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peachani's review
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Racism, Toxic friendship, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Suicide attempt, Child death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Outing, Pedophilia, and Suicide
jmcordero's review against another edition
reflective
relaxing
slow-paced
4.0
I don't know that I have much to add beyond what other reviewers have said, but this book was a very refreshing read. The art has a beautiful sketchy quality that I adore, and I think this story was told in the perfect medium -- as another reviewer pointed out, much of the story is told through subtext. Some of the chapters end with grand illustrations that hint at a scene that goes unsaid. I think this show-not-tell aspect is visual storytelling at its best, and I love to see graphic novels pull it off. I'd compare the storytelling to the film 'Moonlight' by Barry Jenkins: told in beautiful vignettes, respecting the viewer/reader's intelligence enough to allow them to put the pieces together. These stories really resonate with me and make me feel like a somewhat active participant in the story. It makes you think of them beyond the words and images on the page.
There are a few warnings I would put in for teenage suicide and an inappropriate student-teacher relationship; however, contrary to what some reviewers suggest, neither of these are romanticized one bit. This book is told from the first-person viewpoint of a teenager, so I didn't expect it to come out with a flashing message of 'THIS IS WRONG', nor should anyone else. Teenagers view themselves as older and often don't understand when they are being taken advantage of by adults. The book still made it clear that the relationship was wrong without having to explicitly state it by simply showing us how miserable it made the main character -- and how lonely she felt having to hide it. For anyone who thinks the book didn't do an adequate job of pearl-clutching over this relationship, I'd recommend reading the memoir 'Being Lolita' by Alisson Wood, being the firsthand account of a woman who, as a teenager, was groomed by a teacher. By comparing the two, I think this book does an excellent job of showing the perspective of a teen in this situation.
Ultimately, I think that this relationship made the ending all the more powerful. The last page is perfectly poetic. The parallels are spot-on.
There are a few warnings I would put in for teenage suicide and an inappropriate student-teacher relationship; however, contrary to what some reviewers suggest, neither of these are romanticized one bit. This book is told from the first-person viewpoint of a teenager, so I didn't expect it to come out with a flashing message of 'THIS IS WRONG', nor should anyone else. Teenagers view themselves as older and often don't understand when they are being taken advantage of by adults. The book still made it clear that the relationship was wrong without having to explicitly state it by simply showing us how miserable it made the main character -- and how lonely she felt having to hide it. For anyone who thinks the book didn't do an adequate job of pearl-clutching over this relationship, I'd recommend reading the memoir 'Being Lolita' by Alisson Wood, being the firsthand account of a woman who, as a teenager, was groomed by a teacher. By comparing the two, I think this book does an excellent job of showing the perspective of a teen in this situation.
Ultimately, I think that this relationship made the ending all the more powerful. The last page is perfectly poetic. The parallels are spot-on.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Dysphoria, Grief, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcohol, Drug use, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Toxic friendship
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