Pitch Black

Absoultely stunning! ( )

A young white woman starts up a conversation with a homeless black man on a New York subway in this graphic novel. Both artists, the two talk for hours before she is invited to see where he lives in the dark caverns beneath the subways. A powerful story about two kindred spirits with a common passion taking the time to get to know one another. ( )

Youme Landowne is a listener, able to see what is unobserved by many. She meets Anthony Horton on a subway platform and they have a long conversation in the subway. The graphic novel that is produced is a work of art. In a gritty portrayal of life in New York City and the life below the streets in the subways, Anthony Horton relates his life from the beginning, from an unwanted orphan to an unwanted adult to someone who discovers himself and his life, in the pitch dark subway tunnels of NYC. This book is not for those seeking an escape from reality, but it is a beautiful portrayal of reality.
When I lived in New York I loved the subway. I liked the dark, mysterious tunnels and wondered if anyone had thought about living down there. When I saw this book I had to read it. I loved the black and gray drawings and the hope amid the despair of the city. The pictures are worth more than a thousand words, the text stabs me to the heart.
In a classroom, this book can be used to encourage reluctant readers to see the power of literature. I would use this book to encourage dialogue about homelessness in cities. Perhaps we could discuss solutions to homelessness as well as the inequity in society. Students could begin to research the foster care system and identify flaws and come up with solutions.

A pictorial memoir about the lives of homeless people. Very moving. ( )

A deeply powerful graphic novel, the black and white images of this book stay with you long after you've read it. Anthony Horton was homeless, and lived in the subway tunnels of NYC. This is the story of the people he met there, how he survived, and what he created. ( )