A Tale as Tall as Jacob: Misadventures With My Brother

by Samantha Edwards

Overview

In this charming and poignant debut graphic novel, a young girl struggles to understand, accept, and support her remarkable little brother as he adapts to life with ADHD. Based on the author's own childhood and told through funny, beautifully illustrated vignettes, this story of two siblings celebrates empathy and embraces how difference makes every family unique.

When Jacob is born, Samantha is excited to have a normal little brother to play with. But those expectations are quickly upended as he grows into a loud, chaotic, and seemingly unstoppable force. And even though he can be a handful, Jacob's extraordinary strength and curiosity have a way of landing him in some unexpected, hilarious, and even heartwarming situations.

As Samantha struggles to get along with her little brother and survive his daily shenanigans, sweet moments of lighthearted fun surface to remind her—and the reader—that loving your family for who they are isn't so complicated after all.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781524865047
Publisher:	Andrews McMeel Publishing
Publication date:	12/07/2021
Pages:	208
Sales rank:	1,044,628
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 5.90(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	GN520L (what's this?)
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Samantha Edwards is an author, artist, and librarian based in Kansas City, where she is a head children's librarian.

Editorial Reviews

WINNER: Midwest Book Awards 2022, Children's Fiction (Midwest Independent Publisher Association)

STARRED REVIEW — “This deeply empathetic, tender look at raising and loving a child with ADHD will resonate with readers, especially those whose siblings have a similar diagnosis.” (School Library Journal)

STARRED REVIEW — “The bright colors and the characters’ animated expressions showcase a simultaneously hilarious, heartbreaking, and loving sibling dynamic many readers will find familiar … All the feelings will be felt with this engaging and genuine story of a sister and brother.” (Kirkus Reviews)

STARRED REVIEW – “[Samantha Edwards] really hits the nail on the head in this empathetic and realistic portrayal of a sibling with ADHD. She endows her characters with lots of expressiveness and helps middle grade readers experience Jacob's differences with a lovingly empathetic vibe."
(Stephanie Tournas, Youth Services Book Review)

“[T]his is a terrific graphic novel that I would highly recommend for any elementary or middle school library collection.”
  (No Flying, No Tights)

From the Publisher

★ 09/01/2021

Gr 3–6—The arrival of Samantha's little brother, Jacob, is a happy event, but as he grows, the once tranquil boy becomes increasingly destructive and has difficulty speaking. (His dialogue is rendered phonetically, with translation notes beneath panels; Samantha can understand what he says, though her parents can't always.) Jacob's parents take him to a children's hospital, where they learn that he needs surgery on his tongue and that he is exhibiting signs of either attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder. This knowledge makes Jacob's words and actions easier to understand, but his issues require no less patience to correct and endure. Young Samantha is asked to exercise great maturity to help Jacob, even as the "tiny tornado" destroys toys and hurts pets and family. Eventually, a prescription of medication for ADHD changes his behavior. Readers will turn pages anticipating what havoc Jacob will wreak next, though he also has sweet and joyful sides. This story, based on Edwards's experiences growing up, is commendable for its refusal to see Jacob through rose-colored glasses and its incorporation of Jacob's perspective—in an afterword, Edwards includes a note from the real Jacob reflecting on the importance of love and understanding in his early development. Jacob's struggles at school and his loneliness whenever Samantha seeks privacy add layers to their relationship. Layouts are smooth and colorful, often depicting gentle, domestic settings. Samantha, Jacob, and their parents are white. VERDICT This deeply empathetic, tender look at raising and loving a child with ADHD will resonate with readers, especially those whose siblings have a similar diagnosis.—Thomas Maluck, Richland Lib., SC

School Library Journal

★ 2021-07-14
Once upon a time, a quiet baby was born, and Samantha thought he was perfect—until the day he learned to crawl and her sweet, precious baby brother turned into a tiny tornado.

As the years pass, Jacob struggles with his behavior, impulses, and speech, and Samantha struggles to connect with Jacob. Even after Jacob has surgery to help his speech and receives an ADHD diagnosis, Samantha finds herself increasingly frustrated and expresses guilt when she lashes out. She just wants a brother who won’t destroy her toys, nearly kill her goldfish, and unintentionally hurt her when he’s upset. It’s not all bad, though. Jacob’s fearlessness helps Samantha loosen up, and his quick thinking saves them from bullies. This fictionalized graphic-novel account told from Samantha’s perspective honestly reflects the author’s experiences with her real brother—“and some of those things have nothing to do with ADHD; they’re just pure Jacob-ness.” The paneled illustrations are the ideal format to depict their frenetic relationship. The bright colors and the characters’ animated expressions showcase a simultaneously hilarious, heartbreaking, and loving sibling dynamic many readers will find familiar. Mom and Dad are heavily involved, helping Samantha navigate her feelings and giving her support as needed even as they struggle at times parenting a child with ADHD. The family presents White; there is diversity among secondary characters. (This book was reviewed digitally.)

All the feelings will be felt with this engaging and genuine story of a sister and brother. (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews