First published 2018
When his kindergarten teacher asks him to draw his family with a mommy and daddy, Jarrett Krosoczka faces a problem. His mother struggles with addiction and disappears for long stretches into rehab. His father remains a complete mystery whose name Jarrett doesn't even know. Instead, Jarrett lives with his grandparents, two loud and loving people who never expected to raise another child. Throughout his childhood, Jarrett tries to make his unusual situation seem normal while expressing himself through art. His family rarely discusses the chaos surrounding them. As a teenager, Jarrett finally starts uncovering the truth about his parents. He confronts his mother about her addiction and begins searching for his absent father. This memoir explores what it means to grow up in a family struggling with substance abuse and how art becomes a lifeline for survival.
Genres: family, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
320 pages · Paperback · Graphix
Content warnings: addiction, substance-abuse