One! Hundred! Demons!

Drawing is a motif that runs throughout this graphic novel, revealing Barry’s multifaceted relationship with her art. The memoir begins with images of Barry as an established artist returning to her drawing desk and starting a contemplative Zen exercise called “100 Demons.” This moment establishes that drawing can be a kind of meditation.

Later, Barry recalls a formative episode where her kind teacher, Mrs. Lasene, allows her to draw in her classroom rather than face the difficult social dynamics of recess. This moment transforms drawing into a refuge, a place of safety. Through the meditative act of drawing and probing her memories, Barry can remember different ways of relating to her art and trace how that relationship has changed.

In another episode, Barry encounters literary snobs who don’t entirely understand or respect the depth of her art. They jokingly ask her to illustrate their writing, assuming that Barry’s drawing is meant to depict the ideas of others, implying that her work should be seen as subordinate. Barry bristles at this because she sees herself as a writer; her drawings communicate her observations and stories. Drawing and writing are intertwined for Barry, who understands the graphic novel as a complete form of expression.

There is a meta-narrative effect at work here: Every moment in Barry’s childhood that pushes her toward drawing has contributed to the creation of this book. The reader knows that the story ends with Barry becoming a writer/artist, so every mention of her inclinations toward drawing or the hurdles she faces feel extra charged because the reader knows that she is destined to be a writer/artist.