samgougher 's review for:

The Greatest Thing by Sarah Winifred Searle

4.25

emotional hopeful inspiring 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

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This was an incredibly well-balanced coming-of-age graphic novel that grapples with an entire laundry list of Teenage Problems. It's clear that Searle's entire heart and a fair amount of her lived experience went into creating this book. I loved the throwback to the early 2000's, and even as someone who went to high school in the 2010's I related to the characters' academic struggles and their interest in queer cartoons and animation. I've always found it very fascinating that queer people have historically gravitated towards comics, and given the main trio's zine I'm sure that connection is important to Searle as well. I loved the way April immediately imprinted on the gender non-conforming anime character (a clear reference to Sailor Moon) and found themselves embracing their true gender identity through the hyperfixation. That's such a quintessential nerdy queer experience, even in 2022. Some content warnings under spoilers, but nothing offensive or used for shock value (in fact, it's very true how these characters are so wrapped up in their own problems that they sometimes fail to realize the struggles they all share):

Disordered eating and body dysmorphia/self-degradation, self-harm (only scars pictured)