Starred Review for Kirkus Reviews

Illustrated lessons in self-acceptance.Originally brought to life as a time-lapse film, Canadian animator Dorfman's (How to Be Alone, 2013) memoir excels at tugging at the heartstrings as she shares key aspects of her being. The striking cover art, featuring a vivid, digitally rendered cartoonlike self-portrait of the author in profile—her nose prominently depicted with ruler lines—leaves little mystery as to the source of the Toronto native's inner turmoil. Dorfman reveals that when she first met future love interest and plastic surgeon Dave, when housesitting one summer in Halifax, she had already decided she wouldn't like him because it bothered her "that his job was to operate on perfectly healthy people in an attempt to make them ‘beautiful.' " But after finding herself irresistibly drawn back to their summer romance, the author suggested the two cultivate a long-distance relationship by sending each other handmade postcards. Expecting Dave to shy away from her artistic challenge, Dorfman's prejudices against plastic surgery were shattered when he happily sent her an illustration of his day spent working on patients with skin cancer. Dave's courage in expressing himself artistically (not to mention loving the author, nose 'n' all) inspires Dorfman not only to rethink her judgment of his vocation, but eventually to re-evaluate her own sense of being flawed.Bold, funny, and brimming with emotional intelligence: a charming debut. (Graphic memoir. 12-adult)

ALA Booklist (Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Dorfman adapts her Emmy-nominated PBS film, Flawed, into this picture-book-like graphic memoir about self-acceptance. In simple, straightforward prose, Dorfman explains how she has always been insecure about her big nose. When she enters a long-distance relationship with Dave, a plastic surgeon, she becomes extra-aware of it as well as her other flaws. Even though some of Dave's procedures are medical, he also operates for cosmetic-only reasons, which makes Dorfman feel self-conscious and judgmental; what right does Dave have to "fix" a little boy's big ears? But as Dorfman recalls growing up with a big nose, she realizes that maybe she's the one that needs to accept her imperfections, not Dave. Whereas Dorfman's short film included watercolors, these illustrations seem to be rendered with markers, with blues, yellows, pinks, and oranges filling the pages. This style especially suits the passages about puberty, where Dorfman's bright colors and simple linework emphasize her hairy armpits, orange pimples, and changing figure. Teens will relate to Dorfman's conflicted feelings about her body and will learn a valuable lesson about resisting impossible beauty standards.

Horn Book (Mon Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2019)

A young Canadian woman with a large nose enters a long-distance relationship with a plastic surgeon, who loves her for who she is. Adapted from Dorfman's time-lapse film of the same name, this graphic memoir for older readers has mature themes yet a refreshing picture-book simplicity to the text. A creatively minimalist art style adds depth to this story of self-acceptance.

Kirkus Reviews (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Illustrated lessons in self-acceptance.Originally brought to life as a time-lapse film, Canadian animator Dorfman's (How to Be Alone, 2013) memoir excels at tugging at the heartstrings as she shares key aspects of her being. The striking cover art, featuring a vivid, digitally rendered cartoonlike self-portrait of the author in profile—her nose prominently depicted with ruler lines—leaves little mystery as to the source of the Toronto native's inner turmoil. Dorfman reveals that when she first met future love interest and plastic surgeon Dave, when housesitting one summer in Halifax, she had already decided she wouldn't like him because it bothered her "that his job was to operate on perfectly healthy people in an attempt to make them ‘beautiful.' " But after finding herself irresistibly drawn back to their summer romance, the author suggested the two cultivate a long-distance relationship by sending each other handmade postcards. Expecting Dave to shy away from her artistic challenge, Dorfman's prejudices against plastic surgery were shattered when he happily sent her an illustration of his day spent working on patients with skin cancer. Dave's courage in expressing himself artistically (not to mention loving the author, nose 'n' all) inspires Dorfman not only to rethink her judgment of his vocation, but eventually to re-evaluate her own sense of being flawed.Bold, funny, and brimming with emotional intelligence: a charming debut. (Graphic memoir. 12-adult)

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

This sweet and perceptive graphic memoir, based on Dorfman-s Emmy-nominated short film, explores how falling in love with a plastic surgeon forced Dorfman to face her own long-held belief that she was physically flawed. When she first meets Dave, she disdains -the fact that his job was to operate on perfectly healthy people in an attempt to make them -beautiful--- but begins to fall for him nonetheless, impressed that he treats people for injuries and for illnesses such as skin cancer. The cosmetic aspect of his career, however, still disturbs her. She reflects on her own negative self-image, which began as an adolescent when she fixated on the idea her nose is too big. One of her close friends gets a nose job on the first day of ninth grade, but Dorfman declines while still carrying her flawed self-image into adulthood. The affair with Dave becomes the ironic catalyst for reexamining her prejudices about her appearance, and reaching self-acceptance. Dorfman-s characters are drawn in a simple, almost childlike style, with short text in a picture book layout; her use of bright colors and decorative patterns in a flattened perspective may remind readers of works by Matisse. Dorfman-s whimsical portrayal will speak to any reader who struggles with body image. (Oct.)

School Library Journal (Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2018)

Gr 9 Up-In this graphic memoir based on the short film of the same name, Dorfman looks back on the beginnings of her relationship with her boyfriend Dave. The two started dating when Dorfman was in Halifax, Nova Scotia, one summer, working on a film script. She was conflicted when she learned that Dave was a plastic surgeon, as she had always believed that cosmetic surgery makes people feel flawed. As the relationship deepened, Dorfman reflected on her adolescence. Teased in school over her big nose, she grew up with a negative self-image that carried into adulthood; her connection with Dave forced her to confront her feelings. Eventually, she realized that she was responsible for her happiness and that acceptance of so-called flaws is what makes everyone extraordinary. This is an important story about body positivity, and the keen observations about the societal concepts of beauty will resonate deeply with readers. The work is presented in a storybook format, without frames or panels. The illustrations are vibrant yet vulnerable, conveying the challenges that the author faced in her youth. VERDICT An insightful option for collections in need of body positivity titles for teens. Elise Martinez, Zion-Benton Public Library, IL