Stitches by David Small
This past Sunday I read Stitches by David Small which is a fairly thick graphic novel. I’m not into reading that style of book, but I found it more enjoyable to read because even though there were pictures with a few words here and there, there was depth to the drawings.
David grew up in Detroit where his family didn’t know how to communicate. His mom was the silent/angry type and his dad busily worked as a doctor at their local hospital. His brother kept to himself. David had respiratory problems growing up and to fix his health his dad would administer radiation. What David didn’t know is that the simple removal of a suspicious lump on the side of his throat would turn him into an almost mute. Thinking they were merely removing the strange lump he wakes up and is told he has to have a second surgery. After the second surgery he wakes up with stitches up the side of his throat that look like train tracks. When he tries to speak he realizes that he can only come out with, “ACK.” What David doesn’t realize is the real reason he had the second surgery. He discovers the reason while snooping and finding a letter his mom had started to write.
Even though David’s voice is pretty much gone he still finds ways of communicating via drawing. His parents send him to a therapist where he gains confidence and finds a true friend.
This book was disturbing on so many levels. To think of growing up in a home where you’re talent and personality is squashed with bitterness, rage and silence is depressing. I am glad David survived his childhood so that he could grace us with his words and his drawings which are at times creepy, but considering how his family treated him I can see why he chose to make them appear that way.
