Form of a Question

Some of Rostan's happiest memories were watching Jeopardy! night after night. Shouting out the answers with his grandfather made him feel like he finally fit in. Outside of these moments, he felt lost. His grandfather's words of encouragement, "Be yourself," backfired. Rostan was well read, exhibited impeccable memory recall, and possessed a vocabulary that alienated his fellow classmates. Isolation further drove his dream of becoming a contestant on Jeopardy!, where he hoped that his intellect would be an asset instead of a liability. This graphic novel memoir juxtaposes the author's struggles with identity and relationships against his appearance on the show. Kasenow's free-flowing style casts major characters in isolated coloring amidst overcast panels. At times the muted atmosphere makes the quick transitions between the past and present difficult to follow. This, along with the rapid pacing leading up to the final moments, may leave readers feeling shortchanged, though this autobiographical comic may spur teens to ponder their own development and identity.