The two Jasons. A writer and an artist. Combine to create a 300 page work of art. This is a book of illustrations, words, themes, frustrations, and immediacy. It’s a notebook that contains the thoughts and emotions of a young black man living through 2020, the pandemic and the incidents of police brutality and racial injustice. One common thread links the two oppressive situations: breath. When can people live freely, breathe freely?
This work can be shared just as easily in the English classroom as it can in the Art room. I can see high school students gaining inspiration to take their own stories to the page using their own images and words to evoke their own themes during these times. To be honest, I’m a little torn and I’m sure it’s the English teacher in me wanting more text, ha! But I also appreciate the haunting art. It truly evokes the empathy that everyone needs to practice during this time.
A strong and emotional piece of art that I will be talking to my library about asap!
4 out of 5 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster, and the creators for an advanced copy for review.
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