A very welcome graphic novel biography of a creator I knew nothing about. It's black and white throughout and doesn't seem to mimic her art, keeping the reportage of her story key as opposed to imitation and tribute. Ruth Asawa was reluctantly growing up on her family's farm when Pearl Harbour happened, and as a result was lumped in with all the other families of Japanese extraction living on the US mainland, in practically PoW camps. There she got some tutoring from Disney animators, of all people, in the world of illustration, and a further teacher inspired her love of creating art. When she was allowed to hit college it was a teacher training course, which she aced – until they said nobody would take her as a teacher, and she had to default the course. A second time of asking she was at art school, then, and Bauhaus experts fresh from fleeing the Nazis were on hand. That way she could see the world through Albers' eyes, en route to having her own craft perfected.

This is a well-done narrative, at least up until the open ending. It shows Asawa as a kind of painter, but generally a sculptor – she hated knotting wire into the same pattern for the farm, but when it comes to repeating her actions to loop wire into something more aesthetic and cultural, well – that was fine. The book shows more than once her being discouraged from a maternal life, with people saying women can't be artists with the distraction of children, and that it's one or the other. But we end on a moment when a young family is growing, and Ruth finding arguably something more feminine and maternal in her wire-work.

Now, the fact it is just blobs of wire hung within blobs of wire hung from the ceiling is going to put some people off, but the life story remains highly interesting regardless. This is a rags-to-renown story, as she never sought the riches. It's a tale of someone forced to live in horse stables almost pre-destined to live and work in art galleries and for public commission, but the narrative wears those stark contrasts very lightly. It's a piece from someone who has studied graphic novels more from the academic side as opposed to the commercial, but even so it's highly readable, and both entertaining and educational – as a sign of what this twenty-something author/artist can do it's rarely bettered as a calling card. Modern art fans will be happy to absorb this – a strong four stars.

I loved the illustrations in this graphic memoir, and Ruth Asawa is very much an inspiring figure. I enjoyed learning about her persistence to become an artist despite the challenges of being Japanese in the months and years following the Pearl Harbor attack (which meant she and her family were sent to an internment camp) and attending art school in the segregated South (particularly confusing for someone who identified herself as neither white nor "colored"). It was really interesting to see how she developed her particular style of art, and I admire how hard she worked to overcome the cultural assumptions that she could not be a wife/mother and an artist at the same time.

However, the actual storytelling was not particularly engaging: the dialogue was a little bit stilted/awkward, and the long span of time covered in the memoir (about 10 years) was, perhaps, not ideal for the graphic memoir format since it made everything feel rushed. The graphic novels/memoirs I've enjoyed most cover a much shorter amount of time, which allows for more in-depth characterization and more natural dialogue. I'm not sure this would appeal to many high school students who aren't specifically interested in art.

An informative and heartfelt tribute to the one-of-a-kind artist that had a meandering path to recognition in the art world. This graphic novel is a perfect introduction to anyone seeking to know a bit more about Ruth Asawa. It is truly fascinating to see the impact her art continues to make today. A great read for teens and adults alike.

3.5 stars.

Although I have known of Ruth Asawa's sculptures, I had never previously known her personal history, aside from the fact that she had spent some time in a Japanese-American concentration camp in WWII. Learning the terrible and rich details of her past, her and her family's resilience and exceptional determination, and all of the amazing mentors and magical encounters that guided her towards her life's work was a pleasure and an honour.

This graphic novel is super well-written and well illustrated. I am not sure why the decision was made to keep it in B&W, though. I found the cover colouration so compelling - and personally think that this story would have been even more enticing had the graphic novel been rendered in colour, as well. When graphic novel Ruth said that before collage, everything had been grey, I absolutely expected the graphic novel transform into colour.... since it didn't and I believe that this takes away from the overall story, I am taking one star away from what I would have otherwise given.

Huge gratitude to NetGalley and the publisher, Getty publications for a digital ARC, in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The first time I've seen Asawa's art I just fell in love with it, then I've read her bio "Everything She Touched: The Life of Ruth Asawa" by Marilyn Chaseand and I've watched whatever video I could find about her life and her art which I found both inspiring and amazing.
This book could be very helpful for either young or adult readers in order to discover who was this great artist.

"Ruth: An Artist Takes Shape" is a tender and poignant graphic biography that beautifully encapsulates the remarkable life of Ruth Asawa, a pioneer in the world of art. Through the masterful storytelling of Sam Nakahira, readers are invited on a journey through Asawa's trials and triumphs, from the tumultuous days of World War II to her emergence as a groundbreaking sculptor. Nakahira's intricate illustrations vividly bring Asawa's world to life, particularly in his stunning depictions of nature, which mirror the profound influence it had on Asawa's creative process. However, the narrative falters slightly in its ending, which feels abrupt compared to the engaging storytelling that precedes it. Despite this, "Ruth: An Artist Takes Shape" remains a compelling and inspiring read, showcasing Asawa's resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to her craft.

Thank you NetGalley and Getty Publications for providing me ARC of this title. Honestly it was my first time reading about Ruth Asawa. I love that this book was in good portion for children regarding the hard-life episodes and the better-life episodes. My favorite part of this book was when Asawa visited her family in 1948, to find that her parents had shrunk to a fantastically small sizes. That made my heart aches. It also made me thinking about how long since The US first established that they are the ruler of the world and how the practice was—is—very unjust for the rest of the world.

This is such an interesting book and describes the life and art of Ruth Asawa very well. It is accessible for children and interesting for adults too.
The illustrations are lovely and the extra photos and information at the end is all very informative.

This is a lovely book that should appeal to a wide range of ages and interests. It's beautifully illustrated and the story, too, is a compelling one. Anyone interested in art and artists would find this of interest. I'd give it to a budding artist to read as a present, and I'd make sure there was a copy in every school art classroom. Ruth Asawa is a person we should all appreciate.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's an all-around treasure!

This is such a wonderful book about artist Ruth Asawa! As an artist myself, I really appreciated reading about Ruth’s life and how she began making her unique art. This graphic novel includes some serious subject matter in a very readable format. The book covers how Ruth & her family were treated after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and captures the emotional toll this took. I felt great empathy for what Ruth’s family as well as what all Japanese families endured after the attack.
It was really interesting reading about how Ruth worked to find her place in the world, and art became a powerful tool for her to shape her identity and move forward. This is a fantastic book to discuss with your kids and serves as a spark to learn more about Ruth’s intricate artworks and process!

I am obviously biased because I adore Ruth Asawa. That being said, this is a good graphic novel memoir talking about her childhood and early years. I wish it went more into depth on her art too.

I still enjoyed it a lot. It's a minimalisti graphic novel which fits Asawa's artistic persona. It was made in close collaboration with her daughter. There is a lot of love that went into this graphic novel.

I love graphic novels, I love art and I've recently gained an interest in historical tales. So when I saw the adorable cover of this graphic novel and read what it is about, I had to give it a whirl. I was delighted to be rewarded with a high quality graphic novel. I was captivated by both the illustrations and the fascinating story behind this unique artist. This would be an excellent comic to study with students, as there is so much to contemplate about the effects of war but also about resilience, persistence and the love of art.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This comic tells the story of Ruth Asawa, an artist who lived in the middle of the Second World War, in United Stated of America, when japanese people were discriminated.
She is an artist and this comic tells her path trought all difficiulties and obstacles for persecure her dream an her purpose in life.
The art style is beautiful, simple and minimalist but really connected with Ruth's art, in a sort of way.
I really appreciated this reading and I loved the thematic and sincere way to tells emotions.

This graphic novel shares the story of the Japanese-American artist Ruth Asawa, who endured through life in an interment camp during WWII with her family and later achieved success as an artist. The black-and-white art in this book appears simple at first, but it evokes emotion and conveys the story in a powerful way, and I think that this is a wonderful tribute to Asawa's art. Also, even though the text in nonfiction graphic novels can sometimes get too crowded, the exposition and dialogue are well-spaced here.

I really enjoyed reading this, and I would recommend it to teens and adults who are interested in Asian American experiences, women's art, and mid-century history. I found this very engaging, and even though I already knew a little bit about Ruth Asawa, I was pleased to learn more. I found it especially inspiring how she combined her passions for art and family life, raising six children with her architect husband and crafting beautiful, unique sculptures.

Even though naysayers told her that having kids would ruin her career, Asawa had the big family she wanted, made beautiful art, and contributed a lasting legacy to arts education in her community. The book's ending is a bit sudden, but the author's note shares more information, and also includes photographs. I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Getty Publications for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!

“Living and art are one and the same thing.”

Having studied art history and contemporary art in the past, I was extremely interested in reading this graphic biography of the life of Ruth Asawa! Asawa is an incredibly strong and creative person--details that are clearly evident throughout her experience as a Japanese-American woman after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and subsequently in Japanese-American internment camps.

Learning about the Asawa family experience was extremely eye-opening. Ruth's own perseverance, hope and strong personal values are deeply inspiring. The graphics are so detailed and beautifully drawn by Sam Nakahira! I wish there was a stronger ending, but regardless I absolutely loved reading this.

Sam Nakahira is an immesely skilled and empathtic artist and this shines through in "Ruth Asawa".

I first requested this title as I was familiar with Asawa's beautiful sculptures and vaguely aware of her story. However, I did not for a moment imagine a biography so, tender is the word I want to use, but also, aesthetically stunning, authentic, accurate, sensitive to Asawa's art. Yet it was also truthful about the Asawa history, their life on their farm, and the travesties Asawa endured as a displaced Japanese Amaerican in WWII after the bombing of Pearl Harbour

After the war, life did not get any easier for Asawa, especially as she fell in love with a white American architect. She moved to San Fransisco which at the time had a burgeoning art movement and this is reflected in some of Asawa's sculptures, in their fluid shapes and forms

I absolutely adored Imogen Cunningham, also an artist. A brittle stalwart who encouraged Asawa in her art (and to retain her Japanese name)

This book is simply beautiful and it warms my heart that it is an honest account of the life of one of the greatest sculptors of the 20th century. Telling an artists story through art is absolutely perfection in my humble opinion and creates a charming account that is accessible to all ages

Thank you to Netgalley for this beautiful biography ARC. My Review is left of my own volition and all opinions are my own

Prior to reading this, I didn't know much about Ruth Asawa, her art, or history, however, this biographical graphic novel taught me so much. The story begins with Asawa working on her family's farm in California during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. This story spans 9 years of Asawa's teen/young adult life.

I enjoyed the graphics by Nakahira and thought she did an excellent job of capturing Asawa's artwork. Nakahira's attention to detail and ability to portray these scenes in a simple two tone palette was very captivating. I would have loved for this book to be a bit longer and more detailed to learn more about Asawa's life. The ending felt a bit abrupt and unexpected, I would've loved to see more from the last few pages. but overall I really enjoyed it!

Thank you to Getty Publications who provided an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a graphic biography of Ruth Asawa, a Japanese American artist renowed for her groundbreaking wire sculptures. It features beautiful illustrations and photographs of Asawa’s artwork.

The book chronicles her life as a teen in California during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, her family being removed from their farm, being sent to a detention and later to a concentration camp, while her father was incarcerated.

The heart of the story is the resilience, creativity, and determination of a young Ruth, who held on to her dreams to create a unique and inspiring body of work.

Powerful biographical graphic novel about Ruth Asawa, American modernist artist known primarily for her abstract looped-wire sculptures. It was interesting how the story weaved Ruth’s life with the historical context of WWII, when thousands of people of Japanese descent in America were incarcerated and sent to concentration camps.

The illustrations are delicate and beautiful, and the book can be easily read by middle graders.

The only thing I missed was a stronger ending and at times the storyline seemed a bit rushed. Maybe because there is so much to tell about the life of this amazing artist. Overall a very interesting read and I highly recommend it.


Thank you to Getty Publications who provided an ARC of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and Getty Publications for sending me this ARC!

The graphics by Nakahira was beautifully done throughout the book, and captured Asawa's artwork incredibly well! I love learning about artists I don't know about so this graphic novel was right up my alley.

The only part that took away a star for me was that I wanted it to be longer. The ending felt a little abrupt to me and I wish I could have learned more about Asawa's life after 1950.

Overall, beautiful artworks shown through this book, beautiful illustrations, and a new artist for me to look up and get inspired by!