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
