Sylvie

In a wise and witty graphic memoir, a young artist finds her path apart from the expectations of those around her.
Sylvie lives in a school in France. Her father is the head teacher and her home is a flat at the end of a hallway of classrooms. As a young child, Sylvie and her brother explore this most unusual kingdom, full of small mysteries and quirky surprises. But in middle and high school, life grows more complicated. Sylvie becomes aware of her parents’ conflicts, the complexities of shifting friendships and what it means to be the only Jewish family in town. She also begins to sense that her perceived “success” relied on the pursuit of math and science – even though she loves art. In a funny and perceptive graphic memoire, author-illustrator Sylvie Kantorovitz traces her first steps as an artist and teacher. The text captures her poignant questions and her blossoming confidence, while the droll illustrations depict her making art as both a means of solace and self-expression. An affecting portrait of a unique childhood, Sylvie connects the extraordinary moments of growing up to a life rich in hope and purpose.