Hey, Kiddo: How I Lost My Mother, Found My Father, and Dealt with Family Addiction

Jarrett J. Krosoczka recounts his upbringing in a household defined by his mother’s heroin addiction and his father’s absence. Raised by his sharp-tongued, cigarette-smoking grandparents in Worcester, Massachusetts, Jarrett navigates a childhood of complicated family dynamics and letter writing to an incarcerated parent. The narrative tracks his development as an artist, using drawing as a primary tool to process the instability of his home life. Krosoczka details the specific tension of visiting his mother in halfway houses and the eventual discovery of his biological father’s identity.

Readers interested in the intersection of visual storytelling and personal history choose this memoir to understand the impact of the opioid crisis on American families. It serves those looking for a frank depiction of non-traditional upbringing and the mechanics of foster care or kinship care. The reader gains a realistic perspective on how creative outlets provide a survival mechanism during chronic familial stress. By the end, the audience sees a clear portrait of how resilience is built through the support of imperfect but present caretakers.