No Ivy League
Newlevant recounts a summer clearing ivy from Portland’s Forest Park. She is homeschooled, which she later learns because her mom didn’t want her in contact with Black people. Grappling with the discovery, she further learns about racism in Oregon’s schools. While working her job, she witnesses racism at work and experiences sexism in her job.
The story is awkward at times, as Newlevant captures teen-aged desires fairly well. I’m left feeling that Newlevant begins to have her eyes opened to a darker past in Oregon’s history, but I’m not sure if she effectively grapples with it. As a memoir, I understand that coming to terms may not be the point; perhaps just starting to realize the darker world is itself the message?
It’s an interesting book. I enjoyed it as en example of using comics for memoir.