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A review by njh_books
A First Time for Everything by Dan Santat
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
Reading this graphic novel was a heartwarming flashback into my own first experience in Europe as an 18 year old. There were so many similarities between Dan’s experiences and my own despite our age gap (13 vs. 18) and that mine happened almost a quarter of a century later.
I related so much to the panel on page 221 where Dan screams at the sky, “Why does this whole town close at seven?” Oh Germany and Austria—you haven’t changed in almost 40 years.
Also seeing Dan’s photos of all these places that I have traveled to from his personal photos from decades earlier was cool to see. Also that he remembered Earl’s Court in London as that was the Tube stop closest to the first hotel I ever stayed in, in London. Small world.
The dedication page has the line from A.A. Milne, “We didn’t know we were making memories, we were just having fun.” And that is the perfect description to that first trip to Europe for me. It was just to explore and see and experience. There wasn’t much locked in focus and I can’t remember having a bunch of expectations besides improving my language skills…it was just about soaking it all up and having fun. Having now moved to the place I did my first study abroad and living here for years, it was a nice reminder of the magic I found in this place and what drew me to it—why I returned.
It’s a call to focus on the fun, to find the magic and new experiences every day.
It’s a hand reaching out “for the person you have yet to discover inside of you”.
I related so much to the panel on page 221 where Dan screams at the sky, “Why does this whole town close at seven?” Oh Germany and Austria—you haven’t changed in almost 40 years.
Also seeing Dan’s photos of all these places that I have traveled to from his personal photos from decades earlier was cool to see. Also that he remembered Earl’s Court in London as that was the Tube stop closest to the first hotel I ever stayed in, in London. Small world.
The dedication page has the line from A.A. Milne, “We didn’t know we were making memories, we were just having fun.” And that is the perfect description to that first trip to Europe for me. It was just to explore and see and experience. There wasn’t much locked in focus and I can’t remember having a bunch of expectations besides improving my language skills…it was just about soaking it all up and having fun. Having now moved to the place I did my first study abroad and living here for years, it was a nice reminder of the magic I found in this place and what drew me to it—why I returned.
It’s a call to focus on the fun, to find the magic and new experiences every day.
It’s a hand reaching out “for the person you have yet to discover inside of you”.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying and Alcohol
Minor: Medical content