My Body in Pieces by Marie-Noëlle Hébert
Groundwood Books / House of Anansi Press
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
ISBN: 9781773064840
My Body in Pieces by Marie-Noëlle Hébert is a book that allows many to feel heard. Teenagers today are challenged with taboo issues that our society has finally come to address. This memoir allows one to feel connected by means of learning the importance of self-confidence. Through graphite images, the author shares her journey with low self-esteem along with her desire to have a “perfect” body.
This book is ideal for a library’s graphic novel collection for young adults because any young adult can relate to the many messages that the author shares that center around loving yourself. While the story is intense and indirectly discusses suicide, this book can be read and discussed in the home, during support groups, or in therapy sessions as well. It is a great book to open up a conversation with teens about self-esteem and body image through the challenges of the author. Teens will be able to relate via the black-and-white drawings, and they will also be able to use this as a time to reflect about their own personal self-esteem challenges.
Fans of Netflix’s Jane the Virgin and Sing, or even Mallika Chopra’s Just Be You, will find this a must-read that assists with boosting the self-esteem and confidence of all.
—Kiera Vargas
Other Nominated Titles
- Lifetime Passes by Terry Blas and Claudia Aguirre (October 26, 2021)
- Shino Can’t Say Her Name by Shuzo Oshimi (June 15, 2021)
- Satoko and Nada, v.4 by Yupechika (December 29, 2020)
- Blue Period, v.2 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi (January 5, 2021)
- Blue Period, v.3 by Tsubasa Yamaguchi (May 18, 2021)
The Selected Lists teams read throughout the year in search of the best titles published in their respective categories. Once a book is suggested (either internally or through the title suggestion form), it must pass through a review process to be designated an official nomination.
Each week, the teams will feature a review of one of the officially nominated titles. Additional titles to receive this designation will be listed as well. At year’s end, the team will use that list of nominated titles to select a final list and Top Ten. The previous years’ lists are also made available on The Hub.
