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Published Feb 2023
320 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
A middle grade graphic memoir based on bestselling author and Caldecott Medalist Dan Santat's awkward middle school years and the trip to Europe that changed his life.
Dan's always been a good kid. The kind of kid who listens to his teachers, helps his mom with grocery shopping, and stays out of trouble. But being a good kid doesn't stop him from being bullied and feeling like he's invisible, which is why Dan has low expectations when his parents send him on a class trip to Europe.
At first, he's right. He's stuck with the same girls from his middle school who love to make fun of him, and he doesn't know why his teacher insisted he come on this trip. But as he travels through France, Germany, Switzerland, and England, a series of first experiences begin to change him—first Fanta, first fondue, first time stealing a bike from German punk rockers... and first love.
Funny, heartwarming, and poignant, A First Time for Everything is a feel-good coming-of-age memoir based on New York Times bestselling author and Caldecott Medal winner Dan Santat's awkward middle school years. It celebrates a time that is universally challenging for many of us, but also life-changing as well.
National Book Awards, 2023
"[A] relatable story of self-discovery... the perfect balance of humor and poignancy." ―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[E]motionally perceptive" ―Publisher's Weekly (starred review)
"[Santat] unpacks his transformational experience with vulnerability and raw honesty--the sincerity is heartening and the outcome inspiring." ―Shelf Awareness (starred review)
"[A] great read among a crowded field, especially for sensitive middle-grade boys." ―Booklist (starred review)
"A thoughtful memoir with lots of humor and heart." ―School Library Journal (starred review)
"This is Santat at his best." ―Horn Book
"Without preachiness or condescension, Santat gives readers a story that is both a reassuring hug and a nudge to get out there and experience the world beyond what they know." ―The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
This information about A First Time for Everything was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Dan Santat is the Caldecott Medal-winning and New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend, Are We There Yet?, and After the Fall as well as the illustrator of many other picture books, including Crankenstein by Samantha Berger. Dan lives in Southern California with his wife, two kids, and various pets. He invites you to visit him online at dantat.com.
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