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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
inspiring
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:
No
3.5 stars.
I loved the artwork, but I wasn't connected to the main character and I found her a bit too naïve for my liking. But I enjoyed the story.
I loved the artwork, but I wasn't connected to the main character and I found her a bit too naïve for my liking. But I enjoyed the story.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
A beautiful graphic novel that shows how labor economics is a main fundamental problem today, locally and internationally. And shows how it permeates through seemingly collective, neutral, and gender driven politics such as the setting here, an all girls guild in a fictional massive multiplayer online game.
Really enjoyed the artwork! Colorful, fun, and inviting. The story on the other hand...
I felt kind of gross reading this. Good intentions but poorly executed on all themes; poor working conditions solved by one random white girl, feminist but features women getting in a fight and one calling the other a bitch, etc.
Overall really missed the mark.
I felt kind of gross reading this. Good intentions but poorly executed on all themes; poor working conditions solved by one random white girl, feminist but features women getting in a fight and one calling the other a bitch, etc.
Overall really missed the mark.
Having recently moved to a new state, teenaged Anda finds identity and solace playing as a fearless warrior on her favorite massively-multiplayer role playing game Coarsegold. She is recruited by another player to hunt and kill in-game gold farmers, who work 12-hour shifts in sweatshops in developing countries to break the game rules to harvest and sell to wealthy players. Anda soon befriends a particular gold farmer and must learn how to navigate her personal ethics, coping with cultural differences in a global environment, political activism, and the consequences of good intentions that can lead to bad results. Wang’s artwork is a revelation. The weight and balance of Anda’s real word with its murky and glum colors are in sharp contrast to Anda’s rich and colorful game life and her idealized warrior form. All in all, a wonderful and thoughtful look at our modern world, and the power and reach of online communication.
"In Real Life" is a beautifully illustrated and masterfully written graphic novel that deals with two issues in the realm of gaming. The first issue is girls, playing as girl avatars and not feeling as if they have to hide their gender by virtually becoming men online. The second issue is that of gold mining, and how angry it makes some players, while it is literally the employment of some exploited teenagers on the other side of the world. The main character is drawn as a chubby teenager in the real world, and a kick-butt warrior online. She employs her amazing fighting skills to take out gold miners, only to discover that they live in China and are forced to gold mine in order to help their families earn enough real world money to survive.
I LOVE Cory Doctorow and how he addresses modern day issues of online community, privacy, and the implications that such connections have for society. I couldn't wait to read this, and have already ordered for the library's graphic novels collection.
I LOVE Cory Doctorow and how he addresses modern day issues of online community, privacy, and the implications that such connections have for society. I couldn't wait to read this, and have already ordered for the library's graphic novels collection.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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:
Yes
This was quick, cute read that had enough heart to make up for it's light plot.
I honestly didn’t expect much because I picked this up on a whim but it was a cute light read about consequences in gaming and how it’s very real for some people. Was I shook. No. Did I audibly say “awww” at the end? 100%.