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lsparrow's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this queer coming of age and discovery of hidden family histories.
theofficialzhang's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
3.5 ⭐️
Liked the story and the art, but would’ve liked to see a more “wrapped-up” ending. Still, overall it’s a quick and nice read dealing with some heavier themes.
Liked the story and the art, but would’ve liked to see a more “wrapped-up” ending. Still, overall it’s a quick and nice read dealing with some heavier themes.
okollie's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
In my opinion, Ellen Crenshaw's beautiful brushwork is the piece de resistance of this book. Colleen Venable's lyrical, complex, and nuanced writing adds to it to make the story
So, let me explain the stars. And start with the caveat, of course, that I know the decisions made in a graphic novel come from more than just one author or one illustrator.
This book is DENSE. There's a lot going on, and the pages, to me, reflect that. Especially at the beginning, a lot of text is jammed into one page, and at times feels like its overtaking the art. That's not to say the text isn't necessary - it's not that it was saying too much. I would argue it's actually saying perfectly enough for the story. Moreover, I feel that the choice for this to be a graphic novel necessitated some semblance of plot trimming or further editing. Not just to take some of the burden off of Ellen Crenshaw, but also because it can just feel overwhelming to look at the page. Comics are about consuming a text and art simultaneously, as one composite reading mode. But overbearing text sometimes made it feel like I was forced to perceive the text rather than the art.
That aside, Ellen Crenshaw really is a genius with a brush! There are so many small moments drawn, like Cat rolling up her school uniform skirt, pauses and emotions drawn in such specific ways, it makes you feel so viscerally like you're in high school again. That coupled with Venable's knack for taking what is a vastly different experience for everyone, and condensing it into words, mixing in queerness, coming out, exploration, sexuality, gender, and more, is truly genius. The navigation of religious trauma, and realizing not only can your parents be wrong, but they can be hurtful, and still you can love them and have wonderful memories. That's such a confusing, hurtful, and weirdly un-nameable time that taking it on was definitely a task I applaud Venable and Crenshaw for.
In my opinion, Ellen Crenshaw's beautiful brushwork is the piece de resistance of this book. Colleen Venable's lyrical, complex, and nuanced writing adds to it to make the story
So, let me explain the stars. And start with the caveat, of course, that I know the decisions made in a graphic novel come from more than just one author or one illustrator.
This book is DENSE. There's a lot going on, and the pages, to me, reflect that. Especially at the beginning, a lot of text is jammed into one page, and at times feels like its overtaking the art. That's not to say the text isn't necessary - it's not that it was saying too much. I would argue it's actually saying perfectly enough for the story. Moreover, I feel that the choice for this to be a graphic novel necessitated some semblance of plot trimming or further editing. Not just to take some of the burden off of Ellen Crenshaw, but also because it can just feel overwhelming to look at the page. Comics are about consuming a text and art simultaneously, as one composite reading mode. But overbearing text sometimes made it feel like I was forced to perceive the text rather than the art.
That aside, Ellen Crenshaw really is a genius with a brush! There are so many small moments drawn, like Cat rolling up her school uniform skirt, pauses and emotions drawn in such specific ways, it makes you feel so viscerally like you're in high school again. That coupled with Venable's knack for taking what is a vastly different experience for everyone, and condensing it into words, mixing in queerness, coming out, exploration, sexuality, gender, and more, is truly genius. The navigation of religious trauma, and realizing not only can your parents be wrong, but they can be hurtful, and still you can love them and have wonderful memories. That's such a confusing, hurtful, and weirdly un-nameable time that taking it on was definitely a task I applaud Venable and Crenshaw for.
rapgod13's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
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
3.75
yuuto's review
emotional
reflective
slow-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? It's complicated
3.0
babs_jellymuck's review
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book surprised me— not sure what I was expecting but there’s a lot going on here. I felt that the writer & illustrator really channelled the drama & extremes of being a teen and trying to figure everything out. (I will say, they really did the mom dirty in the beginning.) Mad’s dad was honestly heartbreaking for me- the warmth and silly jokes shadowed by transphobia and hatred reminded me loosely of one of my uncles. Mads reminded me so much of myself, though I kept all those rants and questions inside. I found the ending encouraging despite the difficult sections. I also appreciated that the writer allowed the protagonist to continue experimenting and finding out what she was about. I’m going to add this to the list of books I wish I had read when I was a lost little teen, and then a lost little twenty-something, and then a lost little thirty-something.
Oh, and the illustrations were incredible. I will probably give this book away, but I found the artist Ellen Crenshaw’s process fascinating (replicable?). I am going to jot it down here to reference later:
Oh, and the illustrations were incredible. I will probably give this book away, but I found the artist Ellen Crenshaw’s process fascinating (replicable?). I am going to jot it down here to reference later:
Colleen: Art nerd time! What tools did you use to draw KN8?
E: I penciled the book in Photoshop using my trusty old Wacom Inuos4. Then I printed the pages in blue line onto Arches hot press watercolor paper. (My printer is an Epson R1900. You may note that my equipment is a few generations old, because I hate updating when something works.) I inked the pages with Dr. Ph. Martin’s Black Star HiCarb ink and Winsor & Newton Series 7 brushes. (Many brushes died int he making of this book.) The tones were done with the same ink and a variety of synthetic watercolor brushes. Then I scanned each page with my Epson V500 scanner. Whew!
isabelduhreader's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this book. I had no idea what the book was about prior, so I felt like the reveals and subtle hints were really good. I was so excited to figure out all the secrets and then I was like OMG GAY which was a pleasant surprise. All the homophobia and transphobia was handled really well and it had such a nice ending.
I don't know what I was expecting but I really enjoyed the route the book went. I almost cried at the ending. I really related to Mads and her journey with sexuality.
I don't know what I was expecting but I really enjoyed the route the book went. I almost cried at the ending. I really related to Mads and her journey with sexuality.
goatieboi's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
It had its ups and downs, but over all it was an enjoyable read! I do wish they had a trigger warning for some of the subject matter because it took me out of the book a few times. There is a lot of heaviness to it that I think people should be aware of before they read.
Also, some things could have been condensed because it made the latter half of the book feel a little rushed. I wanted to see more of the main gal thriving and wanted a little less heavy handedness of the message. I say this and I remind myself that this is for teens, not a 30 year old queer.
Again I did enjoy it quite a bit!
Also, some things could have been condensed because it made the latter half of the book feel a little rushed. I wanted to see more of the main gal thriving and wanted a little less heavy handedness of the message. I say this and I remind myself that this is for teens, not a 30 year old queer.
Again I did enjoy it quite a bit!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Toxic friendship, and Transphobia
sunshine169's review against another edition
2.0
There was a lot of unchecked transphobia, bigotry, and racism in this graphic novel.
There was so much going on that my head was spinning. You didn't even get the sense that Amanda was bisexual until the big reveal more than halfway through the book. Her friends and family, minus her mother, were all so dam unlikeable. The end saved it a bit for me but it was too little too late.
There was so much going on that my head was spinning. You didn't even get the sense that Amanda was bisexual until the big reveal