YA Nonfiction. Illustrated diary that was sort of about the author's quest for peace of mind. Young American woman's life over a couple months to a year. Sketches drawn around the words and paragraphs. Read around 2005-2010.

[Jack]

I'm looking for a book that I believe I read somewhere between 2005 and 2010. I found it in the YA section of my library, and it was basically an illustrated diary of a young woman's life over the course of a couple of months to a year. The illustrations where drawn by the author and instead of having pages dedicated to them they were drawn around the words and paragraphs of the book. They were basically sketches. The book was paperback, and wider than a regular book.

I don't remember the name of the book, the author, or when it was published, so I'm having a time finding it again. The only thing that I can truly remember, oddly enough, is that the author described her quest for understanding of herself as trying to get in touch with her "me-ishness". If that sounds familiar to anyone, let me know. I'm trying to track it down partly out of nostalgia, and partly to reassure myself I didn't imagine the thing.

[Becca]

I thought The Isobel Journal by Isobel Harrop looked promising, but it was first published in 2013 so I think too late to be your book. Isobel Harrop is British - what nationality was the author of your book, can you remember? How old was she - was she at school, university / college, working etc?

[Jack]

Jack wrote: "I'm looking for a book that I believe I read somewhere between 2005 and 2010. I found it in the YA section of my library, and it was basically an illustrated diary of a young woman's life over the ..."

Holy crap, I forgot I posted this. But what the hey. The author was American. And the story (though it was only very loosely a story) was autobiographical. I BELIEVE the author was in their early twenties; possibly going to college, or having been to it recently? In their thirties at the absolute oldest. The book wasn't retrospective; it was written roughly around the time the person was having those thoughts and feelings.

[Kris]

Jack, I copied some book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

Not a graphic novel?

What type of books or articles did the young woman write?

[Rainbowheart]

Rookie Yearbook One is from 2012, too recent?

[Jack]

Kris wrote: "Jack, I copied some book details to the topic header. Feel free to edit it.

Not a graphic novel?

What type of books or articles did the young woman write?"

It's hard to describe which is why it's been hard to find. Not a graphic novel per sé: the pages were covered with sketches and squiggles with little patches of notes across the pages as well. More art book than story, but not enough to be a full on artbook, if that makes sense. Sort of read like someone's personal notebook that they sketched and occasionally wrote in.

Rainbowheart wrote: "Rookie Yearbook One is from 2012, too recent?"

2012 is too recent for the book I read, yeah. But it was definitely a similar kind of book.

[Rainbowheart]

Long shot, Girl About Town?