This is a really great book to give kids language to understand what they're going though before they get an official ADHD diagnosis. I'm not sure how enjoyable the book is if you don't relate to the character, especially if you have ADHD but it doesn't manifest in the same way it does in Tyler.

I like that this topic is coming up more and more but I could not connect with it. I have an ADHD child and it is hard and some days feel like the end of the world. And I know the parents were struggling to get through but they did this kid no favors by letting him act this way. Just not for me.

An important subject, and one I wanted to learn more about, but the telling was dry and hard to get involved with. A series of events that couldn't keep my attention, particularly as they became repetitive. I like graphic memoir for giving me an idea of what a different kind of life feels like, but this is about "and then this happened", not emotion.

I do not have ADHD, but I love books like this where I get to learn so much about a disorder directly from firsthand experience. This is one of those topics that was hard, I'm sure, to convey through the graphic novel format but I think it's so important to tackle topics like this in an easy to read/digest format.

What did I do on vacation? I read books and played tabletop games! Starting off my graphic novel bonanza is Button Pusher, Eisner-nominated cartoonist Tyler Page's memoir of living with ADHD. Tyler begins as a rambunctious 8-year-old who can be the class clown or lose track of a lesson as the teacher is speaking. He cuts up a school bus seat but doesn't really know why he did it, when asked. His teachers think he just likes to be a troublemaker, but that isn't it, and his mother takes him to the doctor to find out what's going on, leading to his ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder - diagnosis. While the memoir centers on Page's ADHD, and how he moves toward functioning with (and without) medication and treatment, the story also revolves around his school and home life, including the troubled relationship between his parents and his father's own undiagnosed neurodivergence. The story is incredibly readable and offers sensitive portrayals of Tyler Page and his mother, who works toward understanding and helping her son while in a difficult marriage. Page also touches on male adolescent anxiety, particularly Tyler's body image issues when he realizes that the medication is contributing to weight gain. Back matter includes an author's note, samples of Page's childhood art, and his working process. An informative and outstanding introduction for middle graders to understanding ADHD.

Button Pusher has starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist.

*reviewed from uncorrected eARC*

middlegrade/teen/adult graphic nonfiction/memoir (growing up with ADHD and the author's experiences being on Ritalin from age 8 to 16)

Tyler is constantly getting in trouble for not paying attention and for his impulsive behavior, but no one believes him when he says he doesn't have any reason for doing the things he does. This book is invaluable for kids experiencing the symptoms of ADHD (or kids who know kids that do), but also for adults--parents, teachers, and others who may interact with other people (of all ages) with ADHD. There's actually a ton of information in here and while every person with ADHD may have different experiences, I think this will be really helpful to a lot of people.

A well written and illustrated graphic novel-memoir that tells the author’s story of what it was like growing up with ADHD, from the time he was diagnosed at age 8to when he left for college. He discusses the impact his diagnosis had on his life at school, at home and his relationships. He includes useful information for those who do not understand ADHD and for those who may have been diagnosed with ADHD. His memoir lets the reader and those with ADHD know that there are others out there going through the same thing as them and that it’s ok, that with the right treatment they will be able to properly manage ADHD. Thanks NetGalley for the ARC.

The graphic novel is a solid way to break down a memoir, since the author can convey information visually without having to spend pages on description in order to properly share an experience. In this case, Page has picked apart ADHD, pointing out the brain chemistry of the condition and of the medication used to treat it. We also see the social elements that contribute to his issues.

A solid graphic memoir both of growing up with ADHD and growing up in a home with a parent prone to sudden explosive anger (and likely an undiagnosed mental illness). Interspersed within the narrative are occasional spreads explaining how ADHD (and Ritalin) work and affect the brain. Like 54 Things Wrong with Gwendolyn Rogers, Button Pusher emphasizes that being unable to control one’s impulses, when it happens, is just that—not willful action or a sign of disrespect. I think we probably can’t hear that message enough. From a digital ARC via #netgalley

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel memoir, Tyler often gets in trouble at school and at home for his impulsive behavior. He can't sit still in class, is often excessively goofy, and makes a lot of poor choices. His father is very volatile and often explodes in anger, but his mother tries to help Tyler manage his school work. She eventually takes him to be assessed, and the doctor diagnoses him with Attention Deficit Disorder. Family counseling is recommended, and that helps a tiny bit, but Tyler is eventually put on the drug Ritalin. This seems to work, and is most noticeable when he doesn't take his medication. While things improve at school and Tyler is able to do better at his school work, make friends, and pursue some interests, his father's own ADD makes his relationship with the family fraught. The mother thinks about leaving him and moving back to her own family, but she can not bring herself to do this. After eight years on the medicine, Tyler decides that he doesn't need it any more, and is able to function in high school and college without it.
Strengths: Tyler's experiences with attention deficit disorder and hyperactivity are explained in a very clear way. We see how hard it is for him to sit still in class, pay attention, and remember to do his work. His father's adult ADHD is also interesting, and there is mention of the father recieving medical treatment for it as well, although he isn't keen on it. The mother's involvement with the school and therapists is well done, and the notes from the doctors offer a good overview of how things are progressing. There are good historical details about the 1980s, and it's clear that we are not talking about modern methods for dealing with ADHD. Side bar graphics, in blue and white, offer some explanations of the medical terms (like executive fuction disorder) and treatments, which is very useful.
Weaknesses: There are a lot of cultural references (video games, clothing styles), but it would have been helpful (since this is a memoir) for there to be a specific date. The author was born about 1977 and was put on Ritalin in 1985, so this takes place in the late 1980s. Since medications have changed, this would have been helpful information to have right up front. It is unfortunately common to not clearly state dates in graphic novel memoirs, perhaps to make the experience seem more timeless and universal? (Greene's A-Okay, Mericle's Bad Sister, Alexander's Other Boys)
What I really think: The inclusion of some medical explanations are helpful, even if the note says they are informational and shouldn't be used for diagnosis or treatment! There are always a number of students who take medication for ADHD, and this will speak more to those readers than Edwards' A Tale as Tall as Jacob: Misadventures with My Brother, since that was from the sister's point of view. Like Gerber's Focused, this is a helpful look at a condition that many middle grade readers experience, either for themselves, or through dealing with classmates who struggle with it.

I read Button Pusher through the lens of a parent of a child with ADHD. I wish the information included in this book had been more readily available to me when we were slogging through the mire of K-12 education with him. The information is nicely balanced with the story, chunked to best accompany what is happening to the protagonist at the time. I also like that the story ended on a hopeful note.

Excellent addition to middle/high school libraries.

A personal look at one child's struggles and triumphs with ADHD in a time when that diagnosis was being newly developed. A good story, definitely best told in this graphic format with the layouts of information, but it just stretched on a bit too long and some parts seemed wholly unnecessary.