Spring 2019, Wild Readers 5 discussion

I read Hey Kiddo by Jarrett Krosoczka for my Goodreads review 6. Before reading this story I was very skeptical of it and wondered if I was going to like it at all because it seemed very depressing. Although it wasn’t my favorite book to read, I thought the story was interesting and the author did a good job of describing what he went through. This nonfiction story is about a boy who shares about his unconventional childhood. His mother is a heroin addict and ends up incarcerated. She gives up custody of him to his grandparents, who aren’t the best people either. He started drawing as a way to escape from his everyday sad life. Drawing became something that he could control and it was very therapeutic for him. This was my favorite part about this story because I too love to draw and I use it as therapy sometimes as well. When I’ve had a long day at work and I don’t want to be on my phone, drawing/coloring is what I go to. I think it’s the mindless act of drawing whatever I want and not having to think about my day. I think many kids can relate to this story because not every child has a great upbringing, but this story shows how you can over come it and even find joy in the little things, such as drawing. I would recommend this book, however I think if I were a parent I would have a conversation about drugs and family dynamics with my child before they read it.