Awkward and Definition: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag

Not appropriate for middle School classroom library. No knock on the book; just wish I knew before purchasing.

I happened upon this book by chance, and I'm glad I did. I felt almost like a voyeur while reading it -- it's basically the diary of a high school girl in comic book form. But I also felt a connection to the author. Though I went to high school thousands of miles away and a few years earlier than Schrag, her stories reminded me of my own experiences during that time. And these stories are brutally honest. One of the things that surprised me most was just how open the author is. In my personal experience most people that age are, as I was, rather guarded and self-conscious. But Schrag lays everything on the table for all to see. Her lack of shame or fear in telling her stories makes them incredibly real, and I found her attitude towards life inspiring. But don't expect a polished book. This work is rough around the edges, as you would expect from a young author. That said, Schrag's storytelling ability and maturity are evident, and beyond what I would normally expect from someone her age. I highly recommend this book. It's dramatic, it's poignant, it's funny, and it's completely, utterly real.

I'd already read Ariel Schrag's POTENTIAL, so I knew how astoundingly talented she is -- how painfully honest and beautifully hilarious her work is. When I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of her first two graphic novels, I tore through them in an afternoon, then slumped over on my couch, dazed, dazzled, and wanting more. Heartbreakingly great!