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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.
imperatoryvette's review against another edition
5.0
I have read Liz Prince's previous stuff and she never ceases to amaze me. Tomboy may just be her best work yet. I generally relate to a lot of her stories especially Alone Forever. I related to the events she went through (i.e. sometimes being mistaken for a boy, being very anti-dress, liking stuff that's considered 'for boys only') and often questioning why society tends to see girls in a certain light while boys can generally get away with whatever unless if they decide to go for something more feminine. Even if you don't really consider yourself a 'tomboy' there's a lot that anyone can relate to. Because it's really a book for outsiders and at the end, there is comfort that one day you will find that group of people that accept you for who you are. I highly recommend it to anyone who has been labeled a 'tomboy' or even just an outsider.
fwog19's review against another edition
5.0
The husband got me a new Kindle, so of course that meant that I *had* to download a graphic novel. This was a fun read and totally relatable. Liz talked about growing up as a tomboy and how she was bullied like crazy. She dealt with her sexuality being questioned by others (because just because she wears boy's clothes she HAS to be gay, right? Sigh.) and all of the changes that come with being a girl.
Growing up, I was the same way - I've never really cared for dresses or makeup or just being "girly" like my cousins were. Hell, I still prefer jeans and t-shirts over skirts and dresses, much to my husband's chagrin. Like Liz, I was bullied growing up, but not so much by other kids - my older brother had that honor. Because of this (and like Liz) I learned to have a sharp tongue and put bullies in their place. Also like Liz, it took me a while, but I learned to be comfortable with who I am and to know that it isn't society's place to dictate what I should wear and what makes me a girl.
My daughter has the same issues - she's got short hair and prefers men's pants (they fit better!) and lives in a hoodie. Just about every day she says, "Someone said they thought I was a boy again!" Like me, she's learned that it's no big deal. These days, when someone mistakes me for a guy, I just look down at my chest and say, "Um...last time I checked I was female..." That usually gets an embarrassed "Oh geez, I'm sorry!" and I get the satisfaction of watching them stumble and blush. Is it wrong? Maybe. But then, how hard is it to look a little closer and not just assume from a voice (the women in my family do NOT have girly voices) or a quick glance someone's gender?
Liz wrote a good story and I enjoyed it greatly. I might have been reading about myself, especially since we're around the same age. I might have to have my kid read this book!
Growing up, I was the same way - I've never really cared for dresses or makeup or just being "girly" like my cousins were. Hell, I still prefer jeans and t-shirts over skirts and dresses, much to my husband's chagrin. Like Liz, I was bullied growing up, but not so much by other kids - my older brother had that honor. Because of this (and like Liz) I learned to have a sharp tongue and put bullies in their place. Also like Liz, it took me a while, but I learned to be comfortable with who I am and to know that it isn't society's place to dictate what I should wear and what makes me a girl.
My daughter has the same issues - she's got short hair and prefers men's pants (they fit better!) and lives in a hoodie. Just about every day she says, "Someone said they thought I was a boy again!" Like me, she's learned that it's no big deal. These days, when someone mistakes me for a guy, I just look down at my chest and say, "Um...last time I checked I was female..." That usually gets an embarrassed "Oh geez, I'm sorry!" and I get the satisfaction of watching them stumble and blush. Is it wrong? Maybe. But then, how hard is it to look a little closer and not just assume from a voice (the women in my family do NOT have girly voices) or a quick glance someone's gender?
Liz wrote a good story and I enjoyed it greatly. I might have been reading about myself, especially since we're around the same age. I might have to have my kid read this book!
goosemixtapes's review against another edition
5.0
i have... a bit of a personal relationship with this book because i remember reading it in seventh grade and identifying so hard it HURT -- and then suddenly feeling almost betrayed when the narrator talked about starting to get crushes on boys. we had the same feelings about girlhood, about stereotypes, about our bodies -- why couldn't we be the SAME same?
now five years later as a huge dyke i'm kind of like. huh.
(also remembering how one of the boys in my class got freaked out because there were drawings of boobs in it and also the fuck word. so he got his mom to tell the teacher he wasn't going to read it. and now he's a homophobe so perhaps this could have provided him some empathy. why is this book so tied in to my seventh grade memories.)
that said. personal feelings aside. this book slaps; it's a very good look at the struggles of being a gnc woman and a dissection of how those struggles can lead to internalized misogyny / anger at women, both because of the boxes you're shoved into and the way other girls treat you. like. it is just a rlly good book o7
now five years later as a huge dyke i'm kind of like. huh.
(also remembering how one of the boys in my class got freaked out because there were drawings of boobs in it and also the fuck word. so he got his mom to tell the teacher he wasn't going to read it. and now he's a homophobe so perhaps this could have provided him some empathy. why is this book so tied in to my seventh grade memories.)
that said. personal feelings aside. this book slaps; it's a very good look at the struggles of being a gnc woman and a dissection of how those struggles can lead to internalized misogyny / anger at women, both because of the boxes you're shoved into and the way other girls treat you. like. it is just a rlly good book o7
nmqttps's review against another edition
5.0
so clean and fantastic with little jolts of Relatable! all the way through.
remlezar's review against another edition
4.0
I like autobiographical/slice of life type graphic novels, and this is one of the better ones that I've read in the last few years. It feels honest and is highly relatable to anyone who has felt like they didn't fit in for one reason or another.
This was written for teens and I think is a good fit there, but I'm an adult and enjoyed it quite a bit.
This was written for teens and I think is a good fit there, but I'm an adult and enjoyed it quite a bit.