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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
adventurous
reflective
medium-paced
The illustrations made it difficult to tell which character was which
The ending made me so sad! I wish there was more there
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
I really enjoyed the beginning and middle, but found the end disappointing. It is possible I am just too biased toward text to completely enjoy/appreciate graphic novels. I found some of the characters difficult ti tell apart by their looks, which was annoying. The author did well at capturing the maddening uncertainty of first love/crush.
Very mixed feelings about this YA graphic memoir, but I finished it in a couple hours, so that says something. Extremely compelling and important work about not only navigating that emotionally-fraught time of life when every crush feels devastating, but also facing the double-whammy of discovering your sexuality is not what you thought it was, that your straightness is not a given, that your feelings are not the same as everyone else’s.
Add the cherry on top: the temptation of an older girl just out of reach, the thrill of forbidden romance, and the threat of the legal implications of a 15-year-old camper and an 18-year-old camp counselor. (Indeed, it’s bad enough in heterosexual statutory rape cases. No, the law does not look kindly on queers.)
I was completely spellbound and absorbed in Maggie’s life at Camp Bellflower and the ways she used all that inner angst to her advantage in order to get through a summer of homophobic camp leadership and ugly rumors spread throughout camp.
I was really not a fan at all of the artwork, and in some ways, I had to look past it entirely in order to enjoy the novel, but the writing is truly something special. Maggie takes us back in time and tells all, exactly what happened, and leaves it up to us to decide what we think of her experiences. She never spells it out one way or another, merely leaving us with the pain of growing up and the confusion of a defining experience that feels different in retrospect.
Maggie does not give us the sense that she condones these types of relationships, nor that she finds them inappropriate. While some may say that is the focus of the memoir, I think the more important focal point is the way this one summer changed her, the way this one girl changed her, and the way the world changed irreversibly around her.
Add the cherry on top: the temptation of an older girl just out of reach, the thrill of forbidden romance, and the threat of the legal implications of a 15-year-old camper and an 18-year-old camp counselor. (Indeed, it’s bad enough in heterosexual statutory rape cases. No, the law does not look kindly on queers.)
I was completely spellbound and absorbed in Maggie’s life at Camp Bellflower and the ways she used all that inner angst to her advantage in order to get through a summer of homophobic camp leadership and ugly rumors spread throughout camp.
I was really not a fan at all of the artwork, and in some ways, I had to look past it entirely in order to enjoy the novel, but the writing is truly something special. Maggie takes us back in time and tells all, exactly what happened, and leaves it up to us to decide what we think of her experiences. She never spells it out one way or another, merely leaving us with the pain of growing up and the confusion of a defining experience that feels different in retrospect.
Maggie does not give us the sense that she condones these types of relationships, nor that she finds them inappropriate. While some may say that is the focus of the memoir, I think the more important focal point is the way this one summer changed her, the way this one girl changed her, and the way the world changed irreversibly around her.
medium-paced
This graphic memoir tells the tale of Maggie’s discovery of her sexuality between the ages of 15-17. I enjoyed the writing style and the voice that shined through. Despite popular opinion, the art style didn’t really bother me once I got into the story.
The major problem I had with this memoir was the relationship at the center. I was really excited to read a self-discovery/ coming out story when I picked this up, but that joy was overshadowed by the inappropriate relationship at the center.
I understand that this is a memoir and is nonfiction, but this toxic dynamic wasn’t frowned upon. The only character who pointed out the issue also went about it in a homophobic way, in a way that conveyed to the reader she was wrong about everything.
If this memoir had included just one little part in the future of the author pointing out the toxicity, I probably would’ve rated this much higher. But unfortunately, I believe this book will be advertised to younger kids, and the unhealthy relationship is romanticized too much for me to feel comfortable recommending this to anyone.
I think Thrash is a really good storyteller. This felt like I was being told a tale of someone’s past while sitting around a bonfire in summer. If anything, the art style helped immerse the reader in the teen summer camp setting.
Again, just one page stating the relationship is an unhealthy one would’ve made my rating at least 4.5⭐️
P.s. it seems like a lot of reviewers didn’t realize this is nonfiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Homophobia, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia
This book has Momentum! The clear lack of any artistic skill emphasizes the juvenility of its protagonist, but the pacing is expert! Maggie Thrash needs to start WRITING or get better at drawing. I had a peek at her latest works, and I think her best course of action is to write rather than draw. OR get into a steamy relationship with an excellent artist and co-create something gorgeous.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced