anjaradics's review against another edition
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not sure how many stars this deserves. I spoiled my absorption of this tale by watching the show first. The show was everything I want in YA. It was true, dark, sad, joyful (at moments) and was not tied in a happy ending bow. I fell in love with James onscreen. He was odd, maybe even weird. He was damaged. He was sincere without thinking so and he was, above all, relatable.
Forsman's story was good. I got that. What I can't be sure of is how good. Was I just remembering the scenes of the show and projecting those emotions into the reading experience? I think so, because I adored James' dad in the show and felt nothing for him here. I wanted to dig Alyssa's step-dad's heart out with a spoon on the show, but felt nothing for him on the page. I could go on.
I'm happy I bought this because I love reading what I watch and vice-versa, but I am very glad I watched first in this case.
Forsman's story was good. I got that. What I can't be sure of is how good. Was I just remembering the scenes of the show and projecting those emotions into the reading experience? I think so, because I adored James' dad in the show and felt nothing for him here. I wanted to dig Alyssa's step-dad's heart out with a spoon on the show, but felt nothing for him on the page. I could go on.
I'm happy I bought this because I love reading what I watch and vice-versa, but I am very glad I watched first in this case.
wheresthebirds's review against another edition
dark
fast-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
2.5
fadiavio's review against another edition
4.0
the idea was wild and it was definitely weird but i loved it nonetheless.
jcschildbach's review against another edition
4.0
I knew the TV show was based on a graphic novel. I read this well after watching the first season, and after the second season had come out, but before I watched it. My kid bought the book, I think before watching any of the TV series. I'll just say the TV series took this material and ran with it. A lot of the basic plot and character information was fleshed out and altered a fairly good deal for the show. The artwork here appears to be nothing fancy. It's easy to blast right through this book in one short sitting. Still, there were sequences in the book I found myself studying--mostly sequences with few or no words--sequences that are very powerful in conveying a sense of disconnection and loneliness, or moments when characters have some significant realizations. It's definitely worth checking out for fans of the show (who want to see how all of this evolved) and people who just want a good, kind-of twisted graphic novel.