Scan barcode
A review by madisonraelutz
In Real Life by Cory Doctorow, Jen Wang
challenging
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
2.75
The art style was fun, it was paced well, and there were elements I enjoyed but overall I just felt unsettled by this book—and it wasn’t because it was challenging in a good way. More it just left a bad taste in my mouth.
As someone who is Chinese, the role the Chinese characters play in this book doesn’t sit right. As others have mentioned, there is a strong feeling of the white savior complex and western egocentrism. It also has elements of the non-white characters merely servicing as tools to teach the white main character about the world, etc. Which is a trope/stereotype I am so done seeing.
While I think the intentions were earnest with this book—it was perhaps too much to take on in a 175 page graphic novel. It had to be simplified and condensed in ways that I don’t think served the intent the creators were going for.
As someone who is Chinese, the role the Chinese characters play in this book doesn’t sit right. As others have mentioned, there is a strong feeling of the white savior complex and western egocentrism. It also has elements of the non-white characters merely servicing as tools to teach the white main character about the world, etc. Which is a trope/stereotype I am so done seeing.
While I think the intentions were earnest with this book—it was perhaps too much to take on in a 175 page graphic novel. It had to be simplified and condensed in ways that I don’t think served the intent the creators were going for.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Fatphobia
Minor: Racial slurs