A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings: A Graphic Memoir

Approaching a serious subject—the impending death of their mother (called Mumin) from colon cancer—with subtle levity, Betke-Brunswick pays tribute to their quirky and loving family. The cartoonist intersperses a present-day narrative with vignettes from childhood, during which their mother encourages creativity and supports her child’s evolving gender identity. Their father, a doctor, insists on facing his wife’s death unflinchingly, dispassionately reciting the prognosis and even drafting her obituary ahead of time. But he can’t comprehend the nuance of Betke-Brunswick’s gender. (“Maybe you should read the Wikipedia page on genderqueer out loud to him,” their mom suggests). The family, incidentally, is depicted as penguins with varying human hairdos (Mumin loses hers). Betke-Brunswick’s friends appear as chickens, kiwis, peacocks, and other birds, all rendered with wobbly charm. The anthropomorphism avoids being cutesy or absurd; rather, it serves as a humble reminder that people are all odd ducks with fragile bones. The slim volume is peppered with delightful details, as when Mumin puts her things in order by returning unworn pants to Banana Republic (“These are J. Crew pants, we suggest you return them there” the shop clerk replies). In depicting their family’s relative particularities, Betke-Brunswick shows how individuals are irreplaceable. Agent: Maggie Cooper, Aevitas Creative Agency. (Nov.)