audreyliz964's review against another edition
4.0
Another charming graphic novel by Svetlana Chmakova. The art is just as fun and expressive as it is in Awkward, and I feel the message in this book is especially important for kids in today's world.
lispylibrarian's review against another edition
5.0
https://lispylibrarian.weebly.com/lispy-librarian-vlog-blog/brave-by-svetlana-chmakova
I absolutely LOVED Brave by Svetlana Chmakova! It lets us revisit Berrybrook Middle School, but this time we get to see the perspective of Jensen, another Art Club member that we only briefly got to see in Awkward. Brave shows a different perspective on bullying that I hadn't seen before. It also graphically shows the effects of bullying to students and victims.
Jensen is a sweet character who wants to grow up to be an astronaut and save the world from sunspots; he is always prepared for a zombie attack and is more than willing to help his friends and fellow students. Jensen refers to middle school as a video game and mentions how the levels get harder and harder as it goes on, including math and the "school monsters;" who Jensen refers to as two boys who constantly call Jensen "fat" and push him into his locker. The reader gets to see him being picked on not just by these bullies, but by the other art club members. Jensen is beautifully oblivious to his bullies and defends them saying that they are just joking with him, even though he doesn't like it.
The math level of Jensen's middle school video game reaches a climax when he starts failing and is told to attend math tutorials where one of his bullies attends as well. He also is asked by the newspaper crew, Akilah and Jenny, to be a part of a "lizard brain" study where the two girls interview students who are being bullied and offer the science behind it. Jensen finally realizes that he is being bullied and becomes depressed. He realizes that he has no real friends and even says that he would be better off being eaten by zombies. While this chapter broke my heart, it was great to see the depression and often suicidal thoughts that are effects of being bullied. I loved that Chmakova wasn't afraid to include this and made them easy to understand by Jensen's expressions and change from being a happy character to a very sad one. Jensen gets the flu and has to miss a few days of school, even when he is feeling at his worst, he says that he would sacrifice himself to testing and helping to find a cure to a zombie flu if it meant saving the world from a virus.
*SPOILERS AHEAD!*
When Jensen returns from being sick he gets caught up in a student protest to help another student who was unfairly suspended; Chmakova uses this as a great teachable moment where students are allowed to question the school dress code and whom is allowed to police what students wear. Through this Jensen finally finds his place among his friends, giving him the bravery that he needs to stand up not only to the art club, but to his two bullies. He tells both groups that they are making his life hell and that he wants them to stop picking on him. One bully tries to fight him, but with the help of the newspaper crew, they are caught on film and the bully is suspended.
Jensen very quickly has become one of my favorite characters, and I assume that he will find his way into the heart of readers everywhere. I am proud that this book made it onto the 2018 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, where I hope it is found and read by students of all ages, teachers, parents, and administration. Chmakova deserves ALL of the awards for Brave, because she had to demonstrate bravery to be able to touch on these subjects as easily as she has.
I absolutely LOVED Brave by Svetlana Chmakova! It lets us revisit Berrybrook Middle School, but this time we get to see the perspective of Jensen, another Art Club member that we only briefly got to see in Awkward. Brave shows a different perspective on bullying that I hadn't seen before. It also graphically shows the effects of bullying to students and victims.
Jensen is a sweet character who wants to grow up to be an astronaut and save the world from sunspots; he is always prepared for a zombie attack and is more than willing to help his friends and fellow students. Jensen refers to middle school as a video game and mentions how the levels get harder and harder as it goes on, including math and the "school monsters;" who Jensen refers to as two boys who constantly call Jensen "fat" and push him into his locker. The reader gets to see him being picked on not just by these bullies, but by the other art club members. Jensen is beautifully oblivious to his bullies and defends them saying that they are just joking with him, even though he doesn't like it.
The math level of Jensen's middle school video game reaches a climax when he starts failing and is told to attend math tutorials where one of his bullies attends as well. He also is asked by the newspaper crew, Akilah and Jenny, to be a part of a "lizard brain" study where the two girls interview students who are being bullied and offer the science behind it. Jensen finally realizes that he is being bullied and becomes depressed. He realizes that he has no real friends and even says that he would be better off being eaten by zombies. While this chapter broke my heart, it was great to see the depression and often suicidal thoughts that are effects of being bullied. I loved that Chmakova wasn't afraid to include this and made them easy to understand by Jensen's expressions and change from being a happy character to a very sad one. Jensen gets the flu and has to miss a few days of school, even when he is feeling at his worst, he says that he would sacrifice himself to testing and helping to find a cure to a zombie flu if it meant saving the world from a virus.
*SPOILERS AHEAD!*
When Jensen returns from being sick he gets caught up in a student protest to help another student who was unfairly suspended; Chmakova uses this as a great teachable moment where students are allowed to question the school dress code and whom is allowed to police what students wear. Through this Jensen finally finds his place among his friends, giving him the bravery that he needs to stand up not only to the art club, but to his two bullies. He tells both groups that they are making his life hell and that he wants them to stop picking on him. One bully tries to fight him, but with the help of the newspaper crew, they are caught on film and the bully is suspended.
Jensen very quickly has become one of my favorite characters, and I assume that he will find his way into the heart of readers everywhere. I am proud that this book made it onto the 2018 Maverick Graphic Novel Reading List, where I hope it is found and read by students of all ages, teachers, parents, and administration. Chmakova deserves ALL of the awards for Brave, because she had to demonstrate bravery to be able to touch on these subjects as easily as she has.
msvenner's review against another edition
4.0
This is a great graphic novel for 9-12. The story works well in a graphic novel setting. The pictures really add to the story. It handles touchy subjects with a deft hand and incorporates diversity without being obvious. I really liked this book and will recommend it freely. Another silver birch nominee.
izzle17's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
slow-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
4.0
mehsi's review against another edition
5.0
I was super excited when I found out that Awkward would have another book, this time about another character but still taking place in the same school. I pre-ordered it immediately.
The protagonist this time is Jensen, a slightly overweight guy who is in middle school and is utterly confused by a lot of things (though I don't blame him, anyone would be confused). He is trying to traverse through school and getting by as best as he can. Some hurdles on his way include maths (I can imagine he is confused though, that math looks hard, or maybe it is just my brain blocking out all the maths I had in high school), but also bullies, friendship (is it truly friendship or not).
Jensen was a great character and I loved his daydreams, his hopes, and how hard he tried to work to get better at things. His drawings are amazing. Though his sunspot obsession was a bit too much at times (I did like that the author explained why he was so obsessed though). That he saw his daily life in game levels was really fun, I did the same thing as well!
I would have liked to see a bit more of his family situation at home. There is some talk about it, but not that much and I am sure it would have made the character even better.
The book changes in mood/tone as the book progresses. From slightly confusing events (how the hell do I survive this day) to him finding out that maybe he is truly bullied (um, yes, yes you are) to him getting more and more sad as the days pass by. The ending is back to happy again.
I felt so sorry for Jensen, though I was shaking my head that he didn't get that he was bullied, and that he even thought that words wouldn't hurt. Um, sorry dude, but really, words can hurt just as much, if not more.
Sorry, but those people in the art club were terrible. I was definitely not expecting that from Peppi, girl from the previous book, to go along with it, or at least not notice it happening. I just wanted to shake some people in the art club for making Jensen feel this way, for hurting him like that. Bleh, what a terrible club. :|
Then there are Yanic and Foster, I so didn't like those guys. They were terrible. I was kind of worried that the author may do a redemption arc (due to some stuff happening), but thankfully that didn't happen. Just something Jensen decides on his own at the end, which fitted perfectly.
The newspaper-club was quite fun, I loved how they tried to get Jensen to join a bit, even if it was with menial jobs. Though I do wonder if they did it to help him, because they wanted him in the group, or because they were just interested in interviewing him.
Though I have to say I didn't always like the girls there. Jenny... I didn't quite like her that much. At times she kicked serious butt, but at times I was frustrated with her attitude and how easily she was pissed off. Plus she has a big case of bossiness, a character trait I absolutely don't like. She kept controlling all sorts of things, and I was quite startled that Akilah was still friends with her. If my friend kept pushing me, rejecting my ideas, and being so bossy? I wouldn't be friends with her, even if we had a few good moments.
Jorge? He was instantly a favourite character. I just knew the type when we saw him the first time in this book. I just knew he was a giant sweetheart. Sorry, I have read too many books/manga/comics/graphic novels with this kind of character. :P
The art style is still amazing, and I love it so much.
I do hope we will have many more books coming in this series. Maybe next time we could have Jorge? Awww, please? I would recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
The protagonist this time is Jensen, a slightly overweight guy who is in middle school and is utterly confused by a lot of things (though I don't blame him, anyone would be confused). He is trying to traverse through school and getting by as best as he can. Some hurdles on his way include maths (I can imagine he is confused though, that math looks hard, or maybe it is just my brain blocking out all the maths I had in high school), but also bullies, friendship (is it truly friendship or not).
Jensen was a great character and I loved his daydreams, his hopes, and how hard he tried to work to get better at things. His drawings are amazing. Though his sunspot obsession was a bit too much at times (I did like that the author explained why he was so obsessed though). That he saw his daily life in game levels was really fun, I did the same thing as well!
I would have liked to see a bit more of his family situation at home. There is some talk about it, but not that much and I am sure it would have made the character even better.
The book changes in mood/tone as the book progresses. From slightly confusing events (how the hell do I survive this day) to him finding out that maybe he is truly bullied (um, yes, yes you are) to him getting more and more sad as the days pass by. The ending is back to happy again.
I felt so sorry for Jensen, though I was shaking my head that he didn't get that he was bullied, and that he even thought that words wouldn't hurt. Um, sorry dude, but really, words can hurt just as much, if not more.
Sorry, but those people in the art club were terrible. I was definitely not expecting that from Peppi, girl from the previous book, to go along with it, or at least not notice it happening. I just wanted to shake some people in the art club for making Jensen feel this way, for hurting him like that. Bleh, what a terrible club. :|
Then there are Yanic and Foster, I so didn't like those guys. They were terrible. I was kind of worried that the author may do a redemption arc (due to some stuff happening), but thankfully that didn't happen. Just something Jensen decides on his own at the end, which fitted perfectly.
The newspaper-club was quite fun, I loved how they tried to get Jensen to join a bit, even if it was with menial jobs. Though I do wonder if they did it to help him, because they wanted him in the group, or because they were just interested in interviewing him.
Though I have to say I didn't always like the girls there. Jenny... I didn't quite like her that much. At times she kicked serious butt, but at times I was frustrated with her attitude and how easily she was pissed off. Plus she has a big case of bossiness, a character trait I absolutely don't like. She kept controlling all sorts of things, and I was quite startled that Akilah was still friends with her. If my friend kept pushing me, rejecting my ideas, and being so bossy? I wouldn't be friends with her, even if we had a few good moments.
Jorge? He was instantly a favourite character. I just knew the type when we saw him the first time in this book. I just knew he was a giant sweetheart. Sorry, I have read too many books/manga/comics/graphic novels with this kind of character. :P
The art style is still amazing, and I love it so much.
I do hope we will have many more books coming in this series. Maybe next time we could have Jorge? Awww, please? I would recommend this book to everyone.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/
gabrielllaerin's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
brenna_reads_books's review against another edition
2.0
This book was so empowering for a graphic novel. I wish there was more Peppi and Jaime in this book, but it was so interesting to learn about the newspaper crew. I love how Svetlana Chmakova discusses such serious topics in her books such as divorce, bullying, and dress code which made it so much easier to connect to. I think this book is so encouraging for ending bullying at your school or facility.
sarahaeckardt's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
slay