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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
lighthearted
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
4.0
Sarah is about to leave Wisconsin for her freshman year of college in Minnesota. She’s ready for a fresh start and excited to see what the future holds: meeting new people, holding onto high school friendships, and starting long distance with her boyfriend. At the beginning of the school year, she is full of hope.
But as the year goes on, things start to unravel. Her relationship with her boyfriend ends, she’s constantly comparing herself to her high achieving roommate, and making friends is harder than she thought. Quickly overwhelmed by the freedom and the isolation, Sarah has to figure out how to make it on her own.
Thanks to NetGalley and Christy Ottaviano Books for an advanced copy of Freshman Year by Sarah Mai to review! Always love a graphic novel that will be relatable to teens, especially for that transitional time between high school and college. Mai hits on a lot of struggles teens face when they first move out on their own. The overall tone of the book works so well for that particular age group.
I enjoyed the art style, even if it wasn’t necessarily my favorite. Some panels throughout I think could have used more detail. But the characters throughout the story were well-developed, both Sarah’s original friend group and the new one she makes at college.
One of the best things I think Mai captured in this book is that feeling of isolation you can sometimes feel when you go to college. Yes, it’s fun and new and you’re meeting all these people, but you also feel nostalgic for all of the things that were familiar to you.
This will be great for those teens that liked reading things like Click by Kayla Miller or Guts by Raina Telgemeier. Also a great gift for those teens going off to college next fall!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness and Chronic illness
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