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malreynolds111's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book for our teen book club. It wasn't something I would normally have picked up, however I did like the message of being who you are and not changing to fit a particular stereotype.
inkstndfngrs's review against another edition
4.0
One of those books that makes me go: "oh thank god, I'm not the only one...". She may a bit older than me (and I'm sorry, I'll never like Ariel Schrag) but a lot of these paralleled my tomboy youth. Highly recommended.
sducharme's review against another edition
4.0
Liz dresses like a boy, and has since age 4. She's comfortable that way. What this means to the people around her, however, is where a lifetime of tension begins. What does her appearance say about her? What does it mean about her identity? Why does it make others uncomfortable and make her a target? She explores these and other questions as she charts her path through elementary, middle, and high school. Fresh and honest, she takes on the question "who am I?" in a way that boys, girls, men, and woman can probably all relate to.
One of the more relate-able aspects of this memoir for me is the ever-shifting landscape of her friendships. How her friends change, or don't, how they support her, or don't - this constant process of finding people who click with her, during whatever stage she's in, feels super real.
Note about the artwork: It's sketchy. The text is sloppy enough to be tricky to read in places. It's part of the charm and it forced me to slow down my reading - something I need to do with graphics to fully appreciate them.
One of the more relate-able aspects of this memoir for me is the ever-shifting landscape of her friendships. How her friends change, or don't, how they support her, or don't - this constant process of finding people who click with her, during whatever stage she's in, feels super real.
Note about the artwork: It's sketchy. The text is sloppy enough to be tricky to read in places. It's part of the charm and it forced me to slow down my reading - something I need to do with graphics to fully appreciate them.
janedreader's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED this book! Parallels my own life in so many ways (especially in the ‘90s), I’m thrilled it’s out there for other tomboys like me and Liz. I’m extremely disappointed at whatever Karens decided this book should be banned. Girls who are having this same journey need to know they are not alone!! I don’t usually read graphic novels, but I was immediately interested by the title and cover and it was a great read.
jseargeant's review against another edition
Originally published at Novel Escapism
Cartoonist Liz Prince tells the story of bullying, awkwardness, and confusion growing up as a tomboy. Her memoir is unfailingly honest, charmingly funny and completely relatable. Her expressive art style lends itself to the nostalgic feel of a memoir and makes the reader feel all the angst that comes with growing up. Prince’s message that you should always be yourself is something everyone should hear and her book is not just for those struggling with gender identity or bullying.
Cartoonist Liz Prince tells the story of bullying, awkwardness, and confusion growing up as a tomboy. Her memoir is unfailingly honest, charmingly funny and completely relatable. Her expressive art style lends itself to the nostalgic feel of a memoir and makes the reader feel all the angst that comes with growing up. Prince’s message that you should always be yourself is something everyone should hear and her book is not just for those struggling with gender identity or bullying.
jklbookdragon's review against another edition
4.0
This graphic memoir does a great job of portraying the childhood / youth and opinions of a self-described tomboy, trying to figure out what that really means for her. My flavor of tomboy was different, and I'm older, but I can still really relate to what she has to say. And my reaction to my grandmother giving me a doll when I was a little girl was exactly how Liz reacted to her grandmother giving her a dress. In this day when gender fluidity and gender transitioning is at least easier if still not at all easy, it's good to note that there are people like me who are definitely cis and hetero women, but are comfortable in men's clothing and don't conform to popular female stereotypes at all. But even if we're tomboys, we're still different from each other. I do wish that was portrayed a little more positively in this book, but ... it's a portrayal of how she felt in that time and at that age.
evelikesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this. A person's gender presentation is not the same as their gender, or their sexuality, etc. Not lessons I didn't already know, but it was an entertaining memoir and a good story about growing up different and finding community.
kattsnot's review against another edition
4.0
I found this to be spot on to how i felt periodically throughout my adolescence, especially upon entering middle school. I was frequently referred to as a "tomboy" as I preferred to play with creepy crawlers, tonka trucks, and hot wheels cars. I identified with a lot of the experiences Liz depicts and appreciated her humor in reference to the events. Even if never referred to as a "tomboy" yourself, it is definitely worth checking out as it highlights what someone close to you may have endured in their childhood. I also feel that anyone who was bullied in grade school can appreciate this as it showcases how not just Liz was treated by classmates, but also kids who did not fit the mold of the popular kids.