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A review by saidtheraina
Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero
3.0
I love that the world is being exposed to Iturbide's work through this book. Her photographs are truly striking, and I loved that several of her photos are included within this book. They integrate well with Zeke Pena's illustrations (those end papers with drawings of different cameras are so so gorgeous).
That said, I've read a lot of nonfiction graphic novels. Many of those I read are memoir, written by someone describing their own life. So I think that wealth of reading experience colored my perception of this work - there's an obvious difference in describing a historical figure's life instead of your own. Structurally, I also found it a little bit hard to follow. For some of those reasons, I decided it wouldn't have a wide enough appeal to booktalk to broad school audiences, but I will (and have) definitely handsell it when I have the opportunity.
I loved the context given to the photographs though, as well as the photographs themselves. Quintero includes a brief biographical words-only essay in the backmatter (complete with citations), as well as image captions for the photographs (good job!).
That said, I've read a lot of nonfiction graphic novels. Many of those I read are memoir, written by someone describing their own life. So I think that wealth of reading experience colored my perception of this work - there's an obvious difference in describing a historical figure's life instead of your own. Structurally, I also found it a little bit hard to follow. For some of those reasons, I decided it wouldn't have a wide enough appeal to booktalk to broad school audiences, but I will (and have) definitely handsell it when I have the opportunity.
I loved the context given to the photographs though, as well as the photographs themselves. Quintero includes a brief biographical words-only essay in the backmatter (complete with citations), as well as image captions for the photographs (good job!).