Using spare black and white drawings and uncomplicated, insightful prose Leavitt tells the story of Alzheimer’s---from the early signs of the disease through her mother’s diagnosis, decline and eventual death. Laughter and love intertwine throughout with the horrors of losing a loved one to memories that are no longer theirs to keep when all those left behind can do is remember. Achingly honest, Tangles allows us to glimpse the complexity of the disease and reveals the deep connections even it cannot break. Tangles is Leavitt’s first book and the first true graphic novel published by Freehand Books. The end result of master’s thesis in creative writing from UBC, it is a finalist for the Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize.