Graphic Novel Review: Alterations

Posted on August 29, 2024 at 6:37 am by Gene Ambaum

Alterations by Ray Xu. Union Square Kids, 2024. 9781454945840. 238pp.

Kevin loves to draw and read comics. He’s constantly irritating to his older sister, Betty, and they share a room. Both kids pitch in to help their mom, who’s always working at her business, Lee’s Alterations and Cleaners. (Kevin’s parents are divorced, and his dad is just gone.) Luckily Kevin’s mom has some help in the form of her mother, Kevin’s Popo, who lives with them, cooks for them, tries to get both kids to eat a lot, and loves to watch Jeopardy.

Kevin has problems at school, mostly involving a former friend and a nickname Kevin earns after bringing something super stinky (but super delicious) for lunch from home. The science fiction comics Kevin draws provide some distraction for him, and he has a few great friends who are there for him, too.

Kevin is such a nice kid it’s easy to root for him, and this is a beautiful story about a family who has everything because they have each other. My favorite people in the graphic novel are Kevin’s grandma, who reminds me of someone I used to work with who was way too honest, and the demanding folks Kevin’s mother has to deal with at work. (I think all library people will identify with his mom in the difficult customer service moments these folks create.)