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emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The early 2000s setting with all the references to Evanescence really hit home for me. I was that teen, to some extent. I just couldn't fully commit to the goth look. I chose a look similar to what Avril Lavigne was wearing at the time instead. ;)
Anyways, I'm mostly writing this review because this book really re-enforced what I recently learned from listening to the Lolita Podcast by Jamie Loftus in a powerful way. Though the author never explains what the famous book, Lolita, is about, the novel is central to the plot of Mall Goth's story. Young readers will likely not know what Lolita is about (Heck! I didn't know what Lolita was about until I listened to Loftus' podcast.), but after reading this comic, they will be on the look out for the warning sign the novel can potentially be. What happens to Liv, the main character, in this comic with Lolita is not abnormal. It is, sadly, common.
Anyways, I'm mostly writing this review because this book really re-enforced what I recently learned from listening to the Lolita Podcast by Jamie Loftus in a powerful way. Though the author never explains what the famous book, Lolita, is about, the novel is central to the plot of Mall Goth's story. Young readers will likely not know what Lolita is about (Heck! I didn't know what Lolita was about until I listened to Loftus' podcast.), but after reading this comic, they will be on the look out for the warning sign the novel can potentially be. What happens to Liv, the main character, in this comic with Lolita is not abnormal. It is, sadly, common.
This book rocked! I was a hair older than the characters during the early 00's and loved how the teens worked through their drama. ALSO, crazy enough in my 30's I learned about an English teacher in my High SChool who had been grooming and sexually assaulting girls during my time there. It made me pause and look back on my interactions with him. Instead of it being Lolita shared w/ a student, he had us girls acting out readings from American Beauty!!!! WTF???? I also recalled a time when his lecture went over time and "Would I mind presenting my book report to him in private during lunch." By the grace of god I was JUST entering my 'im super smart and can read the theory books my Mom owns' and did a presentation of: Against Our Will: Men, Women and Rape by Susan Brownmiller. He looked SOOOOOO uncomfortable and proceeded to never try and get me alone in a room ever again.
funny
hopeful
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:
No
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
fast-paced
I really wish there would have been more to this story, especially because of the subject matter. Maybe a sequel could explore these teens and their parents coming together to expose this teacher, there's layers to the divorce and communication between the protagonist and her mom to explore...there's just so much more depth that could be a part of this storyline.