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antireading's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
The coloring was gorgeous and I liked the concept. however, none of the characters were super likeable. I wanted to like them but they all acted weird and like jerks to the people they are supposedly friends with. The worst part was that I could not tell the difference between characters. I cannot count on my hands how many times I thought it was one character saying something when it turned out to be another. this is most notable when one of the girlsis caught sleeping with a the boys basketball coach- i could not tell which one it was, thinking it was their girls basketball coach and was so confused for a few pages The coloring was a slight detriment in this way- no way to tell who someone is based of hair, skin, clothing color, etc. It was so hard to keep track of the story due to this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm and Drug abuse
Minor: Death of parent
pocketfullofjoy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
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? Yes
3.75
allthingsnerdy's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? Yes
5.0
This is a really beautiful book about how complicated life is and the importance of friendship. This was also one of the most beautiful graphic novels I've ever read, the colors were so vibrant! While its definitely YA, i think a lot of the themes transcend age, like how hurt people hurt people. I am looking forward to reading other things by Sloane leong!
anacereading's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
baileyvk's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
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? It's complicated
4.0
smilagros's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I really did not like this graphic novel. I felt that it wanted to tell a ton of stories and honestly, it was messy. I wish that there was an attempt to do one story line and show little of each friends lives but it just did not work. Also, while the color blocking was beautiful, there were some words that I could barely read because of the color of the background.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexism, Self harm, and Addiction
returningreadergrace's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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
4.5
readingsofaslinky's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
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? Yes
4.25
maxcfb's review
5.0
Content warning for arson and a romantic relationship between an adult and a minor.
Ren, the de facto protagonist of this graphic novel, finds solace in playing basketball alone on a court by the beach...and in a new, quickly-deepening friendship with Luna that falls apart just as fast. Fast-forward several years, and Luna has returned...and she, along with Ren and three other girls, Nell, Jetta, and So-Young, find themselves (almost by accident) on the school's new girls' basketball team, run by an optimistic teacher. Despite the demons in these girls’ lives and the judgment of spectators, the basketball team just might change these girls’ lives forever. This incredible graphic novel is soul-crushing and uplifting all at the same time. Sloane Leong effortlessly depicts how the surroundings of the main characters of this book, from the side-eyes of spectators to the peeling paint to far, far worse, screams, "You will never amount to anything." And she depicts just as well how the characters are forced to shut this pain out and be numb to the world in general (just as readers become numb to the frequently-changing intense neon color scheme of this book’s gorgeous art). Basketball gives the protagonists of this story three things. It gives them a team, a group of people to support and be supported by, something to fight for. It gives them an outlet, something to focus on when the rest of their world is in disarray. And it gives them the chance to win, to spend time in the spotlight, to realize that they, too, deserve happiness and respect. Ren, Luna, Nell, Jetta, and So-Young face countless obstacles small and large, which Leong depicts unflinchingly. But there’s a realistic hope infused into this painful story, as the girls muster up the resolve to keep going and to be there for each other. And ultimately, readers will see that what seems like a frivolous sports team can blossom into so, so much more.
Click here to see my full review of this book on my blog!
Ren, the de facto protagonist of this graphic novel, finds solace in playing basketball alone on a court by the beach...and in a new, quickly-deepening friendship with Luna that falls apart just as fast. Fast-forward several years, and Luna has returned...and she, along with Ren and three other girls, Nell, Jetta, and So-Young, find themselves (almost by accident) on the school's new girls' basketball team, run by an optimistic teacher. Despite the demons in these girls’ lives and the judgment of spectators, the basketball team just might change these girls’ lives forever. This incredible graphic novel is soul-crushing and uplifting all at the same time. Sloane Leong effortlessly depicts how the surroundings of the main characters of this book, from the side-eyes of spectators to the peeling paint to far, far worse, screams, "You will never amount to anything." And she depicts just as well how the characters are forced to shut this pain out and be numb to the world in general (just as readers become numb to the frequently-changing intense neon color scheme of this book’s gorgeous art). Basketball gives the protagonists of this story three things. It gives them a team, a group of people to support and be supported by, something to fight for. It gives them an outlet, something to focus on when the rest of their world is in disarray. And it gives them the chance to win, to spend time in the spotlight, to realize that they, too, deserve happiness and respect. Ren, Luna, Nell, Jetta, and So-Young face countless obstacles small and large, which Leong depicts unflinchingly. But there’s a realistic hope infused into this painful story, as the girls muster up the resolve to keep going and to be there for each other. And ultimately, readers will see that what seems like a frivolous sports team can blossom into so, so much more.
Click here to see my full review of this book on my blog!