panels (while not without challenges - see below - provided helpful context in logical places).
Challenges:
I wanted more cues to keep track of Tyler's changing age, which was pertinent to his experience but pretty ambiguous in the drawings.
When he put on weight, the pictures were very erratic about supporting the written narrative - I often thought I'd missed a page showing him as "fat," because he always looked about the same.
I wasn't sure of the purpose of the doctor's notes in the medical chart - they seemed to summarize what just happened in the story. Maybe that was the point? But I generally felt like Yeah, that's what I just read about. No new info or insight.
The informational asides about ADHD suffered from crowding -- I'm sorry the designers couldn't devote twice as many pages to each info section, so that it could be read and absorbed more easily. Also, they were informative, but the information dumps were pretty dense going (content, terminology, and crowded format), and I wonder if they might serve as road blocks to otherwise interested readers.
The allusions at the end to new challenges as an adult with ADHD seemed like they might have been better suited to an author's note -- they didn't fit with the teen character or the story arc and made for an awkward non-ending.
November 10, 2022
I think this title misses the mark more often than it succeeds. It's published and being marketed as being ADHD focused. Which... it sort of is. But there's a lot of material here that makes it problematic when considered exclusively from that POV.
The 1980s setting is one of these. Diagnosis, etc, for ADHD has developed a lot since this time. If one were a juvenile looking at this book for information - since, you know, it's a kids non-fiction title about ADHD - this could be misleading.
The structure itself - with separate informational sections and doctor's letters - is really crummy. I tend to believe that kids read what's in front of them - it takes experience to develop the ability to know what material can be safely skipped in a book. Given that, long lists of receptor points, prescriptive doctor letters that really do little but rehash what the author has ideally just showed us - severely bog down the story and potentially lose the audience. In a similar vein, the serious domestic issues the main character deals with in his home life -while somewhat illustrative - are so extreme that they again pull out any focus. To restate - the book is poorly paced and its canvas too broad to be effective.
The are some legit issue with the art, too. It's hard to tell what age the main character is and at multiple points he seems to get younger and older at will. I found the art especially problematic when the protagonist's weight issue were discussed. His body type was not consistently drawn to reflect what the narrative was telling us - even when other characters around the main character would have larger body frames.
It's just not good at what it does - partly because it tries to do too much. Not recommended.
The 1980s setting is one of these. Diagnosis, etc, for ADHD has developed a lot since this time. If one were a juvenile looking at this book for information - since, you know, it's a kids non-fiction title about ADHD - this could be misleading.
The structure itself - with separate informational sections and doctor's letters - is really crummy. I tend to believe that kids read what's in front of them - it takes experience to develop the ability to know what material can be safely skipped in a book. Given that, long lists of receptor points, prescriptive doctor letters that really do little but rehash what the author has ideally just showed us - severely bog down the story and potentially lose the audience. In a similar vein, the serious domestic issues the main character deals with in his home life -while somewhat illustrative - are so extreme that they again pull out any focus. To restate - the book is poorly paced and its canvas too broad to be effective.
The are some legit issue with the art, too. It's hard to tell what age the main character is and at multiple points he seems to get younger and older at will. I found the art especially problematic when the protagonist's weight issue were discussed. His body type was not consistently drawn to reflect what the narrative was telling us - even when other characters around the main character would have larger body frames.
It's just not good at what it does - partly because it tries to do too much. Not recommended.
October 17, 2024
His mother and doctor are discussing the benefits of Ritalin in the center of the image, and there goes Tyler Page zooming around on the doctor's wheeled stool or testing out the light that looks into your ears. I loved the way Page conveys what it is like to be inside a brain with ADHD. His images show the way that the adult world can easily become background noise while his attention is drawn to something more immediate, more stimulating, more curious. He centers his own experience while also telling the narrative with a sensitivity for his mother, his teachers, his doctors, and even his friends. He can see now, with adult insight, how his impulsiveness must have looked and felt for those around him. I thought it was brilliant storytelling and really helpful insight. As a teacher and as a mom, this was the best portrayal I've seen of ADHD that helps me to understand and empathize.
August 25, 2024
Tyler Page was an intelligent boy, but he was often hyperactive in class and had a tendency to do things without considering the consequences. His mom initially made a doctor's appointment for him because of some headaches he'd been having, but issues at school turned it into a broader evaluation of Tyler's behavior and family situation. His mom confessed that there were some problems at home - Tyler's father was prone to sudden bouts of anger - so family therapy was proposed. As Tyler's parents tried to talk about and work through their issues, Tyler went to group therapy with other children and was eventually diagnosed with ADD (now referred to as ADHD). He was put on Ritalin and showed some improvement, but his medication still needed occasional adjustment and it was never a miracle cure.
In between scenes from Tyler's childhood, there are brief informational pages about ADHD, what we know about it, some of the benefits and drawbacks of labels, misconceptions about ADHD, and more. The author also briefly touches on ADHD in adults and women and how the way it presents can be very different from the way it presented in him as he was growing up.
This was an interesting and well laid out graphic memoir. I knew it would deal with the author's ADHD, but the issues with Tyler's parents were unexpected. There were quite a few scenes in which Tyler's father blew up and raged at his kids or, more frequently, his wife. Mostly, it's yelling and screaming as Tyler and his younger brother hole up in their room and try to pretend it isn't happening, but I should mention that there's an instance where it turns physical. It's off-page, but Tyler goes to check on his mother and discovers that his father punched a hole in a wall and his mother has a bruise on her arm.
The author also writes about some of his self-esteem issues as his weight increased, and his worries about his issues with emotional regulation and how it resembled his father's outbursts of anger. By the end of the volume, Tyler has graduated high school and is ready for the next stage of his life. He stops taking Ritalin (without talking to his doctor first) and thinks he's "cured," but the last couple pages indicate there's more to the story. I could see there being a "sequel" memoir, of sorts, in which the author goes into more detail about the effect ADHD had on him as an adult, but this stands on its own well.
Extras:
An author's note, a page of the author's childhood art, and a couple pages about the process of creating this graphic novel.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
In between scenes from Tyler's childhood, there are brief informational pages about ADHD, what we know about it, some of the benefits and drawbacks of labels, misconceptions about ADHD, and more. The author also briefly touches on ADHD in adults and women and how the way it presents can be very different from the way it presented in him as he was growing up.
This was an interesting and well laid out graphic memoir. I knew it would deal with the author's ADHD, but the issues with Tyler's parents were unexpected. There were quite a few scenes in which Tyler's father blew up and raged at his kids or, more frequently, his wife. Mostly, it's yelling and screaming as Tyler and his younger brother hole up in their room and try to pretend it isn't happening, but I should mention that there's an instance where it turns physical. It's off-page, but Tyler goes to check on his mother and discovers that his father punched a hole in a wall and his mother has a bruise on her arm.
The author also writes about some of his self-esteem issues as his weight increased, and his worries about his issues with emotional regulation and how it resembled his father's outbursts of anger. By the end of the volume, Tyler has graduated high school and is ready for the next stage of his life. He stops taking Ritalin (without talking to his doctor first) and thinks he's "cured," but the last couple pages indicate there's more to the story. I could see there being a "sequel" memoir, of sorts, in which the author goes into more detail about the effect ADHD had on him as an adult, but this stands on its own well.
Extras:
An author's note, a page of the author's childhood art, and a couple pages about the process of creating this graphic novel.
(Original review posted on A Library Girl's Familiar Diversions.)
October 6, 2022
It was good; I enjoyed it. I always appreciate perspectives on ADHD, especially since I write about it.
However, just from reading and not researching the book, I'm a little confused who this book is written for. I found it in the juvenile (not YA) section of my local library, but the informational diagrams and doctor's notes pages seem more technical than would hold the attention of most middle schoolers, I would think. But the story does seem to mostly take place during his time as a middle schooler or upper elementary schooler, so it kind of feels like kid lit?* But it's also a memoir, so maybe it's actually intended for upper YA or adult readers?
*Though, if I'm being honest, for much of the book I couldn't really tell visually how old Tyler was supposed to be. Sometimes he looked bigger, like a middle schooler, and sometimes he looked smaller, like an elementary schooler—and I don't mean time jumps. This would seem to happen within the same timeframe. He was clearly older than his little brother, which was the most helpful anchor point—based on his little brother, I figured Tyler couldn't be any younger than maybe fourth grade.
These technicalities aside, it was a good story, and Page's recollection of his parents' relationship was heart-wrenching. I loved the realistic but hopeful ending too. If he has (or ends up writing) more about his adult life, I would read it.
However, just from reading and not researching the book, I'm a little confused who this book is written for. I found it in the juvenile (not YA) section of my local library, but the informational diagrams and doctor's notes pages seem more technical than would hold the attention of most middle schoolers, I would think. But the story does seem to mostly take place during his time as a middle schooler or upper elementary schooler, so it kind of feels like kid lit?* But it's also a memoir, so maybe it's actually intended for upper YA or adult readers?
*Though, if I'm being honest, for much of the book I couldn't really tell visually how old Tyler was supposed to be. Sometimes he looked bigger, like a middle schooler, and sometimes he looked smaller, like an elementary schooler—and I don't mean time jumps. This would seem to happen within the same timeframe. He was clearly older than his little brother, which was the most helpful anchor point—based on his little brother, I figured Tyler couldn't be any younger than maybe fourth grade.
These technicalities aside, it was a good story, and Page's recollection of his parents' relationship was heart-wrenching. I loved the realistic but hopeful ending too. If he has (or ends up writing) more about his adult life, I would read it.
September 28, 2022
The author's graphic novel memoir covering his middle school and high school years being diagnosed with ADD (now known as ADHD) and living with his dysfunctional family. While my library and many other libraries have it in juvenile, it's more of a teen graphic novel due to the character aging, language, and discussion of ADHD diagnosis and medication. Also it doesn't have the humor that a lot of juvenile graphic novel memoirs have. This one is more emotionally intense. I wish there was a throwaway line that incorporated the title. Like this author, I know elementary school students are diagnosed, but for readers not experiencing that, it's a lot to take in. Page does a great job explaining his brain's struggles when it comes to school, family, friends, and everyday life. For fans of Guts and Chunky.
January 10, 2023
This is a good graphic novel about Tyler, a young boy who is diagnosed with ADHD. The story is based on the cartoonist's own experiences with growing up with ADHD.
The book was interesting and also informative. I think it would be a good read to pretty much everybody. A graphic novel is a short but effectice way to handle topics like this. The more people know, the better the prejudices can be reduced. ADHD affects the everyday life and relationships but it doesn't have to be just a negative thing. Or a thing that is seen as negative from the outside.
The drawing style of this book is okay but not really into my own personal taste. I still appreciate the cartoonists because it takes some time and effort to draw these things. And maybe even a little more effort when the topic is something so personal, something they can really relate to and have their own experiences.
The book was interesting and also informative. I think it would be a good read to pretty much everybody. A graphic novel is a short but effectice way to handle topics like this. The more people know, the better the prejudices can be reduced. ADHD affects the everyday life and relationships but it doesn't have to be just a negative thing. Or a thing that is seen as negative from the outside.
The drawing style of this book is okay but not really into my own personal taste. I still appreciate the cartoonists because it takes some time and effort to draw these things. And maybe even a little more effort when the topic is something so personal, something they can really relate to and have their own experiences.
May 6, 2022
Tyler Page recounts growing up with ADHD when treating it with medication was still fairly new. He had pretty significant hyperactivity and impulsivity, and in retrospect he could see signs of ADHD in his dad as well. I liked the illustrations and colors, as well as the informational panels about the science of ADHD (which are probably going to be over some younger readers' heads). As a parent of kids with ADHD, the last page made me sad and worried though, a cliffhanger in the worst sense.
April 18, 2022
Really great autobiographical graphic novel by Tyler Page about his experiences with ADHD while growing up. I really appreciated his accessible infographics about ADHD and how information and diagnoses have changed over the decades. It was a great reminder to be empathetic because you never know what someone may be dealing with that you can't see.
August 22, 2022
This was a very realistic story of a boy's struggle with adhd. I especially appreciated how much his dad struggled with control later in life and Tyler was able to see the difference between adhd going untreated vs treated. Definitely reminded me of some family struggles I have observed. This is for a more mature middle grade reader, 5th grade or older. Parents should know that the father in the story has several outbursts and becomes physically and verbally abusive.
November 27, 2022
Honestly, I wish this book was written/published while my oldest son was living. This book illustrates much of his struggles (the ADHD/impulsivity parts) in the classroom/life. There were so many times that he actually did some of these same things (the seat was in our van, and the attic was in the Ag room at high school, but there were many eery similarities). I wish he could have seen himself in the pages.
For the author, it hurts that his parents' marriage heaped more on his brain with inconsistency and stress from that as well that a kid cannot control along with the stress of his family needing counseling that they could not access due to dad's anger.
For the author, it hurts that his parents' marriage heaped more on his brain with inconsistency and stress from that as well that a kid cannot control along with the stress of his family needing counseling that they could not access due to dad's anger.
September 12, 2022
This was a little text heavy for the intended audience, but I loved how the ADD was portrayed. The intentions are rarely malicious, there is just very little impulse control. I see that a lot in our students. So lovable but drive ya bonkers!
December 31, 2022
Tyler Page has ADHD and this is his story of growing up, getting diagnosed and dealing with an ADHD father. There is a lot of information in this graphic novel for anyone interested in learning more about ADHD.
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