Published: 2023
Series: N/A
Author: Dan Santat
Illustrator: Dan Santat
Genres: Graphic Novel, Biography, Memoir, Travel, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Comics, Coming Of Age, Friendship, Romance
Audience (Grade Levels): Middle School / Grades 7-10
Number of Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 stars)
Goodreads Link: A First Time for Everything
Triggers: Bullying, mild adolescent rebellion, and typical middle school social anxieties
Review By: Corinne Blair
Publisher’s Summary:
A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat’s awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.
Dan’s always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn’t stop him from being bullied and feeling like he’s invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe. At first, he’s right. He’s stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn’t know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him―first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers… and first love. Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir based on New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat’s awkward middle school years. It celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life-changing as well.
Review:
What an awesome book, I just loved it! I was a bit teary at the end of this, mostly because I teach middle-school students and it reminded me of some of my very own students I have taught over the years. I know some of the parts of this book are fictionalized but the story of this graphic memoir felt very real. It focuses on a trip to Europe the main character and his classmates take in their 8th-grade year. I myself remember going on a trip in 7th grade and again in 8th grade (not to Europe but Boston and Philadelphia) and remember the held secrets during the trip, just as Dan experienced as well as seeing the real world without my parents.
I also really loved the illustrations in this graphic novel and could really feel the emotions jumping off the page! I also truly enjoyed the author’s note and the recreating old memories in back of the book. It was awesome to see real pictures from the author’s actual trip and to see he wrote to Amy for 6 years! Plus the QR code at the beginning of the book that brings you to a Tumblr page full of videos, illustrations, photos and playlist on Spotify!! Incredible!!!! Highly recommend!
Dan Santat’s signature pacing and structural organization keep this graphic novel moving smoothly, perfectly balancing hilarious adolescent mishaps with deeply vulnerable insights into the middle school psyche. The cover design is brightly colored, dynamic, and exceptionally eye-catching, ensuring it will instantly attract pre-teens and teenagers looking for relatable coming-of-age stories. By integrating interactive media through the multimedia QR code, Santat extends the book’s world far beyond the physical pages. I give this phenomenal graphic memoir a well-deserved 5 stars. It is an invaluable addition for middle school and high school educators, school librarians, and library collections aiming to capture the chaotic, beautiful essence of growing up.
Classroom & Curricular Connections:
- ELA / Memoir Writing: An ideal mentor text for introducing autobiographical writing, teaching students how to weave personal memories into a cohesive narrative arc, and exploring the graphic memoir format.
- Social Studies / Geography: Connects to world geography units and European history, as it visually documents a journey across France, Germany, Switzerland, and England.
- Extension Activity / Library Application: This title is an excellent selection for middle school book clubs, classroom literature circles, or high-interest independent reading programs. As an extension activity, students can select a significant “first experience” from their own lives and draft a short graphic narrative panel or a reflective journal entry, using Santat’s historical back-matter photographs as inspiration for mapping out their own memories.
- Diversity & Representation: The book supports diversity and inclusion by providing a highly authentic, sensitive look into the Asian American middle school experience, specifically focusing on male vulnerability, emotional growth, overcoming low self-esteem, and navigating peer dynamics in an elite or restrictive social environment.
Readalikes:
- New Kid by Jerry Craft
- Hey, Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier
