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juniper_reads_things's review
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Wow, this was not great.
All star highschool baseball player makes stupid teenage decisions, and get his friend expelled from school. Baseball star has privilege, but his friend does not. The friend doesn’t graduate, and doesn’t remain friends with baseball star. Baseball star finishes high school and starts the rest of his life alone.
Pretty depressing, not a compelling storyline, not great characters.
All star highschool baseball player makes stupid teenage decisions, and get his friend expelled from school. Baseball star has privilege, but his friend does not. The friend doesn’t graduate, and doesn’t remain friends with baseball star. Baseball star finishes high school and starts the rest of his life alone.
Pretty depressing, not a compelling storyline, not great characters.
saidtheraina's review
3.0
I really loved Lonergan's work in [b: Joe & Azat|6772186|Joe & Azat|Jesse Lonergan|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1328754988s/6772186.jpg|6971804]. And I admire that the three graphic novels I've read that he's written are all so distinctly different. He's tackled romance, travel/ex-pat life, and now, teen coming of age/sports. He writes accessible stories that feel real, using easy-to-follow panel layouts and comfortable dialog.
This is a story about the pressures of being a high-achieving athlete in high school. Carl is a rock star, as far as high school sports goes. He's getting a scholarship, and the team lives or dies by his success.
Around the edges, he's got a best friend from the wrong side of the tracks, an older brother with jealousy issues, and a complex about his success. After a few destructive choices, his path gets rocky.
For anyone who cares: some rough language, teen drinking, some sexual content, and some violence.
This is a story about the pressures of being a high-achieving athlete in high school. Carl is a rock star, as far as high school sports goes. He's getting a scholarship, and the team lives or dies by his success.
Around the edges, he's got a best friend from the wrong side of the tracks, an older brother with jealousy issues, and a complex about his success. After a few destructive choices, his path gets rocky.
For anyone who cares: some rough language, teen drinking, some sexual content, and some violence.
thunderdone's review
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I'm a big fan of Lonergan's work! This is my first time completing one of his graphic novels, and it's fascinating to see how his work has grown since this point. In particular, I thought his use of circular panels had grown in complexity since Joe and Azat, and since All Star, he's gotten even better at them. It was also intriguing to see an early use of his notable grid, albeit in a 6 by 4 format, rather than a 5 by 7. I think his shorter form fiction is where his storytelling shines even more, this story is far more direct than his more recent writing. Personally, I enjoy the lack of color used in this graphic novel, even while I also think that the linework doesn't carry the full weight of light and shadow, primarily in close up panels. Last thought: I love the way he draws cars, and the lines indicating the swing of a bat.
astrosgirl's review
3.0
I was trying to figure out why this GN was in the adult GN section of the library when I read the description and looked at the cover. After about 5 pages in, I had no doubt why it was in the adult section. This is a story about a teen who plays for the high school baseball team and he is the star player. He's cocky and doesn't listen to the adults in his life. The decision to not listen and hang out with some less than savory friends has consequences that open his eyes to the unfair way that his All Star status allows him to be treated. The GN has a good message but I think it gets lost in the foul language and haphazard storyline.
atperez's review
3.0
Actual rating: 2.5
It's Carl's senior year and as the star baseball player on his high school team, he can get just about anything he wants. This all changes when, on a night out with his troublemaker friend, he decides to trespass in a closed convenient store and is caught. Although he ultimately gets away with it, things aren't the same with his friends, his team, or his family.
This was realistic and had a nice selection of cultural references sprinkled throughout. However, the story was somewhat rushed and lacked natural-feeling transitions in certain places. The artwork was also somewhat confusing at times, with a few related characters looking too identical to tell which was which at a glance.
It's Carl's senior year and as the star baseball player on his high school team, he can get just about anything he wants. This all changes when, on a night out with his troublemaker friend, he decides to trespass in a closed convenient store and is caught. Although he ultimately gets away with it, things aren't the same with his friends, his team, or his family.
This was realistic and had a nice selection of cultural references sprinkled throughout. However, the story was somewhat rushed and lacked natural-feeling transitions in certain places. The artwork was also somewhat confusing at times, with a few related characters looking too identical to tell which was which at a glance.
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