One in a Million: A Graphic Memoir

by Claire Lordon

Debut graphic novelist Claire Lordon’s medical misfortunes may be one in a million in this relatable memoir, but so is her determination, grit, and passion to beat the odds and reclaim her life.

Something is wrong with Claire, but she doesn’t know what. Nobody does, not even her doctors. All she wants is to return to her happy and athletic teenage self. But her accumulating symptoms—chronic fatigue, pounding headaches, weight gain—hint that there’s something not right inside Claire’s body. Claire’s high school experience becomes filled with MRIs, visits to the Mayo Clinic, and multiple surgeries to remove a brain tumor. But even in her most difficult moments battling chronic illness, Claire manages to find solace in her family, her closest friends, and her art. A deeply personal and visually arresting memoir that draws on the author’s high school diaries and drawings, One in a Million is also a sophisticated portrayal of pain, depression, and fear that any teen or adult can relate to. With a sensitive preface and an author’s note connecting past to present, this true story of resilience strikes a moving balance between raw honesty in the face of medical and mental trauma and the everyday musings of a teenager.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Disability, Comics, Health, Mental Health

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

I am an American-Canadian illustrator, designer, and author living in Vancouver, Canada. I create children's books, comics, surface designs, murals, maps, and greeting cards for a number of companies.

I earned my BFA in illustration at the Rhode Island School of Design.

My work is inspired by my lifelong spirit for adventure, a love of the outdoors, and an enthusiasm for travel. I enjoy long distance running, hiking, lacrosse, curling, and snowboarding.

Reviews

[Stephanie Affinito · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many books I wish I had access to when I was younger. This is one of those books.
It’s a graphic memoir about Claire Lordon’s experiences growing up with a chronic illness. As a teenager who struggled with a chronic illness of her own, I felt seen. And while Claire and I were not fighting the same battles, I could completely relate to her feelings of anxiety, depression and fear as her and her family tried to make sense of it all. Captured in shades of purple, black and white, readers can literally see and feel what Claire went through: her frustration, her strength and her perseverance and hope, too. For some readers like me, this book feels like a kindred spirit and for others, it’s sure to develop a better understanding of what life is like for some. But at its core, it’s a book of strength, determination and overcoming the odds.

[George Ilsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a graphic memoir depicting a high school student's struggles facing an undiagnosed ailment. My sympathy for the young author's predicament makes me want to rate the book higher than I otherwise might.

The narrative was interrupted by pages of visual depictions of emotional states such as depression, anxiety, brain fog, etc, and each of these took up several pages. The author's focus on the importance of her art studies worked against the impact of these interruptions.

I read this whole thing in under an hour. I appreciated the honesty, and the bravery showing the details of medical procedures, but overall the presentation seemed aimed at a very young audience.

[Estibaliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This graphic novel memoir was actually great, in that the author really did a fantastic job in reflecting her own personal experience with illness, especially considering she had to juggle all the gruesome symptoms with being a teenager in high school.

Even though the story progresses at a good pace, and it is presented in the form of short diary entries (or kind of), the narration is really immersive, and I really suffered along with our hero/author... even if that is of course an exaggeration, as she really went through hell and back with that mysterious illness later identified as Cushing's Disease.

The way the different symptoms are represented with some black pages of metaphorical drawing was so on point, that the fact the artwork style is not necessarily my favorite didn't affect at all the whole 'enjoyment' of the final product.

Overall, this is a tough story, but also an encouraging one, and I for sure appreciate Claire Lordon sharing with everyone.

4.5

[Nicky W. (Bookstacks_and_Coffeecups) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This one really tugged at the whole range of emotions. This is a Non-Fiction YA #OwnVoices Graphic Memoir depicting the Authors struggles as a teen living through the confusion/pain/fear etc of seeking diagnosis for an ever accumulating range of symptoms and then undergoing terrifying treatment for a one in a million diagnosis .

This book will appeal to anyone young or old who has suffered through the journey (nightmare) of seeking medical help for chronic illness. The authors own illustrations depicting emotions and symptoms such as depression, pain, anxiety,insomnia brain fog, fear and nightmares made me tear up more then once because I could relate to them so well in my own struggles with Hashimotos.

I highly recommend this for teens and adults who are or have in the past dealt with any kind of chronic illness or medical challenges past or present. I also really recommend this to those who have a loved one going through or who has gone through medical challenges or simply wants a better understanding or to develop a stronger empathy for what such ones go through.

Thank you to the Author and to Penguin Teen Canada for an ARC of this novel to review. All opinions are my own.

[Michelle Xu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the Penguin Reads Team for sending me an ARC of this book! This was my first time reading a graphic memoir and I really appreciated the art style. As an artist myself, I could see the detail and thought that went behind each scene and frame. I admired the art but was also touched by the story. I really felt for Claire and the illustrated accompaniments showing her different symptoms helped me realize how difficult it is to be balancing school as a teenager wanting to fit in with others her age but still having to deal with the constant tests and doctors appointments.

I’m glad the book led to a happy ending, though sometimes I felt like the pacing of the book could have been worked through more. At times it felt like scenes would end and start so abruptly, the flow didn’t always feel seamless and the ending felt sudden, like more needed to be resolved but was quickly wrapped up. But regardless, I still have to applaud the author for telling her story and using amazing art to communicate it. I loved reading the written epilogue that gave a summary of Claire’s life up to now, and it makes me more curious to look for her other illustrations and works.

Thank you again to Penguin Random House for letting me read and review this early!

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

To go from super active/athletic to being in pain, slowing down and feeling ill all the time takes a toll on a person's mental health. To finally learn, after years of seeking an answer, that you have been diagnosed with a disease that only one in a million people are diagnosed with would be a relief. Not for Claire. Just when you think you are "cured", more complications surface. Not the way a girl who is entering her senior year, looking forward to applying to colleges, wants life to go. This book will resonate with other young people who are going through something similar as Claire. The fear of the unknown, not knowing if today is going to be a better day or a worse day. Will the pain ever end? I truly look forward to reading a final copy of the book. I am curious to see what colors the author uses to reflect the pain she goes through. I do like how the characters are drawn with no facial features. They could be anyone: a patient, a parent, etc. Thank you Penguin Reads and Edelweiss for the e-Arc of this amazing book.

[Hannah]

I mean, I guessed correctly that it was Cushing's pretty much immediately, but I've seen every episode of HOUSE a hundred times and spend a lot of time on the internet trying to figure out my own mystery illness, so I assume it will actually not be obvious to regular people who don't have honorary medical degrees from television. Anyway, this was an arc so the color wasn't all there, and I found it okay but not amazing. The illustration interludes describing things like anxiety and depression were well done (and probably even more impactful in the final color).

[Robin | BookAdoration Marchadour · Rating 5 out of 5]

One in a Million is a unique memoir written and illustrated in the form of a graphic novel. It is a must read for anyone who is dealing with a chronic illness. The author, Claire Lordon, documents her time in high school as she is suffering from some really bizarre symptoms that doctors are initially unable to diagnose. It beautifully paints a picture of the fear, anxiety and depression that is weighing heavily on her mental health while she is battling debilitating physical symptoms at the same time. The toll that it takes on her friendships and school life is heartbreaking. 🥺💔 Yet through it all Claire is resilient as she leans into the healing powers of artwork along with her her parents and a few close friends for support. Anyone who is going through a difficult health journey will find solace in this graphic novel. 🩷

This graphic novel would make a great addition to your school library or classroom! It releases on October 10th, 2023.

Thank you to Penguin Random House for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The creator of this graphic memoir has sat and really processed the emotions of what happened to her as a teenager and you can tell. She had access to great doctors, a loving family, therapy and it was still such a difficult experience for her. I felt her plight, especially in the really visceral and in-your-face descriptions/drawings of the symptoms she felt. I personally like graphic memoirs more focused on internal thoughts than dialogue, so I appreciate dark and emotional books like this that really focus on memories and deep feelings. It really comes through with the purple tones and facial drawings. My only qualm is that I thought the ending could've been better executed as another health issue was lightly brought up and resolved.

[Alix · Rating 5 out of 5]

This made me feel so seen I had hydrocephalus due to being shaken as a baby and have issues that no doctor has been able to figure out, they found out 1 part about it but I'm still being looked at, the author showed me you can still achieve your goals well ill, i loved following along with her story and would have loved to be her friend, I would have Been there to support you every step of the way. I hope even though the author is still struggling that she still gets at least one day where she's happy. Thank you for being brave enough to share your story.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was like reading a book about my own childhood experience with a brain tumor. While Claire's journey was very different from mine in many ways, so many of the things she went through were entirely relatable!! Highly recommended for anyone who's gone through the difficulties of diagnosing a chronic illness and the pain, depression and anxiety that can go along with it. 10/10 highly recommend this one!

[Kelsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

CW: Chronic illness, anxiety & depression

As someone who has been going through my own ongoing, awful struggle with chronic/mystery illnesses (though not the same one) for the last few years, Claire's honest story about her experience is incredibly relatable and affirming.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic memoir really captures the feelings of being chronically ill, especially when you’re waiting on a diagnosis and desperate for answers. I especially enjoyed the white-on-black illustrations of the way internal and mental symptoms manifest. The convey how the world can boil down to just that emotion and just that sensation.

[Meaghan O'Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who also had mysterious symptoms in 2007, who was also a teenager at a time, relating to this truly is one in a million

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this would be a really great read for any young person dealing with chronic illness.

[Jessica Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

Final review at end

Well, shit. I just read this whole thing on Edelweiss only to realize that it was missing most of the artwork (I thought it was a deliberate choice until searching it up elsewhere, which I should have done initially). I need to reread a different way and/or when it comes out.
The story itself is quite relatable in a lot of ways that aren't talked about (T1D over here - there are a lot of chronically ill kids that yearn to feel seen!!) but there is something so blunt about the writing that makes it come off more like an outline of a book than the finished product - and now that I wrote that, I'm seriously wondering if what I read was a very, VERY early draft which would make a ton of sense. The author and her friends also come across as very young-their behavior is much more 12 year old than 17 year old, and I wonder how that would impact teen readers.

Okay so I just got the final copy at work and it hasn't changed much from Edelweiss version I read. While I think this is an important story that deals with something many people face and don't often read about - chronic illness, especially chronic illness that is undiagnosed - the writing style just wasn't it for me. It read very, very young and I think that teens will be turned off a bit by that. I do wish this was released for middle grade because I think it'd be great in that age group, or that the writing was leveled up a bit.

[Sai theengineerisreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Equally entertaining and informative, this debut graphic memoir narrates Claire Lordon's grueling story as she grew up with a medical condition that is considered as one in a million.

I like how Claire Lordon chose to deliver an honest and straightforward (though heartbreaking at times) story about what really happened with her. This is my first time reading a non-fiction graphic novel and it's a recommended experience in my honest opinion.

This is a recommended read but please check trigger warnings before diving into the books especially if you have trauma/experience with repetitive hospitalization.

Thank you Candlewick Press for the advance reading copy.

RATING: 4.5stars

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

A graphic memoir about the author's experience as a teenager with an undiagnosed, chronic condition. There are definite strengths: the expressionistic pages that focus on things like fear and nightmares, how it communicates the anxiety and even boredom that comes with constant doctor visits. But the flow is pretty choppy, with a ton of short scenes that start and end abruptly and don't add much. Still, this is a book that will find a happy home with a lot of readers, those who can identify with Lordon because of their own health difficulties and for others because of their experience as friends or family to people with chronic conditions.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I give a book two stars, it doesn't necessarily mean it wasn't a good book. There are lots of good things to garner from the story Claire tells. But, for me, when I was finished with the book, I felt it was okay. I could relate to her frustration when you have something going on with your body, but no one seems to be able to give it a name. Throw in trying to be a "normal" teenager and deal with all that comes with that and Claire had her hands full of issues only made worse by her health condition. While it comes with trigger warnings, I thought Claire did a great job of incorporating her difficult feelings into the story in a very real and non-threatening way.

[Ella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this memoir about chronic illness and the search for answers when there is no diagnosis in sight. Claire’s anxiety about her future and depictions of very various mental health states are heartbreaking yet so relatable. I was particularly moved by her family and friend’s support as she navigated her health challenges. Highly recommended for any kid going through a rough time medically and all those who love them.

[Jo-Chan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really really really wanted to like this graphic novel because of the topics it covered and the artistic depictions of depression, anxiety, etc. However, it was hard to read as it felt like the book was talking at the reader rather than inviting the reader into a very personal and difficult part of someone's life.

[Kathreadsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

A courageous and vulnerable look into what it feels like to be incredibly sick and the doctors have no idea what's wrong with you.
Do Read the trigger warnings, as this deals with depression and medical trauma. But I think this is a really important read.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

In this graphic novel style memoir, we see the health problems that Lordon had to deal with in high school. Once an active lacrosse player, she was plagued by a wide range of troublesome symptoms that doctors struggled to diagnose. Among these were extreme fatigue, weight gain, headaches, hair loss, brain fog, and the attendant anxiety and depression. Going to doctor's appointments and for testing made her feel that she was taking too much of her parents' time, and caused her to miss a lot of school. She takes a lot of comfort from her art, although she is irritated when the art teacher doesn't think that she can succeed in an honors class. She didn't let her friends know what was going on, and blamed her absence from the lacrosse team on a fractured ankle that was slow to heal and required surgery. Eventually, she is referred to the Mayo clinic, where they find a tumor on her pituitary gland and recommend surgery. Cushings disease, while rare in people in their teens, is also an issue. The surgery for her tumor is painful and the recuperation drawn out, and the surgery didn't even get all of the tumor, causing her to go back for more. While not actively suicidal, the thoughts were there, and being dead sometimes sounded better than dealing with so many issues and feeling so horrible. Despite all of this, Claire manages to get through high school with academic honors, play lacrosse again, and get into the Rhode Island School of Design. Eventually, the doctors were able to make some progress on treating her disease, and an end note tells us that while she still has health issues, she has managed to run a marathon and is pursuing art as a career.

The advanced copy was in black and white, but the finished copy is going to be in two colors. Judging from the cover, I'm guessing that purple will be involved, but I will definitely have to take a look at a finished copy.

Lordon's artwork is simple but expressive, and there is a solid feeling of the 2010s in the style of dress and the interests the characters have. The pages depicting her mental state are dark and chaotic, which really gives the reader a feel for her emotions. I was very glad that her parents had her in therapy to help her process her feelings, and there is an especially good scene where Claire talks to her mother with her therapist, and is reassured that it's not "too much trouble" for her parents to make sure she is okay.

It was good to see some love for lacrosse; I can't say that I've read many books that included that sport, but perhaps there is more interest in it in the author's native Canada than in Ohio!

There are not many books about teens with chronic health conditions, although there are a growing number that deal with mental health. This is a good choice for readers who were interested in Fung's Living with Viola, Wang's Stargazing, and of course, Telgemeier's Guts.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

There is so much that humans don't understand about the human body.
It might be a surprise to some, but the more I learn about medicine and doctors and bodies, the clearer it is that it's all a huge mystery. My partner has a variety of chronic and degenerative conditions, and is in the process of being approved for disability benefits, so I've learned a lot of about the medical world in the last decade or so.

A lot of this story feels incredibly familiar. The frustration, the longer and longer drives to doctor appointments, the cacophony of prescriptions...

This is a sweet, very teenage, perspective on all of this. The tone is focused on what she's missing out on, what she looks like. She has the benefit of caregivers who are on top of her care, which takes that weight off of her shoulders.
I very much appreciated the teenage artwork about this kid's feelings. Most of the story is told in purple tones in a style like the cover illustration of Lordon, but there are sections in black, white and gray that are either directly taken from her artwork at the time, or recreations of that art (I can't remember which).

Read with:
Guts by Raina Telgemeier
The work of Laura Lee Gulledge
Rx by Rachel Lindsay
Mis(h)adra by Iasmin Omar Ata
The Story of my Tits by Jennifer Hayden
Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney
Epileptic by David B.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗜𝗡 𝗔 𝗠𝗜𝗟𝗟𝗜𝗢𝗡 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝗻 offers a deeply moving portrayal of her journey battling a mysterious illness during her teenage years. Lordon's graphic memoir vividly captures the raw emotions and physical struggles she endured, from chronic fatigue to multiple surgeries. Despite the challenging subject matter, the narrative maintains a captivating pace, drawing readers into Lordon's world through her intimate diary entries. As she grapples with pain and uncertainty, the unwavering support of family and friends shines through, offering moments of solace amid the darkness. Lordon's resilience and honesty make this memoir a powerful and relatable read, shedding light on the complexities of medical and mental trauma with grace and courage.

During my vacation, I read "Ellie Haycock is Totally Normal" by Gretchen Schreiber, and found it to be a similar narrative. It explores the challenges faced by teenagers dealing with undiagnosed medical conditions, including depression, anxiety, and fear. Both books draw from the authors' real-life experiences, aiming to provide support to teens in similar situations. However, I believe they both fell short in offering coping mechanisms, presenting more as personal accounts than guides. One aspect I appreciated was the presence of supportive friends in both narratives, aiding the protagonists through their struggles.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a read, which touches the heart, pulls at the gut, and awakens awareness at the same time...oh, and is entertaining as well.

Claire's life has been a bumpy ride for years thanks to constant symptoms, which never seem to bring a true diagnosis. Not only the continual parade of doctor visits, tests and hospitalizations take their toll on her physically, but her mental state isn't any better. While life becomes a struggle and depression threatens to tug Claire down, there are rays of hope, too.

The author's choice to head in the graphic novel direction with this story was a good one. The graphics are simple and yet, bring across the scenes in just the right way. More on this end would have been less, and yet, the graphics bring the perfect hint of lightness to keep this theme from dragging down too much. This form makes the tale and topic more accessible, while keeping it potent at the same time.

Claire faces realistic struggles, and her thoughts, actions, and emotions are easy to connect with, especially for teens. She has doubts, darker moments, and difficult problems to deal with. All of this comes across realistically and offers food for thought. But Claire is not alone. Her family's support is inspiring as well as that from a few friends. It creates a healthy foundation for the ray of needed hope as the troubles mount. Plus, this opens the eyes to Cushing's disease and promotes its awareness.

I see this as a great edition to school libraries and believe that especially young adult readers will find themselves drawn into this read. I received a DRC and found this to be well done read.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars, easily rounded up. A simple, quick read about the author's teen years struggling to balance school and friendships with endless medical tests trying to diagnose and then treat her mysterious chronic illness, while symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and headaches wear her down and make everything more difficult. Once happy and athletic, Claire struggles very relatably with fears for her future (how can she get into college if she keeps falling asleep in class?) and anxiety about how her condition might affect friendships (will friends abandon her or treat her differently if they know there's something wrong with her?). Treatment and recovery bring their own symptoms and anxieties. Claire's different emotional states are portrayed with pages of relatable symbolic imagery (depression as falling into a hole, etc). Her art-school concerns distract a bit from the health side, but this also reflects how many directions her mind was being pulled at the same time. The story ends on a hopeful note as Claire makes different kinds of progress in life.
Teens who have dealt with health issues should find this story relatable, and readers who like real-life stories may be interested in this look at what it's like to deal with serious health problems, especially as a high school student.

Content concerns: no swearing, no violence, no drinking/drugs, no nudity, no romance or sex; depression, anxiety, occasional non-graphic portrayal of medical procedures (IV needles, simplified non-gory diagrams of what surgery would involve), fear of death

[Sally Kruger]

Being one in a million is not always a good thing. Also, as the cover states, "High school is hard enough without a mysterious illness."

In this graphic memior by author/illustrator Claire Lordon, readers will learn the painful story of her battle to have her mysterious illness diagnosed and treated. In her young teens Claire began experiencing an illness that caused symptoms like weight gain, acne, hair loss/excessive hair growth, and agonizing headaches. Multiple doctor appointments and tons of tests later, no one seemed to know what was causing the symptoms. By age 17, Claire is desperately trying to keep going to school, staying active, and managing some sort of life all the while wanting someone to figure out what is wrong with her.

Finally, Claire is diagnosed with Cushings disease which is caused by a tumor on her pituitary gland. Claire bravely takes readers through the years' worth of surgeries and treatment after her diagnosis. She tells of the anxiety, stress, and depression she experiences. She says her story has a happy ending, but she also shares the continued issues she lives with on a daily basis.

[Kristi Kasper · Rating 5 out of 5]

While the typical high school experience can be pretty tumultuous, Claire Lordon experienced a whole layer of added challenges during this time. Claire spent months struggling with health issues that proved hard to diagnose and then was finally handed a diagnosis of a rare, and hard to treat, disease.

Though her high school years were filled with unique difficulties, Claire’s story is an inspirational one. Claire was determined not to let her illness derail her ambitious plans for her future. She worked incredibly hard, while very sick (extreme fatigue, constant headaches and a lot of missed school) to achieve her goals. In fact, this story is a graphic memoir written AND illustrated by Claire all these years later! She worked really hard, got into the college of her dreams (RISD) and became an artist/author! She is now sharing her moving and triumphant tale with others!

This was a really candid and unique story that reminds the reader that you truly don’t know what another person may be going through.

[Miss Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heartfelt autobiographical graphic novel recalling a difficult time at high school due to medical misfortunes that remained undiagnosed for a long time followed by several surgeries. By revisiting this period of her life, Lordon has captured realistic thoughts of the time: 'Kathryn and I just became friends. Do I tell her the truth? If I do, what will happen? Will she still want to be friends with me? Will she tell everyone? What do I say? [to the question 'what are you doing for spring break?'] Thoughts after visits to the Mayo Clinic: 'I still have more questions than answers.' Thoughts concerning her upcoming operation after informing her teachers of the need for extra time and time off school: 'If I don't have much of a present, what kind of future will I have?' The illustrations are beautiful and the darker depressive mental health pages are pretty strong often shown with attacking or cyclical movements. What a neat front cover!