Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.0 AVERAGE
4.0 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
Content Warnings
Minor: Eating disorder, Self harm
Thanks to the publisher for the ARC
I loved this graphic memoir, the art style was wonderful and I loved the themes it tackled. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. An amazing addition to the graphic memoir genre.
TW: self-harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation
I loved this graphic memoir, the art style was wonderful and I loved the themes it tackled. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. An amazing addition to the graphic memoir genre.
TW: self-harm, disordered eating, suicidal ideation
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
pog sobbed almost the whole time didn’t need to relate to win as much as i did but also i have mixed feelings about the end
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
This was an incredibly well-balanced coming-of-age graphic novel that grapples with an entire laundry list of Teenage Problems. It's clear that Searle's entire heart and a fair amount of her lived experience went into creating this book. I loved the throwback to the early 2000's, and even as someone who went to high school in the 2010's I related to the characters' academic struggles and their interest in queer cartoons and animation. I've always found it very fascinating that queer people have historically gravitated towards comics, and given the main trio's zine I'm sure that connection is important to Searle as well. I loved the way April immediately imprinted on the gender non-conforming anime character (a clear reference to Sailor Moon) and found themselves embracing their true gender identity through the hyperfixation. That's such a quintessential nerdy queer experience, even in 2022. Some content warnings under spoilers, but nothing offensive or used for shock value (in fact, it's very true how these characters are so wrapped up in their own problems that they sometimes fail to realize the struggles they all share):
Disordered eating and body dysmorphia/self-degradation, self-harm (only scars pictured)
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
Definitely check the TW for this one as themes of self harm, mental health, and disordered eating are prevelent. But this is an amazing work of art, both the graphic novel style and the incredible story. It especially hit home for me as I was the same age at the same time this book is set.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm
fast-paced
Winifred is a sophomore student. Her two best friends transferred to another school, and now she’s alone. She meets Oscar and April, and they make a zine together.
The Greatest Thing is a beautiful and tender YA graphic novel, a coming-of-age story that deals with identity, friendship, and love. It contains a few sensitive topics, like anxiety, self-harm, depression, and low self-esteem.
The graphic is beautiful, colored, and the illustrations are in the same style as on the cover. I would recommend this graphic novel to all YA who like to read about friendships and love in graphic novels.
Thanks to First Second Books for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
The Greatest Thing is a beautiful and tender YA graphic novel, a coming-of-age story that deals with identity, friendship, and love. It contains a few sensitive topics, like anxiety, self-harm, depression, and low self-esteem.
The graphic is beautiful, colored, and the illustrations are in the same style as on the cover. I would recommend this graphic novel to all YA who like to read about friendships and love in graphic novels.
Thanks to First Second Books for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
This was a relatable and heart touching book.
It follows Winifred in school, it's her sophomore year and everything seems lost.
Her friends changed their schools and she is upset that she won't make friends anytime soon, but she makes them.
The rest of the book is how Winifred sorts out her sexuality and battles with depression. Every teenager needs to read this!
A 5 out of 5
It follows Winifred in school, it's her sophomore year and everything seems lost.
Her friends changed their schools and she is upset that she won't make friends anytime soon, but she makes them.
The rest of the book is how Winifred sorts out her sexuality and battles with depression. Every teenager needs to read this!
A 5 out of 5
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-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
Major thanks to NetGalley and First Second Books for this ARC of The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle in exchange for an honest review. The Greatest Thing is currently available for pre-order and will be released on February 8th, 2022.
This story has a full and solid cast of characters who are all read and I’d love to spend more time with them; I think that this universe would make a great cartoon series. I can’t explain why, but as I was reading there were moments where I felt like I was missing something, but I wasn’t. At the end of the book there weren’t any unanswered questions, but it was definitely more open ended than I would’ve liked for something that I know to be a standalone book.
Overall, I did enjoy my time reading this story; I thought the friendships explored were lovely and it was very easy to get attached to these characters. The Greatest Thing touches on a lot of real, sensitive, and important topics and Searle handled them beautifully. April is a tad abrasive at times but it compliments Win’s passivity well, so it works out (Winifred has a tendency to let life happen to her and April does a good job of happening to Win). I truly do hope that we get to see these characters again; I think that they have more stories in them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Eating disorder, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Vomit, Dysphoria
emotional
hopeful
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:
Complicated
What a perfect book for my first read of 2022! For the weird, artsy, LGBTQ+ kids, The Greatest Thing is a love letter to our teen selves. It's gentle and kind with tough topics like eating disorders and gender identity, tackling them head on with unflinching grace and bravery. The book is totally appropriate for YA readers and some advanced middle grade ones, and serves as an excellent reminder of just how important our friends and our dreams are.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Mental illness
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Dysphoria
Though the book does mention a lot of tough topics that I've added as content warnings, it does so kindly and in age appropriate ways for teen readers. The kids are all supported by caring friends and loving, qualified adults.