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3.5 AVERAGE
3.5 AVERAGE
i quite liked this book. it felt very real. the dialogue the characters . it was melancholy in a way that real life sort of is, especially in these years.
the art was amazing. i found myself re-scanning pages to really admire the composition and the ways that the art told a story in and of itself. i think thats something really special about comics, and forest hills bootleg society definitely took advantage of the medium well.
i thought a lot of things about this book were so unique. i loved the way every character got little about bubbles, or the “brief history of” pages. it really felt like a fleshed out world with characters you could understand . like a place u could imagine yourself living in. like i said. very grounded and real.
i loved how messy all these girls were and how very teenaged it felt. even the ending felt like a punch in the gut but in a good way. like it felt realistic. like yeah, a lot of your relationships as a teenager can kind of just go . Poof. just like that. and theres really nothing more u can do about it. i really liked this!
the art was amazing. i found myself re-scanning pages to really admire the composition and the ways that the art told a story in and of itself. i think thats something really special about comics, and forest hills bootleg society definitely took advantage of the medium well.
i thought a lot of things about this book were so unique. i loved the way every character got little about bubbles, or the “brief history of” pages. it really felt like a fleshed out world with characters you could understand . like a place u could imagine yourself living in. like i said. very grounded and real.
i loved how messy all these girls were and how very teenaged it felt. even the ending felt like a punch in the gut but in a good way. like it felt realistic. like yeah, a lot of your relationships as a teenager can kind of just go . Poof. just like that. and theres really nothing more u can do about it. i really liked this!
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
emotional
hopeful
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:
Yes
funny
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A group of friends hatch a plan to buy fashionable coats and take on selling bootleg anime dvds at school. This is a weird one but definitely worth a read. I loved the somewhat random notes we get throughout that add flavor to the characters or to the world around them. The focus on religion didn’t resonate with me but I’m sure it will with some readers.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Religious bigotry
dark
emotional
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It’s hard to give a graphic novel with such amazing art anything below a 3, but unfortunately I hated the main and side characters along with their endings enough for this books rating to tank. If there was a second book, I would give it another chance in hopes of some character development, but there doesn’t sound like anything is in the works. I understand not all characters are perfect, but when serious topics are brought up I typically like them to be explored more to have purpose. It felt more like these topics were written in just to be dark, not for any depth to the story, which i disliked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Homophobia, Pedophilia, Suicide
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I LOVED this book! I can 100% relate to it growing up next to a very tiny tiny town (less than 500 people). The artwork is beautiful!! I love the story it builds, especially with the "brief history" pages. I feel like I got to see a full version of a small moment in time in this tiny town.
From the reviews, I know some people are upset about it pointing out that it was in 2005, but I think that was necessary for the story. Especially when it comes to technology used and reference in the book. Technology has changed a lot since then.
I have read quite a few of the reviews about the ending, but honestly, I LOVED the ending. It's real life, and that's what would happen in real life. Not every story or chapter of your life has a happy ending. I have similar experiences growing up in a small town. Some people are in your life for one story, and then you both move on to create more.
From the reviews, I know some people are upset about it pointing out that it was in 2005, but I think that was necessary for the story. Especially when it comes to technology used and reference in the book. Technology has changed a lot since then.
I have read quite a few of the reviews about the ending, but honestly, I LOVED the ending. It's real life, and that's what would happen in real life. Not every story or chapter of your life has a happy ending. I have similar experiences growing up in a small town. Some people are in your life for one story, and then you both move on to create more.
This starts as a fun cute journey into some girls making some pocket change with bootleg anime! But it touches on very serious topics and issues for teens, and at the end I was left unsure how I was feeling. I enjoyed reading it but it’s settling very heavy on me, but I think in a good way. It’s a lighthearted catalyst into some heavy things about growing up. I think I’ll have to sit with this before I really know my ultimate feelings but for now I’m going with a 4/5.
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book was fine. It had potential to be great but the last 100 pages or so fell super flat and the ending was mediocre. I don’t really have much to say about this book other than that it was fine.
3/5 stars
3/5 stars