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reader4evr's review
4.0
Another super cute graphic novel by Raina Telgemeier. I could see high schoolers liking it even though they are middle schoolers. Cute storyline although the twins confused me at times with who was who.
bookph1le's review
4.0
I really enjoyed this book. I thought Telgemeier did a very good job of capturing the confusion of middle school: crushes, friendship drama, and learning how to be true to yourself.
addimeliajareau's review
5.0
This is one of my favorite childhood reads and I always enjoy reading this one.
xabbeylongx's review
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Spoilers Ahead:
This comic was one that I saw in my university library and I quite liked the look of. The cover itself isn’t brilliant, but the art style was really cool, so I decided to get it out and try it.
We follow Callie, or Cal (automatic win, because I adore the name Cal) as she goes through school. She has a crush on Matt’s (her best friend’s) brother, Greg, although Greg wants nothing to do with her, and keeps pining after Bonnie, his ex, who is the certified mean girl in this scenario.
Cal is part of the theatre society, and they are putting together a show, and Matt starts acting really weird with her and Greg is an asshole, and she finds new friends, Justin and Jesse. They are twins from the year above, and they both sing beautifully. Justin tries out for the play, but Jesse is too scared to. Justin is gay, and develops a crush on the stage director, a fellow student. Meanwhile Cal develops a crush on Jesse, who’s much shyer and more attentive with her. She thinks he likes her back, and so asks him to go to a bookstore, but Justin comes with them?
Eventually, they get to do the theatre after months of practice, and Bonnie and West, the two main characters who started dating throughout the production, broke up moments before the final show. So, Bonnie locks herself in the toilet and doesn’t come out. Bonnie goes on in her place, dressed up in a bright red dress, and he plays Bonnie’s part for her, and kisses West.
Afterwards, Jesse is the most sought-out character in the comic, and they have a dance to go to. Jesse asks her to go with him, and halfway through he disappears. She ends up sobbing, because he didn’t tell her where he was going and he lied to her, and she moves on. At the end of the night, she finds him outside with West. Turns out, he has a thing for West. She’s naturally upset, and Greg offers to take her home, but she won’t be a second option, so she walks home by herself. They eventually all make up, and everything is alright in the end.
I genuinely have never felt heartbreak like it when we found out Jesse was gay. I felt so bad for her, because I thought it was so obvious he liked her, and she was strung along by him, and for him to have the fucking audacity to say she needs to ‘not fall for every guy who’s nice to her’ is FUCKING MENTAL. I think it hit too close to home for me. The book was sweet itself, and it was all going well, but then that happened and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Purely for personal reasons, this book is really cute otherwise. I thought it really cute how they just accepted their sexualities though! It’s a good reaction to it, especially in Cal’s situation, where I can imagine she felt quite put out. That being said, Jesse, you’re the real villain of this story! :)
athena1820's review
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
mehsi's review
5.0
Review when I first read this in 2014:
A little note to all. 1. This is a graphic novel. 2. It features guys who are gay, and also features a kiss between 2 guys. If you think you can't handle either aspect of this, than this is not your kind of book.
Now on to the book, which I might add, I loved dearly. I love Raina Telgemeier's art style, it is really recognizable and colourful. There were a few things however that I didn't like. How the eyes went from small to really big white circles some times. After a while I got used to it, but in the beginning it was a bit weird to see it.
The main lead is one were I had to get used to. She is quite boy crazy, and gets her heart broken quite often (poor thing). But I loved her attitude in regards with the drama club. She worked so hard to get everything working, even while everyone was already dismissing things. The cannon thing? Wonderful! It was really fun when she used it the first time in the cafeteria and everyone was just standing there in shock after it went off with a big BOOM. :)
I hated, no I disliked Bonnie. Stereotypical girl who gets everything her little heart wants, and when she doesn't get it, or it walks away, she just goes in hysterics and pathetically drops everyone and even runs away from an important play. *rolls eyes* Come on girl, I know he dumped you, but running away while you have the main lead? No, just NO.
Then we have our two brothers, one who is gay and also confides in Callie quite soon in the book. She doesn't mind at all (just teases him a little bit) and then hugs him, I am really happy she took that route, and not the running away because someone is gay route.
She is also all happy when she hears that Jesse isn't gay and decides to pursue him. Sadly it was not meant to be. I just wish that Jesse had more balls to be honest with Callie. I think it was pretty mean he dumped her while he took her to the ball, where she spent much of her time crying or with her best friend.
Still I really liked the brothers and their antics. How happy they both were, how good they were in theatre stuff.
Same goes for Callie and her little brother. I still laugh at several of their antics. She is a really great big sister. One of the things that I liked was when her brother came in her room and read what she was posting. What I thought would happen is this: Girl gets angry, screams to mom about annoying brother/sister, bangs with doors. That is what I normally see happening in books featuring little brothers/sisters. Callie? She just says brb to her friend, runs after her brother and buries him six feet under couch pillows/normal pillows and she and her brother have a good time.
The part where the two boys were kissing because the main lead girl decides to hide in a closet? Loved it. And the audience reaction was magnificent, shock and awe.
I really hope for more books by Raina Telgemeier. :)
I would really recommend this book to everyone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes when I re-read it in 2015:
Doing a re-read for Banned Books Week, as this graphic novel is often found banned/challenged probably due to the characters being gay. :|
So I am doing a re-read, because books shouldn't be banned. Everyone should be free to read whatever they want.
I won't write a new review, my old one is still pretty much up par to what I feel right now.
A little note to all. 1. This is a graphic novel. 2. It features guys who are gay, and also features a kiss between 2 guys. If you think you can't handle either aspect of this, than this is not your kind of book.
Now on to the book, which I might add, I loved dearly. I love Raina Telgemeier's art style, it is really recognizable and colourful. There were a few things however that I didn't like. How the eyes went from small to really big white circles some times. After a while I got used to it, but in the beginning it was a bit weird to see it.
The main lead is one were I had to get used to. She is quite boy crazy, and gets her heart broken quite often (poor thing). But I loved her attitude in regards with the drama club. She worked so hard to get everything working, even while everyone was already dismissing things. The cannon thing? Wonderful! It was really fun when she used it the first time in the cafeteria and everyone was just standing there in shock after it went off with a big BOOM. :)
I hated, no I disliked Bonnie. Stereotypical girl who gets everything her little heart wants, and when she doesn't get it, or it walks away, she just goes in hysterics and pathetically drops everyone and even runs away from an important play. *rolls eyes* Come on girl, I know he dumped you, but running away while you have the main lead? No, just NO.
Then we have our two brothers, one who is gay and also confides in Callie quite soon in the book. She doesn't mind at all (just teases him a little bit) and then hugs him, I am really happy she took that route, and not the running away because someone is gay route.
She is also all happy when she hears that Jesse isn't gay and decides to pursue him. Sadly it was not meant to be
Spoiler
as Jesse turns out to be gay and very much in love with a guyStill I really liked the brothers and their antics. How happy they both were, how good they were in theatre stuff.
Same goes for Callie and her little brother. I still laugh at several of their antics. She is a really great big sister. One of the things that I liked was when her brother came in her room and read what she was posting. What I thought would happen is this: Girl gets angry, screams to mom about annoying brother/sister, bangs with doors. That is what I normally see happening in books featuring little brothers/sisters. Callie? She just says brb to her friend, runs after her brother and buries him six feet under couch pillows/normal pillows and she and her brother have a good time.
The part where the two boys were kissing because the main lead girl decides to hide in a closet? Loved it. And the audience reaction was magnificent, shock and awe.
I really hope for more books by Raina Telgemeier. :)
I would really recommend this book to everyone.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes when I re-read it in 2015:
Doing a re-read for Banned Books Week, as this graphic novel is often found banned/challenged probably due to the characters being gay. :|
So I am doing a re-read, because books shouldn't be banned. Everyone should be free to read whatever they want.
I won't write a new review, my old one is still pretty much up par to what I feel right now.