Imperfect: a Story of Body Image

March 1, 2019
In this graphic memoir, Awada, a "young Muslim woman who lives in America's heartland," shares her struggle with body dysmorphic disorder., Awada was raised in a Middle Eastern culture in which "there is never a shortage of food nourishment, and love"--in fact, "feeding your children is love." But when Awada was 6, her aunt called her "too big," and "that was the day...they flipped a switch that could never be turned off." As she ages, she finds a "new family [in] food," which becomes her best friend in a world where she wants to be perfect, just like her meticulous mom. In high school, Awada turns to dieting, then starving herself, and then purging. Although she feels "such euphoria" after purging, Awada only grows weaker. The author admits that she could have died, "but, by the grace of Allah (God), I am here... / ...alive to tell my story." Illustrations capture her fragile body and growing weakness. Meanwhile, her family struggles to pay for her treatment. With help, she starts to heal and realizes that "imperfection is beautiful." Heartfelt narration works with Firmansyah's art and Kamaputra's bold colors to depict Awada's changes--weight gain and finding comfort in food to weight loss, all while struggling to be perfect. A closing note from a professional provides tips for identifying and avoiding eating disorders.A sensitive, firsthand treatment of the topic made all the richer by its inclusion of the author's religion and culture. (Graphic memoir. 11-15)

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May 1, 2019

Gr 4-7-In these slim graphic memoirs, young adults share their stories and attempt to cover serious issues. In Imperfect, Dounya Awada, a 24-year-old Muslim woman, describes how she turned to food for comfort as a child after an aunt said she was "too big." She gains weight and is bullied as a teenager, but after losing weight, she is still ostracized, and her body dysmorphia and food obsession turn into bulimia, nearly leading to her death. In Colorblind, Jonathan Harris, an African American teen, introduces readers to his family and recalls what his uncle, who is in prison, taught him about cultural appreciation and seeing beyond differences in skin color. A racist SWAT team traumatizes young Jonathan and his family while using excessive force during an unnecessary parole sweep. Jonathan then joins a soccer league and endures racial slurs from players on the other teams, but he eventually connects with one of those athletes to pass along his uncle's lessons. Both titles are heavy-handed and lack nuance. The metaphor of color-blindness as the cure for racism is outdated, and Jonathan's statement that he and the other player "both know what it was like to be oppressed" (the other athlete is Irish) is oversimplified. The illustrations in Dounya's story are rife with fat-shaming and depict her becoming thin, prior to developing bulimia, over the course of a couple of pages, sending the message that extreme weight loss is healthy, easy, and desirable. VERDICT Though well intentioned, these graphic narratives miss the mark.-Kacy Helwick, New Orleans Public Library

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