After failing at the American professional football career he hoped for, Scott take a big step. He moves to Japan to try and become a professional sumo wrestler. It sounds like the stuff jokes are made of, but this book is an extremely quiet, reflective coming of age story. The reactions of his friends and his girlfriend to his decision. What he finds inside himself in an unfamiliar environment, hoping this second chance will actually pan out, because he doesn't know what to do if it doesn't.

Pham is just such a genuine, delicate storyteller. The art complements the mood of the book perfectly. My husband and I barely discussed this book after we read it, because all we could do was look at each other and say "Whoa. That was REALLY good." (This is why we don't do video reviews. You're welcome.)

A quiet tale about a sport of epic proportions. Scott is a twenty-something football player who has missed his shot at NFL glory. Now that his girlfriend has left him, he has no sense of himself anymore. So like any lost youth pining for a change, he moves to Japan to become a sumo wrestler.

Read more at: http://www.librarypoint.org/sumo_pham

This is a quiet, brief, understated graphic novel about a young man trying to make his way in the world. Oversized Scott has failed at his previous endeavors--a professional football career and a relationship with Gwen--and is now in danger of failing at his attempt at starting over as someone completely different--a sumo wrestler in Japan. He has a chance to find himself before it's too late, though. Pham achieves much with simple, stylized illustrations, thematic colors, and subtle symbols. An easy story to quickly skim through, but containing layers of depth that rewards those who take their time to dwell in its pages.

Surprisingly sweet and tender.