A review by saidtheraina
Tomboy: A Graphic Memoir by Liz Prince

5.0

I was at a party this weekend where one of the attendees was talking about this book. He said his 10-year-old daughter had just read it twice in 24 hours. She told him "This book is about me, dad!"
I can't wait to read it.

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Read it, loved it.
Give it to kids who are into [a: Raina Telgemeier|21618|Raina Telgemeier|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1200153437p2/21618.jpg], [b: Roller Girl|22504701|Roller Girl|Victoria Jamieson|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1403179116s/22504701.jpg|41951492], [a: Jimmy Gownley|266508|Jimmy Gownley|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1386283306p2/266508.jpg] and [b: El Deafo|20701984|El Deafo|Cece Bell|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1423770455s/20701984.jpg|40021855]*, and are ready for more mature themes and content. You know how [a: Victoria Jamieson|2849126|Victoria Jamieson|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] shows her character working through identity and relationship issues? Here, Prince GOES THERE.
There are drawings of boobs in this book (in the context of Liz going to sex ed).
She talks explicitly about embracing herself as she is (a straight ciswoman, who doesn't do femme). She talks about navigating the drama of secondary education in that identity.

Part of me feels like this would be better if it was more fully produced, in color, like those other books on the same tack. Another part feels like the simple, black and white, line drawing aesthetic makes the reader feel closer to the writer - as though we're reading her personal sketchbook over her shoulder.

I promoted this to my Pizza & Paperbacks teen book discussion group, and at least one of the kids read and enjoyed it. I'm so glad it exists!


*Man, I'm almost getting tired of trotting out that list every other review. ;)