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36 pages 1 hour read

Dan Santat

A First Time for Everything

Dan SantatNonfiction | Graphic Memoir | Middle Grade | Published in 2023

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Key Figures

Dan Santat

The memoir’s author and illustrator, Dan Santat grew up in Camarillo, California, and his experiences of the world were limited (for the most part) to that small town. He spent time with his friends and helping his mother, devoting the rest of his free time to honing his artistic talents. In junior high school, Dan aimed to be invisible because every time he stood out, something went wrong. Bullied and teased, he chose to isolate himself from most of his peers to avoid getting hurt. Dan disliked the pressure of the social world of middle school, and his memories of it were tainted with aggression and pain. His attitude toward going to Europe was the same at first: He would much prefer to sit in his room and draw or play video games. This attitude changed as he experienced Europe and learned about the world beyond what he previously experienced.

On the trip, Dan drew what he saw, taking in the experiences, and even behaved with abandon from time to time. His self-confidence and excitement for life slowly emerged with each passing day and each new experience. Pushed into the next phase of his life, Dan received immediate freedom and responsibility; he comments on how “it felt so grown up” to be able to explore the city without any adult supervision (77). Dan’s time in Europe thematically demonstrates The Impact of First-Time Experiences because not only were most of his days filled with brand-new adventures, but he also gradually learned that he could choose how his past defines him and rise above it. Emphasizing a thematic concern with Overcoming Fear to Live in the Moment, Dan found the side of himself that he was long missing. He started to loosen up and feel comfortable with who he is again. By making his own way and taking care of himself, Dan gained self-confidence, developing the theme of Discovering the Independent Self. In meeting and forming a relationship with Amy, Dan realized that he’s likeable, worthy of affection, and a talented illustrator. He went from totally lacking confidence to wanting to jump into each new experience with enthusiasm and without hesitation.

Amy

Dan met Amy on his school trip to Europe, and she was more outgoing than Dan. The two quickly developed crushes on one another, but Dan was more shy and reserved than Amy, and she did most of the talking and approaching. During Dan’s time navigating this new territory with Amy, his friends and even Mrs. Bjork coached him to overcome fear and live in the moment rather than worry about getting hurt or what might happen after the trip. Dan had many first experiences with Amy, including his first kiss, his first girlfriend, and first time showing someone his drawings who appreciates them, underscoring The Impact of First-Time Experiences. Amy helped bring Dan out of the shell that he built around himself during middle school and realize his inner confidence and likability. She encouraged him and accepted him as he was, even when he smelled like vomit after someone threw up near him. Although Dan struggled to open his heart to the possibility of hurt, he received advice that inspired him to enjoy his time with Amy, however short it was. The poem “Spring Morning” by A. A. Milne helped Dan embrace the unknown and live for the present. When Dan and Amy parted ways, it became his “first broken heart” (299), but it was a sweet sorrow knowing how much Dan grew from the experience.

Dan’s Parents

An important part of Dan’s life, his mother and father made up most of his world when he was young. Dan’s mother had lupus (a disease that made her tired all the time), and Dan was always willing to help her out with groceries or around the house. Dan’s father was quiet like Dan and spoke only to tell Dan that he should feel lucky to have the opportunity to go to Europe. Dan’s mother was more outspoken and bolder and didn’t sense Dan’s embarrassment even when his facial expressions indicated it. She pointed out when Dan could make new friends, told everyone that Dan was dreading the trip, and made Dan leave his golden Buddha necklace behind. Regardless of her protectiveness, Dan’s mother urged him to go on the trip to Europe. She knew that her son was growing up with a limited worldview because he lived in a small town and wanted to ensure that he was well prepared for college and life by seeing more of the world. Dan’s mother told him, “This is an opportunity to go see how amazing the world can be” (235), and she gave him the initial push that he needed to go. What resulted was a total transformation of Dan’s character, which develops the theme of Discovering the Independent Self.

Mrs. Bjork

Dan’s teacher Mrs. Bjork took the group on the school trip to Europe. She proves to be a dynamic person who was more than just a teacher but also a friend. She was perceptive and kind and went out of her way to console and comfort Dan when she saw that he wasn’t having a good time. Mrs. Bjork forgave Dan and helped him pay for his meal on the first day of the trip, knowing that he was still doing most of these things for the first time. She checked in on him often and knew what to say to make Dan reflect and consider alternative ways of being. Mrs. Bjork reminded Dan that he may never return to Europe and that he should make each day count. She told him to “live a little” and explained that he could decide how the experiences of his past influence him in the present (132). In addition, Mrs. Bjork shared her love of the poem “Spring Morning” with Dan to help communicate the need to embrace self-confidence, developing the theme of Overcoming Fear to Live in the Moment. Until Dan was ready to embrace that attitude, he wasn’t happy and didn’t live fully. Dan found it easy to talk to people like Mrs. Bjork because she was a motherly figure, and that was a concept that felt safe and familiar to Dan. For this reason, Mrs. Bjork could communicate effectively with Dan and help him grow into an independent person, developing the theme of Discovering the Independent Self.

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