Perfect Example

A melancholic memoir of saying goodbye to the familiar, brimming with empathy and a charming, self-aware wit in this coming-of-age memoir about the momentous, but seemingly never-ending year between the end of high school and the start of university. Porcellino moves through awkward house parties, first kisses, guitar practice, the cultivation of new friendships and even a new girlfriend; all the while plagued by incessant sadness, seeking him to contemplate suicide. Traversing the 1980s Chicago suburbs on his skateboard, Porcellino attempts to engage with society while struggling to keep his own sadness at bay. When he fails to remedy his depression, he turns inward, offering illuminating graphic depictions of psychological distress. Minimalism proves uniquely evocative in this novel, revealing the universality of his narrative, illuminating difficult experiences within the context of empathetic reflection, offering up a new way for us to read our own pasts, and be kind to our younger selves.