Santat, Dan. First Time for Everything, A. Dan Santat, Illus. First Second, 02/2023. 320pp. Graphic. GRADES 5 – 8. $22.99. 978-1-626-72415-0. Paper $14.99. 978-1-250-85104-8. OUTSTANDING.
The summer before high school, Dan’s parents send him on a whirlwind group tour of Europe. As an only kid, middle school has been pretty brutal, and Dan, who has retreated into anonymity, is pushed out of his shell. Adventures, epic embarrassments, and unexpected friendships combine in a summer full of firsts that changes his understanding of himself and what the world has to offer. Subtly colored comic panels and personality filled characterizations are enhanced by myriad specific details that engage the reader and bring the story, and the late 1980s, to life. Like Dan, the reader encounters the unfamiliar (text in German, French teens who smoke) and like Dan we muddle through and figure it out. A respectful, affectionate, and thoroughly enjoyable graphic memoir with unexpected depth. While race is never mentioned, the author is Asian American.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired