Scan barcode
lucca111angel's review against another edition
4.0
So... this book, although being very, very well written, was a little bit too much for me to handle. Very bold and sudden transphobia from multiple characters, and a lot of scenes that made me uncomfortable as a lesbian, which to be fair, is probably kind of a goal of the book? Anyways, the art was steady and the script was overall very good. As a lover of coming of age stories, this one struck me as pretty average.
Also like, I expected way more religious trauma! Come on, she’s holding a cross on the cover! Where is the Catholic imagery!!!
It did leave me wanting more, I will say that.
Also like, I expected way more religious trauma! Come on, she’s holding a cross on the cover! Where is the Catholic imagery!!!
It did leave me wanting more, I will say that.
luanndie's review against another edition
3.0
¡Uff! ¡Qué emociones más contradictorias me ha dejado este libro! El beso número 8 es una historia en la que seguimos el autodescubrimiento y crecimiento personal de Amanda al mismo tiempo que esta descubre la verdad sobre un secreto familiar guardado durante más de 20 años.
Como historia me pareció muy interesante. Creo que la trama tiene un buen ritmo, la evolución de los personajes es creíble y en general todos los protagonistas son complejos y con claroscuros. Por si fuera poco, los dibujos acompañan maravillosamente bien a la historia reforzando su fuerza y efectividad. Me gustó tanto, en realidad, que ciertas partes de este cómic me recordaron a una versión para adolescentes de [b:Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic|26135825|Fun Home A Family Tragicomic|Alison Bechdel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440097020l/26135825._SY75_.jpg|911368] o [b:Blankets|25179|Blankets|Craig Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460925949l/25179._SX50_.jpg|781193]. Y por eso me encuentro tan confundida acerca del mensaje de la obra.
Creo que es bastante claro que las autoras pretendían ofrecer una historia de crecimiento personal sin dulcificar los problemas que descubrir quien eres pueden acarrear. Eso no me parece mal. No importa lo entretenido que sea, no todas las historias pueden moverse en el utópico mundo de [b:Boy Meets Boy|23228|Boy Meets Boy|David Levithan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356335082l/23228._SY75_.jpg|1118789]. Sin embargo, los comentarios homófobos y tránsfobos, que a menudo pasan sin ser cuestionados, me parecieron especialmente dañinos. Yo no pertenezco a ninguno de esos colectivos y leer ciertas frases en la obra me resulto doloroso y muy duro, así que solamente me puedo imaginar como sería para un adolescente que estuviera pasando por un momento similar al que se describe en la novela.
Lo peor es que estos comentarios vienen de personajes muy cercanos (familia y amigos) de la protagonista y aunque entiendo que esto es totalmente realista, me parece todavía más peligroso que esos comentarios pasen casi sin cuestionamiento y que uno de los personajes sea prácticamente absuelto sin hacer nada más que mostrar un mínimo de decencia humana.
Es por este motivo que le doy una puntuación tan baja a este cómic. Me parece una gran obra, con una buena intención pero que se pasa de frenada y no sé si lo recomendaría para los adolescentes a los que precisamente va dirigido.
Como historia me pareció muy interesante. Creo que la trama tiene un buen ritmo, la evolución de los personajes es creíble y en general todos los protagonistas son complejos y con claroscuros. Por si fuera poco, los dibujos acompañan maravillosamente bien a la historia reforzando su fuerza y efectividad. Me gustó tanto, en realidad, que ciertas partes de este cómic me recordaron a una versión para adolescentes de [b:Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic|26135825|Fun Home A Family Tragicomic|Alison Bechdel|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1440097020l/26135825._SY75_.jpg|911368] o [b:Blankets|25179|Blankets|Craig Thompson|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1460925949l/25179._SX50_.jpg|781193]. Y por eso me encuentro tan confundida acerca del mensaje de la obra.
Creo que es bastante claro que las autoras pretendían ofrecer una historia de crecimiento personal sin dulcificar los problemas que descubrir quien eres pueden acarrear. Eso no me parece mal. No importa lo entretenido que sea, no todas las historias pueden moverse en el utópico mundo de [b:Boy Meets Boy|23228|Boy Meets Boy|David Levithan|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1356335082l/23228._SY75_.jpg|1118789]. Sin embargo, los comentarios homófobos y tránsfobos, que a menudo pasan sin ser cuestionados, me parecieron especialmente dañinos. Yo no pertenezco a ninguno de esos colectivos y leer ciertas frases en la obra me resulto doloroso y muy duro, así que solamente me puedo imaginar como sería para un adolescente que estuviera pasando por un momento similar al que se describe en la novela.
Lo peor es que estos comentarios vienen de personajes muy cercanos (familia y amigos) de la protagonista y aunque entiendo que esto es totalmente realista, me parece todavía más peligroso que esos comentarios pasen casi sin cuestionamiento y que uno de los personajes sea prácticamente absuelto sin hacer nada más que mostrar un mínimo de decencia humana.
Es por este motivo que le doy una puntuación tan baja a este cómic. Me parece una gran obra, con una buena intención pero que se pasa de frenada y no sé si lo recomendaría para los adolescentes a los que precisamente va dirigido.
lonijae's review against another edition
2.0
I really really enjoyed this book. I have an issue with how Mads got away with pressuring Adam into having sex. That's problematic for me and it was never addressed.
torithelibrarian's review against another edition
4.0
This book really lifted my spirits. Wonderful representation of the full breadth of sexuality, delightful illustrations and puns throughout, and the Q+A between the two collaborators at the end of the book had me hardcore grinning.
I love what this book said as much as what it didn’t say. Really cool use of illustration and page layout.
I love what this book said as much as what it didn’t say. Really cool use of illustration and page layout.
powisamy's review against another edition
I had been looking forward to Kiss Number 8 for the longest time as it was a First Second graphic novel that I hadn't heard that many people talk about.
I was expecting a light coming of age graphic novel but instead it was a family drama which was quite confusing at times. I would not have minded but the synopsis really does set this one up to fail as it really doesn't tell you the true plot.
As I was looking for something else, I didn't just connect with the story and I didn't find it interesting as a whole. I did like the art style but this could not save the whole story.
While this wasn't for me, I do recommend it for other people if you want a more complex graphic novel aimed at a YA audience.
I was expecting a light coming of age graphic novel but instead it was a family drama which was quite confusing at times. I would not have minded but the synopsis really does set this one up to fail as it really doesn't tell you the true plot.
As I was looking for something else, I didn't just connect with the story and I didn't find it interesting as a whole. I did like the art style but this could not save the whole story.
While this wasn't for me, I do recommend it for other people if you want a more complex graphic novel aimed at a YA audience.
olivebananas's review
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
soupwitch86's review
3.0
This really gets a 3.5 but can't select half stars.
I'm slowly getting into graphic novels, specifically one's centering and written by LGBTQ+ folx. I REALLY liked the illustrations of the characters, their style and body language were done SO well.
The writing and language of the kids was also done well, especially for 2004. It felt very real. Spoilers ahead.
Things that I liked/loved: Amanda's friendship with Cat and Laura - so realistic how she loves them both but has such a different relationship with them. Amanda's relationship with her parents - it closely mirrored my relationship with my parents at that age, I saw my dad as a friend and couldn't stand my mom and was awful to her. The fact that Amanda wanted nothing to do with Adam, LOL. That with the kids, there were Black and brown characters, fat characters, gay, characters, trans characters, slutty characters. YES.
Things that I didn't like as much: How much focus was spent on Adam being obsessed with Amanda, I GET IT HE LIKES HER,they could have cut a lot of that out and focus more on the other character's storylines. The casual misgendering and transphobia by the adults that was never dealt with (this is a YA book and it would have been great if someone called out the adults when they did this). Amanda's move from one friend group to the other felt sudden and thrown together at the end, would have loved to see more development there, especially because Jess and her crew WERE THE BEST.
Should also note that this book gives a feel that it will be about a girl realizing she is in love with one of her best girlfriends and it's not really that. She winds up being bi/pan (WOO!) but also isn't accepted by her friends, and finds a new group of friends. There is also a sub-plot of her finding out one of her grandparents is a trans man and the family's secret keeping of it. She lives in a small Catholic town and religion plays a prevalent role in the book which I didn't mind because I think it's great to show queer characters that aren't all big city and atheist and stuff, and so I understand the reactions to everything, but their reactions could have still been challenges and pushed back on, if for nothing than for the young trans kids reading this.
I'm slowly getting into graphic novels, specifically one's centering and written by LGBTQ+ folx. I REALLY liked the illustrations of the characters, their style and body language were done SO well.
The writing and language of the kids was also done well, especially for 2004. It felt very real. Spoilers ahead.
Things that I liked/loved: Amanda's friendship with Cat and Laura - so realistic how she loves them both but has such a different relationship with them. Amanda's relationship with her parents - it closely mirrored my relationship with my parents at that age, I saw my dad as a friend and couldn't stand my mom and was awful to her. The fact that Amanda wanted nothing to do with Adam, LOL. That with the kids, there were Black and brown characters, fat characters, gay, characters, trans characters, slutty characters. YES.
Things that I didn't like as much: How much focus was spent on Adam being obsessed with Amanda, I GET IT HE LIKES HER,they could have cut a lot of that out and focus more on the other character's storylines. The casual misgendering and transphobia by the adults that was never dealt with (this is a YA book and it would have been great if someone called out the adults when they did this). Amanda's move from one friend group to the other felt sudden and thrown together at the end, would have loved to see more development there, especially because Jess and her crew WERE THE BEST.
Should also note that this book gives a feel that it will be about a girl realizing she is in love with one of her best girlfriends and it's not really that. She winds up being bi/pan (WOO!) but also isn't accepted by her friends, and finds a new group of friends. There is also a sub-plot of her finding out one of her grandparents is a trans man and the family's secret keeping of it. She lives in a small Catholic town and religion plays a prevalent role in the book which I didn't mind because I think it's great to show queer characters that aren't all big city and atheist and stuff, and so I understand the reactions to everything, but their reactions could have still been challenges and pushed back on, if for nothing than for the young trans kids reading this.