All the Answers

The tragedy of many child actors is one that our generation is very well familiar with.  They shine bright but as they mature into adulthood many are haunted by their theatrical pasts.  Some turn to drug or alcohol abuse but many choose to spend the remainder of their days living happily in obscurity, shying away from the spotlight.  

When I think about child stars I always think of them in the context of movies and television but there was an entire era that before this that also included child stars: the radio era.  In the time of radio there was no "child prodigy" more famous than Joel Kupperman, a young boy that could do complex mathematical equations in his head on the show Quiz Kids.  All the Answers is a graphic novel written by Joel's son, Michael Kupperman, a memoir that not only preserves his father's past before dementia completely robs his mind but also allows Michael a glimpse into why his father was the way he was.

I have never been into graphic novels before but the premise for this book instantly intrigued me and I am so glad that I took a chance on it.  To see pictures without seeing the actual photos took me a few pages to get used to but once I did I flew through this book within an hour.  Michael includes his own views on certain parts of his dads story as well as direct quotes from an interview that he did with his dad a few years back and also his aunt, who was also on the game show for a short period of time.  Your heart breaks for both Michael, who had struggled with why his dad was the way he was his entire life, and for his dad, who has fought his entire life to escape this stigma.

Photo Credit: The Daily Postcard

Not only is Michael Kupperman a talented artist but I can confidently say that he is a decent writer as well.  Though this graphic novel is short, and not eloquently written, it still packs quite the punch with a mix of emotions that you can tell comes from the heart.  What I fell in love with the most was the historical aspect of the story.  Joel was on Quiz Kids when it was on radio, during the second World War, and continued on when it transitioned onto television.  He was only the show from ages 6-16, having spent his entire childhood in front of an audience and all because of his mothers aspirations of a life on the stage and not his own.  So sad.

Before reading All the Answers I had no desire for the radio era but I admit that my curiosity has now been piqued.  Sadly there is not as much information out there as you would think which is why I am so thankful to Michael Kupperman for writing this wonderful memoir.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gallery 13 and NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.  All opinions are my own.