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kavreb's review against another edition
4.0
For a while it is a relatively unsurprising but enjoyable coming-of-age with some of the usual, like falling for the higher-than-thou jock, but spiced with some unusual, like a ghost best friend and the experience of being a second-generation Russian immigrant who's worked their ass off to fit in at high school. Clean, clear drawings let the story flow at its meandering pace where nothing truly gripping happens, just a nice story about finding a friend, and yourself.
Until it goes totally off the rails, becoming a disturbing look at obsession and solipsism, culminating in a truly creepy couple of dozen of pages where I didn't dare to put the book down, so afraid of what dark dreams I'd allow linger then.
You never really know what goes on inside the minds of other people (including what they really think of you), for better or worse, is the book’s clear, reverberating moral, presented in a way I'll remember much better than I expected to in the middle of it. There are a few lingering clichés swimming around here and there, but the human content around them is strong enough to lessen their importance; I sometimes even wondered why it had to have a supernatural element at all, the characters and their interactions feeling life-like enough to be capable of pulling their own weight; but the sum of it does make the book into a different beast, with a message that resonates differently, and I did enjoy that.
Until it goes totally off the rails, becoming a disturbing look at obsession and solipsism, culminating in a truly creepy couple of dozen of pages where I didn't dare to put the book down, so afraid of what dark dreams I'd allow linger then.
You never really know what goes on inside the minds of other people (including what they really think of you), for better or worse, is the book’s clear, reverberating moral, presented in a way I'll remember much better than I expected to in the middle of it. There are a few lingering clichés swimming around here and there, but the human content around them is strong enough to lessen their importance; I sometimes even wondered why it had to have a supernatural element at all, the characters and their interactions feeling life-like enough to be capable of pulling their own weight; but the sum of it does make the book into a different beast, with a message that resonates differently, and I did enjoy that.
jenmangler's review against another edition
3.0
I like the way Brosgol uses a ghost story/murder mystery as a way for Anya to think about who she really wants to be. This was an engaging and quick read.
bookishly_laura9813's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
mcmoon's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this darkly simple graphic novel. It follows the story of an angst-ridden teen girl, who smokes, complains, and feels like an outsider. She's also crushing on the popular jock, who already has a girlfriend. Embarrassed by her Russian immigrant family, she tries awkwardly to fit in. But Anya ends up falling down a well where she meets a ghost who attaches itself to her, seeming friendly at first but soon turning sinister. A very Jungian read (and an FYI for teachers who may want to teach the book: it has many PG-13 elements and may be better suited for high school kids). Still it's bound to generate good discussion. It inspired me to think about the "Shadow Self", and the way we can drift through our lives battling personal demons. I loved the imagery, the Gothic mood, and the simplicity of the story. Both entertaining and thought-provoking with a positive message.
jgurniak's review against another edition
5.0
This starts out so cute, and then that plot twist! Absolutely loved this.
watashikomorebi's review against another edition
funny
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dreaming_ace's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting take on the question what do you want and Why?
capen's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
sad
fast-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
3.0
brisingr's review against another edition
5.0
Ahhh!!! What a lovely read! I really enjoyed the artwork: very soft and volatile. The story was super intriguing and interesting, even if so short, and it managed to tackle quite a few topics. I honestly think, given the time and opportunity, everyone should read this comic: it's really quick to read ~