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deepblueseamonkey's review
adventurous
funny
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.5
readwithmorgan's review
4.0
This book is so many things, including: hilarious, clever, silly, entertaining. Until I got to the acknowledgements of this book, I didn't realize Squirrel Girl is a "real" Marvel super hero. The texts with Avengers and other heros were so amusing. I smiled throughout the whole book.
I recommend this book to anyone who is into funny books, action, and/or super heroes. I'm going to read some SG graphic novels next.
I recommend this book to anyone who is into funny books, action, and/or super heroes. I'm going to read some SG graphic novels next.
darthchrista's review
4.0
So fun! I’m nuts about Squirrel Girl. Super Hero, yes, but also, totally a 14 year old girl who is proud of who she is.
rookdigoo's review
5.0
Honestly? Best book I've read all year. Perfect intro to the character if you don't know her, perfect prequel to the comics if you do. I love Doreen so much and everything I love about her came across perfectly. Sometimes comics to prose doesn't always mesh perfectly but this - this did. This was perfect. This encapsulated everything that makes Doreen who she is while still letting her breathe and feel like she was her own character. Even if you never read a Squirrel Girl comic (though you should, they're great and you're missing out) you should read this book. The prose is fantastic. The chapters from different characters' POVs were distinct and flowed perfectly. The texts between characters were hilarious and perfect. So many great cameos, so many great jokes. While still being a sweet "learning to come into your own" story. This book is nuts and it kicks butts. It has all the powers of a squirrel, and all the powers of a girl.
averyconfusedhomosapiensbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lrcartee's review
3.0
Doreen Green is an extraordinary girl with a beautiful tail and squirrelly features. When she moved from California to New Jersey she made a promise to keep her tail and squirrel powers hidden but that became impossible when trouble started in her neighborhood.
This book is about how Squirrel Girl became a super hero. Squirrel Girl started as a comic book series and now Shannon And Dean Hale have adapted her story into a chapter book. Keeping in mind this a children's novel and that stories about super heroes aren't really my thing, I did think this book would have benefitted from better editing. I felt it drug on and didn't really even introduce the villain until well into the book. There was too much time spent on establishing her persona and surroundings. Once the villain was introduced the book picked up in interest for me. I also found the footnotes a distraction.
Nonetheless, I think kids will find the book engaging and entertaining, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
This book is about how Squirrel Girl became a super hero. Squirrel Girl started as a comic book series and now Shannon And Dean Hale have adapted her story into a chapter book. Keeping in mind this a children's novel and that stories about super heroes aren't really my thing, I did think this book would have benefitted from better editing. I felt it drug on and didn't really even introduce the villain until well into the book. There was too much time spent on establishing her persona and surroundings. Once the villain was introduced the book picked up in interest for me. I also found the footnotes a distraction.
Nonetheless, I think kids will find the book engaging and entertaining, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
kingsdiviners's review
4.0
this book was so much fun! there were lots of cute easter eggs that i'm sure comic book fans would enjoy, and doreen's optimism and weirdness was such a delight!
teastime's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
leigh_ann_15_deaf's review
5.0
Deaf reader reviewing books with deaf characters.
To preface, I loved this story because it's exactly the kind of story I like to read--the comedy, the friendship, the quirkyness--chef's kiss!
Now, about Ana, the deaf character: She is fairly realistic, and the authors had deaf sensitivity readers (including Cece Bell!). Ana wears hearing aids, and dispels myths about them and lipreading throughout the novel. She knows a little ASL, but is not fluent, because her family has raised her orally. Ana also speaks Spanish!
A nice touch for me was the grammar in the text messages: it's exactly how deaf people text.
There are a few things that did not work for me:
1. Ana's history teacher refuses to wear the mic that would make his class accessible to Ana, and Doreen ends up tutoring Ana. Unacceptable! I wish they had advocated for Ana's in-class inclusion rather than doing hours of extra work after school.
2. Apparently Doreen’s dad is a hearing aid nerd, as he knows the lingo (BTE, etc.) and asks which model and how hers work in the wind. There's no explanation for how or why dad got into HA tech, so it comes off as contrived and cringey.
3. A squirrel picks up some ASL and signs to Ana, who understands it after a few tries. I was laughing so hard at this scene I literally started crying. I totally get that this was a function of the narrative, and the squirrel characters all have a higher level of intelligence than most people who have interacted with real squirrels ascribe to them, but the fact that the squirrel has learned the exact signs that were most convenient in this situation is even more contrived. Ahhhh! Hahaha. It was hilarious in the moment but the more I think of what it means, it really reduces ASL to a simple system of communication rather than a language, etc. I won't get super into it here.
Anyway, overall a great representation, and a wonderful story.
Link to ranked list of deaf characters in fiction: https://modcast.blog/2022/12/17/ranked-deaf-characters-in-fiction/
To preface, I loved this story because it's exactly the kind of story I like to read--the comedy, the friendship, the quirkyness--chef's kiss!
Now, about Ana, the deaf character: She is fairly realistic, and the authors had deaf sensitivity readers (including Cece Bell!). Ana wears hearing aids, and dispels myths about them and lipreading throughout the novel. She knows a little ASL, but is not fluent, because her family has raised her orally. Ana also speaks Spanish!
A nice touch for me was the grammar in the text messages: it's exactly how deaf people text.
There are a few things that did not work for me:
1. Ana's history teacher refuses to wear the mic that would make his class accessible to Ana, and Doreen ends up tutoring Ana. Unacceptable! I wish they had advocated for Ana's in-class inclusion rather than doing hours of extra work after school.
2. Apparently Doreen’s dad is a hearing aid nerd, as he knows the lingo (BTE, etc.) and asks which model and how hers work in the wind. There's no explanation for how or why dad got into HA tech, so it comes off as contrived and cringey.
3. A squirrel picks up some ASL and signs to Ana, who understands it after a few tries. I was laughing so hard at this scene I literally started crying. I totally get that this was a function of the narrative, and the squirrel characters all have a higher level of intelligence than most people who have interacted with real squirrels ascribe to them, but the fact that the squirrel has learned the exact signs that were most convenient in this situation is even more contrived. Ahhhh! Hahaha. It was hilarious in the moment but the more I think of what it means, it really reduces ASL to a simple system of communication rather than a language, etc. I won't get super into it here.
Anyway, overall a great representation, and a wonderful story.
Link to ranked list of deaf characters in fiction: https://modcast.blog/2022/12/17/ranked-deaf-characters-in-fiction/
royallyreading's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0