Reviews

Fights: One Boy's Triumph Over Violence by Joel Christian Gill

librerika's review against another edition

emotional inspiring medium-paced

2.75

jpiasci1's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

tiedyedude's review against another edition

5.0

Joel has done some fantastic graphic biographies of lesser known Black figures, but here he turns the lense on himself. A story worth hearing, bravely told, as some of it is deeply personal. He describes a challenging childhood and growing up with a reputation of being a fighter, despite not really having that mindset.

mlindner's review against another edition

4.0

DPL hoopla

betweentheshelves's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective slow-paced

4.0

This is such an impactful graphic novel. About Gill's childhood, growing up in the 80s and dealing with trauma and abuse. He really breaks it down in a way that's easy to process it. The art style really supplements the subject matter, too. Overall, this is a really strong story!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Bullying

Moderate: Racism, Racial slurs, and Adult/minor relationship

Minor: Drug abuse, Pedophilia, and Terminal illness

paigecool231's review against another edition

4.0

3.5 | i really thought this was going to be a popular book when i picked it up from the library but i guess not? this book tackles many issues and the drawings are good. rtc???

maiakobabe's review against another edition

4.0

This is a difficult book to read, because it's painful to picture this kind of violence, sexual abuse, and bullying happening to any child. And it's hard to read because I am friends with the author, and I hate that these things happened to him when he was young. But I went into this memoir already knowing the happy ending: that Joel grew up to build a loving family, to become an Associate Professor of Illustration at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, and to write and illustrate multiple successful graphic novels and picture books. This book exists for other young people also surviving violence, and as a reminder to adults who work with children that kids who starts fights often lack options, resources, mentorship, safety-- what they need is support, not punishment.

morningstar1993's review against another edition

5.0

This is heavy and not the easiest to read. I do think it is important to read though.

therainbowshelf's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective tense medium-paced

4.0

When kids live in chaotic situations full of fighting, abuse, bullying, and other stressors, they find ways to survive. Joel found a way to survive by fighting. This book is an excellent read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, and Violence

Minor: Drug use

nyoom's review against another edition

challenging dark sad tense fast-paced

0.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Animal death, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Gun violence, Homophobia, Incest, Infidelity, Medical content, Misogyny, Murder, Abandonment, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Toxic relationship, and Violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Slavery

Minor: Addiction, Police brutality, and Pregnancy