Tashjian, Janet. My Life as a Cartoonist.

Tashjian, Janet.  My Life as a Cartoonist. (My Life As)     Macmillan/Henry Holt  2013    258p  ISBN 978-0-8050-9609-5  elem/ms     E-BN  Realistic fiction

Children who read My Life As a Cartoonist will readily identify with the confused Derek, who is being bullied.  However, this bully is unique; he is in a wheelchair.  Derek’s emotions are all over the place as Umberto steals his sketch ideas, torments him continually and generally makes his life miserable.  Naturally, others side with Umberto because they don’t see his subterfuge.  When Umberto proposes a fight after school, Derek has to decide if he will defend himself physically, and that is as real as real can get.  Readers might not have to make a decision about fighting someone in a wheelchair, but all bullied children have to make that no-win decision at some point in their lives.  In this case, Derek’s reputation will be soiled no matter what he decides to do.  Other conflicts are less important, but wonderfully presented.  Should Derek wait by the sidelines while his girl Carly develops a relationship with Crash?  Can Derek reconcile the loss of his beloved pet if Bodi dies of a seizure?  Who will believe him when he tells his cartoon club members and friends that Umberto has stolen his sketch ideas?  The sketches are of his monkey Frank, a capuchin monkey who resides with Derek’s family as he waits to be a service monkey for the physically challenged.  Tashjian combines a frank portrayal of the protagonist Derek with “expert sketches” of a plethora of new vocabulary words to make this book particularly memorable.  The plot is perfect, and the characters are so believable.                  

Summary: When Umberto comes to Derek’s school, he picks on Derek relentlessly.  Confrontations continue to confound Derek because it is difficult to know how to fight back when the bully is in a wheelchair.      Janet Tashjian was truly inspired to pen the conflict in this new My Life As book because it is both heartfelt and powerful. 

Bullying-Fiction, Handicapped children-Fiction        --Martha Squaresky