The Journal
The Raves Keep Coming In for Dear Graduate
When I first read Charlie’s initial draft of Dear Graduate, it brought tears to my eyes, almost immediately. (It still does.) I was touched by the simplicity, the sentiment and the impact it had on me emotionally. For me, it was like having a conversation with a compassionate friend about the abstract possibilities of what my value could be in this world as a contributor, abiding by my own values, rather than a degree recipient, employee, or ladder climber fulfilling the imposed aspirations of others. Well, it turns out, it’s having a similar effect on others as well…
When I first read Charlie’s initial draft of Dear Graduate, it brought tears to my eyes, almost immediately. (It still does.) I was touched by the simplicity, the sentiment and the impact it had on me emotionally. For me, it was like having a conversation with a compassionate friend about the abstract possibilities of what my value could be in this world as a contributor, abiding by my own values, rather than a degree recipient, employee, or ladder climber fulfilling the imposed aspirations of others.
Well, it turns out, it’s having a similar effect on others as well. We’ve been overwhelmed by the positive responses we’ve been getting from friends and strangers alike upon reading the book. You can read a bit of what folks are saying below. A big thank you to all who have shared their thoughts with us, and if you have yet to, we would love to hear what you think as well! Check out more reviews HERE.
"A non-interrogation, subtle & sweet guiding system for any recent graduate."
— Laura Albert (JT LeRoy), Author
“Tears started to well about a third of the way through. By the end, they were streaming down my face. It’s so uplifting it makes you cry.”
— Juli
"A wonderfully uplifting book for anyone starting out on their journey."
— Jennifer, Bear Pond Books, Stowe, VT
"It's a lovely little reminder to not get so overwhelmed with the pressure society puts on us to be these super achievers and to just slow down and remember to be kind to yourself and trust yourself and your path will eventually appear. <3"
— Sarah
"Your book is beautiful! It asks all the questions we should pose to our kids and to ourselves. Thank you, for that!"
— ‘Lin
"I received my 'Dear Graduate' book today. Love what you did with the colors and great paper. Perfect gift for a graduate or others moving through phases of life. A stand out!"
— Marion
"Can't wait to gift my daughters your lovely, helpful, and thoughtful book. You did a wonderful job."
— Chris
"Love this little book and will definitely be adding it to my graduate gift list! So nicely done."
— Betty
"This book comes at exactly the right time as my son is about to graduate high school and doesn’t fit into any pre-fab scheme. Thank you, Charlie & Adam!"
— Jefferson
Dear Graduate Now Available at Indie Bookstores Across the U.S.
Charlie and I often spend our downtime exploring independent bookstores, no matter where we are. In fact, we usually plan road trips just to find new shops to visit. Over the past few months we’ve been so grateful to have been welcomed into the doors, and onto the shelves at some of our favorite indie booksellers throughout New England, and just in time for graduation season.
Charlie and I often spend our downtime exploring independent bookstores, no matter where we are. In fact, we usually plan road trips just to find new shops to visit. Over the past few months we’ve been so grateful to have been welcomed into the doors, and onto the shelves at some of our favorite indie booksellers throughout New England, and just in time for graduation season.
We are now up to 30 doors!!! And expanding beyond New England with shops in Arizona, Delaware, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Thank you to all of the amazing shops who have believed in us. You can see a full list HERE.
If you’ve got a favorite indie bookstore local to your area, we’d more than welcome a friendly introduction.
Where “Dear Graduate” Came From
Sometime last fall I kept thinking about the question we’ve long asked children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” We all go through school, taking classes and tests and trying to be good at as many things as possible. We might have counselors or be fortunate with a mentor or a parent that has the time and energy to guide you. But I kept returning to the idea that the question should be, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”
Sometime last fall I kept thinking about the question we’ve long asked children, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
We all go through school, taking classes and tests and trying to be good at as many things as possible. We might have counselors or be fortunate with a mentor or a parent that has the time and energy to guide you.
But I kept returning to the idea that maybe the question should be, “What do you want to do when you grow up?”
It probably had something to do with that moment in time in a pandemic, in thinking about my two kids (now 21 and 18) and their futures and talking with them about how to choose a career that is a passion that can bring them pride and satisfaction. And I’m sure it had something to do with another in a long line of my own mid-life crises.
It also connected with a cultural feeling I've had, the sense that a lot of people look down on other people because of the type of work they do, but also seeing how during a pandemic it took a lot of very different skills and abilities to keep the world spinning. Early on I could see how all some were getting to stay home on laptops while other whole industries were working even harder to keep us all going, from healthcare to teachers to food service.
I wrote down some ideas quickly, then shared with my partner Adam, who was moved while reading it.
We started to discuss the book as a whole and then each page, and what a reader would take away from the book. Adam helped to write, rewrite, and fine tune the language. We talked about what it should look like visually.
Should it be illustrated, or should we put the questions out there plainly and let the reader visualize their own version? Adam is a brilliant designer (you’ll have to look at his website to see what he can really do), but we both loved the simplicity of color and text.
Then, we started sharing the book with people and they each had strong emotional reactions. And it has led to a lot of conversation, and people saying, “I wish someone had asked me what I wanted to do…”
We also found readers thought it would be impactful for graduates of every age, from elementary, middle, or high school—and even kindergarten or college.
So, this is something of an accidental project that has taken on a life of its own and now has entered the world, hopefully helping graduates think deliberately about some of their road ahead.
We've printed hardcover copies and we’re marketing the book online. We're also doing some guerrilla distribution to book stores, gift shops, and toy stores. If you have a favorite you recommend we reach out to, please let us know below.
You can see the whole book for free and to purchase over here.
You can also purchase the book on Amazon, Etsy, and Ebay. It’s the perfect gift for a graduate this spring or beyond.
We would love to hear your thoughts on it after reading it online as well!