Good Talk by Mira Jacob

From the publisher: Mira Jacob's touching, often humorous, and utterly unique graphic memoir takes readers on her journey as a first-generation American. At an increasingly fraught time for immigrants and their families, Good Talk delves into the difficult conversations about race, sex, love, and family that seem to be unavoidable these days.

Inspired by her popular BuzzFeed piece "37 Difficult Questions from My Mixed-Raced Son," here are Jacob's responses to her six-year-old, Zakir, who asks if the new president hates brown boys like him; uncomfortable relationship advice from her parents, who came to the United States from India one month into their arranged marriage; and the imaginary therapy sessions she has with celebrities from Bill Murray to Madonna. Jacob also investigates her own past, from her memories of being the only non-white fifth grader to win a Daughters of the American Revolution essay contest to how it felt to be a brown-skinned New Yorker on 9/11. As earnest and moving as they are sometimes laugh-out-loud funny, these are the stories that have formed one American life.

I have to say, I couldn't put it down. I wasn't sure how I would like a graphic novel, although I had read a shorter one before. Turns out, I'm a huge fan! Or maybe it was just such a great book that I wasn't bothered by the art (nah, I loved the art!).

I was so intrigued by Mira's life (she's too dark, what??), particularly the interactions with her mother- and father-in-law during the 2016 election. And while I loved the Mira/Jed interactions, it was her conversations with Z that really grabbed me. I want to meet this kid!

I was so enthralled with this memoir that I sat and read it in two hours. Think I'll pick it back up and go through it for the art this time. You can pick up this book here.

side note - I had the good fortune of meeting and chatting with Ms. Jacob last year and I just loved her. She'd make a great dinner guest!