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thisisstephenbetts's review against another edition
3.0
Potential covers the later high-school years in Schrag's extended comics biography. It's pretty uneven, and naturally a little naval-gazey at times. But it is very earnest, and feels authentic. While it may not be the greatest comcis, or the greatest story, I think it really succeeds on its own terms, and I feel that that is to be commended.
Also - Ariel Schrag's high school experience was a lot more racey than mine.
Also - Ariel Schrag's high school experience was a lot more racey than mine.
bdfarber13's review against another edition
3.0
It is painfully high school but it brings up a lot of memories, some good, some bad or neutral. How she traverses love and sex and identity feels familiar and honest.
caedocyon's review against another edition
3.0
Found it on the library book cart at Pride (yay!!). Kind of disturbing, and sometimes I couldn't tell if it was intentional or not. There are very few black people (and no real black characters), and every time a black person appears in a panel they're yelling or angry or intimidating or outright scary---I'm pretty sure that wasn't intentional. Also some unexpected homophobia ('butches are icky and gross eww')---maybe it was being lampshaded? And weird consent stuff, which Schrag didn't directly address, but I was fairly sure that she was trying to portray it in an honest and self-critical light.
Overall, I think I didn't connect strongly because I didn't have any messy stupid messed-up high school relationships. I know I'm in the minority there. (I was a complete classic naiive nerd---shocking, I know.) I don't have a strong desire to go back and read the first one, but I think I will look out for the next one along, since the improvements in art and storytelling were so vast from beginning to end of this volume.
Overall, I think I didn't connect strongly because I didn't have any messy stupid messed-up high school relationships. I know I'm in the minority there. (I was a complete classic naiive nerd---shocking, I know.) I don't have a strong desire to go back and read the first one, but I think I will look out for the next one along, since the improvements in art and storytelling were so vast from beginning to end of this volume.
razishiri's review against another edition
4.0
Well, I devoured it, and loved every minute. The art and storytelling improved tremendously from her first book.
chervbim's review against another edition
4.0
This book had more gay drama than I did in my four years at a historically women's college, which I think says a lot about the tumultuous Fantastic documentation of queer life as a high school student. Very relatable, fun and readable.
katulka2's review against another edition
4.0
these comics came into my life at just the right time.
jaelikes's review against another edition
4.0
This was so raw in ways that were a little off putting but also amazing because that's what being a teenager is like and that's what you get when a teenager writes about their own teenage life.
tiffkin's review against another edition
2.0
I think I would have enjoyed this more if I could have identified the characters more in the artwork. I found myself say wait, wait who's that what is her relationship with so and so. And as I read the story it felt manic and too fast paced like I couldn't catch my breath or identify with anything anyone was feeling because it was too hurried. I think there is lots of "Potential" but this particular format is not my favorite.