Why is Sam So SAD? by Daniel Granger

Author

Why is Sam So SAD?

Book Description: This colorful children's book captures the essences of what it is like for a young person to have SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder which is a form of depression. The book is about a boy named Sam who suffers from SAD. Sam tells the reader all about what he experiences and feels. He goes on to explain what causes this sadness within and how the weather plays into how he behaves during this time of year. He tells the readers how he treats his friends and family and even his dog during this SAD time of the year. Sam expounds what the letters S.A.D stand for in Seasonal Affective Disorder. He discusses the remedies he uses to combat SAD. Some include taking unusual vitamins, staring at a special light and the burdensome task of remembering something good that happened during these SAD days. Sam ends the book reminding the reader to practice gratitude. Because Sam feels you can’t be angry and grateful at the same time.

Reviews

Sam can’t seem to escape the winter blues—those “dark days… [when] both the ground and the sky are the same bland gray color”—in Granger’s pensive picture book debut. Suffering from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), Sam fights depression when the sun is in hiding, finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, exhausting to complete his daily tasks, and even tiring to hang out with his friends on the playground during recess—all a stark contrast to his bubbly, “chatterbox” ways during sunnier seasons.

Granger transports readers into Sam’s first-person narrative, offering important insight on SAD and how to treat it, along with a healthy dose of hope for those who may be struggling with the same issues. Sam’s struggles are heartbreaking to watch, but even so, his youthful explanation of how SAD impacts everyday life gifts readers with an inside view of a grueling disorder: “The worst part about SAD is that it can be lonely, so most of the time I keep it a secret. Depression is not something you can easily talk about with your friends or family.” Readers will find plenty of hands-on advice in Sam’s story too, as Granger deals with treatments ranging from light therapy to herbal remedies, all of which Sam uses to cope with feeling isolated, left out, and “down in the dumps.”

Granger’s material is heavy, and adult readers should be ready to explain the more complex topics to younger audiences, like the interplay between serotonin, dopamine, and melatonin that sometimes contribute to SAD, but Sam’s language is easy to follow and Granger’s multi-colored graphics break up the sobering text. Kids will connect with Sam’s need to “recharge” during winter—and wish to have superpowers to escape to a place of endless summer—while drawing inspiration from his willingness to open up about a disorder that too many are reluctant to share.

Takeaway: Easy-to-follow introduction to Seasonal Affective Disorder, from a kid’s perspective.

Comparable Titles: Andi Green’s Don’t Feed the WorryBug, Michael Rosen’s Sad Book.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: B
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: A

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