Hand-Me-Down - by Damian Alexander (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

From the author of the highly praised debut Other Boys comes a moving graphic memoir about the love we pass down across generations. Perfect for fans of Hey, Kiddo and Flamer.

Damian's mother died when he was a baby, and he has lived with his grandma ever since. Now, all he has left of his mother are old photos and the stories Nanny shares with him. Nanny has a lot of stories, some about his mom and some about her own childhood growing up in foster care.

When Damian feels lonely, he imagines what life was like when his mother and grandmother were middle schoolers like him. Through memories, stories, and daydreams, he feels closer to the mother he lost and begins to see the mother he found.

Review Quotes

A Junior Library Guild selection

"A great pairing with Rex Ogle's semiautobiographical graphic novels or Hey Kiddo by Jarrett J. Krosoczka and an excellent read-alike for the more mature Flamer by Mike Curato....This moving memoir about the power of stories will resonate with those whose rich inner worlds provide shelter. " --School Library Journal, starred review

"Poignant, bittersweet, and delightful." --Kirkus

"The sequences in which he reimagines Nanny's childhood are especially powerful--evocative, stark, and well crafted." --The Horn Book Magazine

"This raw, honest account powerfully explores grief and loss across generations, and will be particularly helpful for middle-grade readers navigating loss and searching for understanding." --Booklist

Praise for Other Boys:

"An excellent, important debut." --Kirkus, starred review

"A beautiful, brave, and honest graphic novel that will appeal to many preteens." --Booklist, starred review

About the Author