Review of "Raised By Ghosts" by Sarah Loewinsohn
As someone who often finds solace in the pages of graphic novels and memoirs, "Raised By Ghosts" by Sarah Loewinsohn felt like an essential read, even though I’m not the target demographic for YA comics. My affection for Loewinsohn’s earlier work, "Ephemera: A Memoir," encouraged me to venture into her latest offering. In "Ephemera," I was captivated by her poetic exploration of generational trauma through the lens of her mother’s unknowable struggles. This time, however, Loewinsohn brings us back to her middle school years, ushering readers into a world steeped in adolescent loneliness, a theme I can personally relate to.
Loewinsohn’s portrayal of adolescence is achingly authentic. The protagonist, navigating a confusing landscape filled with unmoored emotions, encapsulates the feeling of being stranded in a vast ocean of self-discovery. Her parents remain off-panel—an intentional choice that amplifies her isolation. It’s a clever narrative move; the absence of parental guidance underscores the genuine nature of her teenage solitude. As someone who traversed a similar, largely unsupervised path in my own youth, I found myself reflecting on countless evenings spent compiling mixtapes and scribbling down my thoughts in journals, all while nursing a sense of longing for connection.
While some elements, like the notes and diary entries peppered throughout, felt a tad intrusive to the overall narrative flow, they nonetheless offered a glimpse into the raw emotions and existential ponderings of a teen on the brink of adulthood. These snippets reminded me that the trivialities we stress over as kids can feel monumental at the time, a sentiment that many older readers might find delightfully nostalgic. The writing transports you back to a period where music formed the backdrop of our lives—where a single song could resonate eternally.
One of the standout moments for me came from a line—though not verbatim—that spoke of the fear and excitement of taking up space in a world that feels expansive yet constricting. It resonated particularly well because, despite the invasive thoughts during that age, many of us feared our voices, but Loewinsohn’s narrator seeks to reclaim that space, however awkwardly. That subtle rebellion against invisibility made me root for her even more.
In conclusion, "Raised By Ghosts" might especially resonate with readers who experienced similar solitary teenage years. It’s a poignant reminder of the emotions that shape us during those formative years—a period both fleeting and monumental. I found the reading experience therapeutic, as it sparked reflections on my own journey through a time often marked by confusion. If you’re looking for a beautifully illustrated exploration of adolescence, rich in nostalgia but grounded in authenticity, then this graphic memoir is absolutely worth diving into. I’m giving it three and a half stars, and I can’t wait to see what Loewinsohn does next!