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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
emotional
inspiring
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
inspiring
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I really liked the beginning but I didn’t like how everyone, especially Ben, treated her. It felt out of character and forced.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
Not rating this because I think that. unless the art is really amazing or by a trusted author, I have personally moved past a good chunk of the YA graphic novel genre.
The art was fine and the story was interesting, but with some aspects that made me pause. Other reviewers (particularly lesbian reviewers) called out the use of the d-slur, which also shocked me when it first popped up. It's just so weird to be used so casually by the ostensibly straight best friend. Especially one who didn't seem particularly...homophobic, despite that?
Mackenzie was an interesting character, almost more so than the protagonist. She was very Leslie Knope-ish in her desire to take Phoebe under her wing and guide her how she felt was best. She was very pushy, very much a steamroller. The could have been an interesting arc, but she was just so black and white in her own perception of gender and sexuality, which wasn't ever really pushed back on. Like, her pushiness was. But her explanation of boys a dumb and horny and need to be masculine over girls blah blah blah, that's never really fully challenged.
I'm not going to give equal weight to misandry compared to misogyny, because there just isn't, but it was kinda weird in it's existence as well as how it was just accepted as fact, however tepidly. I almost suspected she would have her own coming out arc or something that had happened in the past with Ben (totally thought he had maybe fetishized her for being Asian, which is how she would know he was bad news). I did like that Ben was and remained bad news because I am so tired of nerds being the heroes (especially when we're living through a nerds being in charge and they're just as god-awful as anyone else!). One thing I hope this book imparts is just because you like the same pop culture, doesn't mean someone is a good friend or person.
Phoebe was kind of a boring character, despite being the protagonist. Part of that was just how willing she was to be pushed around by Mackenzie and either of her boyfriends. Which, was part of her arc, but I kind of thought the surfing would be more a part of it. And, because of where America is at as a country, I just found it very hard to believe that the school would ostracize Mackenzie for what she said to Phoebe during their fight, even if it was a school in Los Angeles. Or, maybe I need to think of it as an alternate timeline where Dems don't throw trans folks under the bus to explain their own lukewarm performance. Who knows! :')
The slur thing makes this a hard sell. I don't think I would recommend it, but from reading the author bio, I think she is a lesbian, so she may have a different relationship with that word and felt more comfortable using it.
The art was fine and the story was interesting, but with some aspects that made me pause. Other reviewers (particularly lesbian reviewers) called out the use of the d-slur, which also shocked me when it first popped up. It's just so weird to be used so casually by the ostensibly straight best friend. Especially one who didn't seem particularly...homophobic, despite that?
Mackenzie was an interesting character, almost more so than the protagonist. She was very Leslie Knope-ish in her desire to take Phoebe under her wing and guide her how she felt was best. She was very pushy, very much a steamroller. The could have been an interesting arc, but she was just so black and white in her own perception of gender and sexuality, which wasn't ever really pushed back on. Like, her pushiness was. But her explanation of boys a dumb and horny and need to be masculine over girls blah blah blah, that's never really fully challenged.
I'm not going to give equal weight to misandry compared to misogyny, because there just isn't, but it was kinda weird in it's existence as well as how it was just accepted as fact, however tepidly. I almost suspected she would have her own coming out arc or something that had happened in the past with Ben (totally thought he had maybe fetishized her for being Asian, which is how she would know he was bad news). I did like that Ben was and remained bad news because I am so tired of nerds being the heroes (especially when we're living through a nerds being in charge and they're just as god-awful as anyone else!). One thing I hope this book imparts is just because you like the same pop culture, doesn't mean someone is a good friend or person.
Phoebe was kind of a boring character, despite being the protagonist. Part of that was just how willing she was to be pushed around by Mackenzie and either of her boyfriends. Which, was part of her arc, but I kind of thought the surfing would be more a part of it. And, because of where America is at as a country, I just found it very hard to believe that the school would ostracize Mackenzie for what she said to Phoebe during their fight, even if it was a school in Los Angeles. Or, maybe I need to think of it as an alternate timeline where Dems don't throw trans folks under the bus to explain their own lukewarm performance. Who knows! :')
The slur thing makes this a hard sell. I don't think I would recommend it, but from reading the author bio, I think she is a lesbian, so she may have a different relationship with that word and felt more comfortable using it.
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
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated