The subtitle of One in a Million, a graphic memoir by Claire Lordon, is “High school is hard enough without a mysterious illness”, which introduces the reader to Claire’s challenging life. In Claire’s junior year, she begins experiencing excruciating headaches in addition to other symptoms that are difficult to deal with as a teenager such as unexplained weight gain, hair loss, and severe acne. Worse than all of these combined is an extreme lack of concentration and energy, making studying and having the ability to play sports or partake in activities with friends impossible. Claire’s lifeline is her diary and sketchbook. Now an adult, those outlets are the basis for this graphic memoir. One in a Million captures the frustration of feeling ill but not knowing why, the stress of a calendar filled with testing and medical appointments, and the relentless pain and exhaustion that sucks the joy from life. Lordon so clearly channels her teenage self, that the reader cannot help but feel deep empathy with her experience. She drew most of the frames using shapes of purple, with breaks in full black to express negative emotions. Unfortunately the sheer relentless anxiety and depression can overwhelm the reader at times. A trigger warning in the introduction is helpful. Anyone who has ever dealt with a chronic illness or who enjoys medical mysteries would appreciate this graphic memoir.

Reviewed by Melissa M. Orth, Richmond Middle/High School, Richmond, ME