This was a cute and touching read! I loved seeing Jay Jay connect with her dad and them working on coding together. It’s so great that her dad saw her talent and pushed her to be the best she could be!
I did wish there were more moments of connection with her father, however, and that we could have seen more of how they struggled to work together. There were small things mentioned, such as Jay Jay fighting with her dad to meet her in the middle, but then they weren’t addressed again. The book seemed to be more about how she and her dad got the idea to start Photo Patch, which is an app that lets children connect with their loved ones while incarcerated. Which is great! I just wish there was more.
I did like how it addressed how some kids may feel embarrassed and not want to talk about their family situations. Many people believe those who were sent to prison are “bad people” that can’t be redeemed, so growing up with a parent in prison and knowing you love that person, but worried about what others may think of you and your family, is a real issue.
The art is fantastic! I loved the colors and seeing Jay Jay’s mom’s hair develop throughout the book.
I hope there’s one day either a longer graphic novel or even a narrative memoir that goes into more detail of Jay Jay’s relationship with her father. However, it’s still very beautiful and touching and kids in similar situations feel connected or kids not in these situations feel compassion for their peers who are.