I breezed through Names and Faces and loved this memoir. I love a good graphic novel memoir and this is my favorite in the last year or so. There’s this gorgeous balance of color and story. Keep reading this book review of Names and Faces for my full thoughts.
Summary
Who are you? What are you? And how does it feel to be you? Leise Hook was asked these intrusive questions so many times growing up that they haunted her like ghosts. Born to a Chinese mother and white American father, and growing up in Michigan, Tokyo, and Virginia, Leise Hook was never sure where she fit in. More white-passing than her Chinese friends and family, but with the Mandarin skills of a native speaker, she was constantly exceeding some expectations while failing to meet others. From moving to Beijing, to dying her hair blonde, to exploring self portraiture, Hook struggles to figure out who she is and where she belongs.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
As a transracial adoptee, I’ve always found that biracial stories have been the closest I’ve ever gotten to similar feelings. To being stuck between these two identities, between these conflicting feelings of belonging and isolation. Names and Faces is striking memoir with stunning colors and expressive use of panels. I loved the use of space and silence within this graphic novel. It’s incredibly poetic and the first essay is one of my favorites about names and identity. It feels approachable, engaging, and relatable. The American Girl Doll essay was like being thrown back in time! It’s about seeing ourselves in the faces around us.
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I really enjoyed Names and Faces and it’s a book I’d re-read and also gift. I love the idea of gifting a graphic novel memoir for fans of both mediums and genres! Find Names and Faces on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, & Blackwells.