A graphic novel retelling of the inspiring true story of polymath Santiago Ramón y Cajal, visionary pioneer of modern neuroscience, and his early dreams of becoming an artist.
Based on a true story, Santiago Ramón y Cajal is every child who has struggled to navigate the expectations of adults.
As a young boy, all Santiago wanted to do was be an artist. But his father wanted him to become a doctor, insisting that pursuing art was not a true profession. Although Santiago was forbidden by his parents to make art, Santiago secretly kept at it—making homemade paints and brushes and honing his craftsmanship. He also loved figuring out how things worked and made slingshots for his friends and even a fully functioning (and very dangerous) cannon. Sadly, the one thing he couldn’t figure out was his father.
After years of locking horns, Santiago’s father seemed to win, and Santiago was sent to medical school. As a medical student he discovered the wonders of how animal bodies work, and his studies eventually led him to the microscopic mysteries of the brain. Using the artistic skills he honed as a child, Santiago painted brain cells to unlock their secrets. His pursuit of art had trained him to be observant, persistent, resourceful, and creative in his research. In 1906, he won the Nobel Prize for medicine and is considered the father of modern neuroscience—proving anything is possible, even for a mischief maker.
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
Jay Hosler is a biology professor at Juniata College and a cartoonist. His first graphic novel, Clan Apis, won a Xeric Award. His book Evolution: The Story of Life on Earth, was a Junior Library Guild selection and has been included in the Texas Library Association's "Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List." He lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife and two children.
"[Santiago's] wild antics are depicted in humorous detail in illustrations that bring the historical setting to life. Slapstick humor and stylized, exaggerated representations of an impish Santiago contribute to the story's liveliness and fast pace. Extensive, detailed source notes show how much research went into the work. . . . Scientific discoveries spring to life in this action-packed graphic novel."
—Kirkus Reviews "A meeting of science and art that urges readers to hold onto their passions, this graphic novel is a . . . funny, ultimately inspiring read."
—School Library Journal "Well-researched and packed with tongue-in-cheek hijinks, Hosler delivers a witty and earnest depiction of a boy who wholeheartedly believes that art can help people see the world and change the way one thinks."
—Publishers Weekly "An astounding book. Leave it to Jay Hosler to infuse the biography of the Spanish neuroscientist, Santiago Ramon y Cajal, with Calvin-and-Hobbes-style energy. I loved
Santiago!" — Gene Yang, creator of
American Born Chinese "
Santiago is a fun and lively illustration of the link between Art and Science."—Rafael Rosado, illustrator of The Ultra Squad series
"A delightful celebration of a charming troublemaker who changed the world." —Jorge Aguirre, author of The Chronicles of Claudette series
“Santiago! is a delight! A graphic novel is perfect for Jay Hosler’s dramatic biography of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, a neuroscientist who won the Nobel prize in 1906. Santiago! presents Cajal’s inspiring life with both humor and respect.”
