Title: Home After Dark.
Writer(s): David Small.
Illustrator(s): David Small.
Publisher: McClelland & Stewart.
Format: Hardcover.
Release Date: September 25th 2018.
Pages: 416.
Genre(s): Comics, Historical Fiction.
ISBN13: 9780771079320.
My Overall Rating: ★★★★☆.
Adolescence is a tricky period in life. Without guidance, it becomes difficult to find your footing and be in a position to learn the great lessons that life has in store for you. It is in our nature to understand the world, to give meaning to what we don’t understand and to adapt to our surroundings. Context becomes key to a person’s perception of his environment, and without it, you can only move forward and find yourself oblivious to issues that are bigger than you. David Small, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the acclaimed memoir Stitches delves into a brand new story set in 1950s America. In the form of a graphic novel, he gives us a look at the coming of age story of a boy who is not only a victim of circumstances, but also uncertainty.
Home After Dark is the story of thirteen-year-old Russell Pruitt. Following a dispute between his parents, his mother abandons them and his Korean War veteran father finds himself having to move away with Russell in a small town in southern California. While his father looks to find the means to help them survive their new situation, Russell looks to fit in without attracting any attention his way. As much as he tries to figure out what he should be doing with his life and how to act older than his own age, several events lead him to realize what his actions, or lack of actions, could do the people around him. The road to self-discovery is one that isn’t too kind on his pathos, but Russell doesn’t have much a choice but to survive the obstacles that lay in front of him.
If there’s anything David Small excels in, it’s his ability to tell a story through art. There is very little dialogue in Home After Dark and most of the story is silently delivered through a grayscale artwork. As brutal as some moments are, there is a singular innocence that persists throughout the story. The rough penciling style also strives to convey the harsh reality in which Russell Pruitt lives in, and once you get acclimated to the style, you’ll quickly stroll through the graphic novel and reach the end before you know it. The story also doesn’t limit itself in showing the readers the real-time events that occur in Russell’s life, but also offers us a glimpse inside the thoughts and dreams of Russell. These moments are abstract and leave a lot unexplained so that readers can interpret these instances for themselves. It’s this liberty that allows the pictures to deliver the gut-wrenching truth that Russell has difficulty grasping.
Within the coming of age narrative there are several themes explored and David Small is relentless in that regards. Taking the time to question ideas of masculinity while flirting with ideas of bullying and conformism, the culture in 1950s America could easily suffocate a young adolescent in his quest for identity. I personally found David Small’s approach to exploring isolation and belonging quite fascinating. In a world where you feel like it’s every man for himself, you’re inclination to feel approved and part of something bigger could easily swallow you whole. Having to make life decisions at such a young age can easily drive a person into proving himself that he can make it without any aid and the consequences of this situation can sometimes be devastating on their development. It’s this trap in which they find themselves that ends up being toxic and create more confusion than direction for teenagers.
Home After Dark is a wonderful coming of age story that will hold you by the collar and force you to see the struggle to manhood of a lost teenager in 1950s America.
Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for sending me a copy for review!
Roars and Echoes 
This sounds pretty cool, Lashaan. I love coming of age stories and one in graphic novel form sounds like a brilliant idea!
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Thanks Tammy! It is indeed a fantastic subject to tackle through this medium. It does have a protagonist that can be sometimes a bit hard to “like” too, sort of like The Catcher in the Rye!
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Not a graphic novel that I would usually go pick up myself, but I have to admit that is sounds intriguing. I also like the rather unique setting of the 50’s which is something you don’t featured many times either. I like what you said in your opening paragraph because it really is so true. Without proper guidance you can find yourself getting lost during that time in your life. I have even seen it happen to some friends. As usual your review is totally amazing, and I find myself adding this one to my to read list! 😊
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Yep, it’s a period that I don’t usually see often in literature too, but it’s definitely one that highlights a lot of touchy issues that we still have yet to completely deal with today. Yep. We all seek to have that “mentor” in life, whoever it is (parents, friends, cousins, etc.). Not having one turns life into a challenge and can be quite “dangerous” for some. Thank you so much for your kind words, Michel. I appreciate it! 😀
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Another excellent review, Lashaan! I love how you word (if that makes sense). The story sounds very interesting and I love that it’s set in the ’50s America.
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Hahaha thanks Nikola, I appreciate it. It is quite intriguing. The teenager’s situation and his own personality makes it a difficult read that won’t be to everyone’s taste too.
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Love your thoughts on context being key. Very interesting review. This one sounds excellent.
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Thank you so much! I appreciate the kind words! 🙂
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Awesome review!
Sounds like an awesome, must read story! Being a teen / adolescent is hard enough without having to deal with bullies and assholes.
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Thanks Norrie! Indeed. Sometimes those experiences can help build a person’s character and what they decide to become (in a good way), but support is almost a necessity. But in the end, screw bullies and assholes hehe
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This sounds kind of depressing. Did it have an uplifting ending? I didn’t think the no-color graphics sounded that great, but when I got down to the pictures they actually do look really cool. Great review 🙂
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It is indeed not a happy tale. The ending is open for interpretation and doesn’t necessarily answer any questions either. It leads to a reflection of society back then and today. I wouldn’t exactly call it a happy ending since that very reflection highlights issues rather than solutions heheh Thank you so much for reading, Stephanie! ❤
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Well brilliant review for a book I had never heard about before but now am dying to read! Congrats Lashaan!
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Awn, I appreciate that! I’m glad to hear it piqued your curiosity! Thanks for reading! 😀
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I feel like I don’t read enough books about adolescent boys and ultimately forget they have their own struggles and circumstances sometimes. It’s always about girls and their issues, and while men always seem to have it easier, until they get there it can be a pretty challenging path, what with all the expectations thrust upon them. I guess every kid goes through different kinds of hardships so it’s always important to get both perspectives.
I’m glad this was a fascinating tale and gripping enough to earn 4 stars! I’m not a big fan of contemporaries but something set in the 50’s is not really the same as something set in our time so it probably is a bit more interesting than most 🙂
Wonderful review, Lashaan!
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Hahah yes! All teenagers, boys and girls, go through life-defining and challenging issues throughout those years. I can’t tell anyone who has it harder, but both go through things that aren’t easy on them.
Interestingly, some of the themes explored in this novel are still pretty omnipresent today, and that’s a scary thing to realize upon reading this graphic novel. But the cruelty of it back in the 50s where awareness was much less on these subjects just makes it much more difficult to swallow and move on.
Thanks for reading, Sophie! 😉
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It sounds really interesting as the story brings up a lot of different aspects of someone’s life 😊 I’m not used to read about these topics so it sounds quite intriguing to me ! Great review Lashaan 😁
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They’re all really important and powerful subjects, but I also found that the overwhelming number of them diluted the overall effect of each of them on the reader. If there was a slight focus on a couple of them instead of having them all together, this story could’ve easily tear a person up. Then again, it was still a wonderfully executed story! Thanks Caroline for reading! I really appreciate that. ❤ 😀
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Oh I know what you mean! Pretty sure it must leave a weird feeling after finishing it though 😊
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There’s no two ways about it- your review makes this title sounds like a true work of art! The way the story is delivered, the very little dialogue, the themes… I love the sound of it! Wonderful review, Lashaan!
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Awn, yay! Thanks Liz! It definitely is a unique story-telling strategy, but I find that it worked for the better. It had some shades of The Catcher in the Rye too. 😉
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Ah, yes, OK- sold! I liked The Catcher in the Rye so yeah, think this will be my jam 😉
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It’s home alone in a figurative sense.
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Classic! Although I have to say that series ends at Home Alone 2. Everything after that does not exit in my mind or heart. 😂
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I just finished this book and found it disquieting. It certainly showed the dark side of the American Dream and an unsettling view of toxic masculinity.
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It is quite the story, isn’t it? The artwork also works well with the themes.
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