Scan barcode
exceptionalcephalopod's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
sparkleboymatty's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-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
4.25
kllyholt's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25
cayleejanet's review
2.5
this was okay !! i thought the art was really clever and really cool but the story was a little preachy (which is fine! just not for me)
mello_cra02's review against another edition
3.0
Thank you, NetGalley and Holiday House Publishing for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
3.3 ⭐
This is a truly heartbreaking story that covers multiple meaningful topics such as substance abuse, gender identity, dealing with trauma, and the perks of being a teenager. I didn't relate to the story because I haven't gone through anything similar before but that didn't stop me from relishing the experience of reading about Claire's journey.
I must warn you that this is not a happy book, and that's probably the best part. It doesn't have a HEA at the end, but it still gives you an optimistic feeling that things can be alright in the future.
I enjoyed this (painfully) real book and would like to recommend this read to everyone who needs it. Regardless, there were a few details that made it hard for me to rate it higher. For example, the inner monologues were too poetic for my taste. It didn't match the realistic setting. The pacing of the story bothered me a little bit too. There's also the art. It was beautiful yet, I found it chaotic at times. It was difficult for me to understand what was going on in some scenes.
Nonetheless, I believe this book will be of great help to young people struggling with their identity or fighting an addiction.
3.3 ⭐
This is a truly heartbreaking story that covers multiple meaningful topics such as substance abuse, gender identity, dealing with trauma, and the perks of being a teenager. I didn't relate to the story because I haven't gone through anything similar before but that didn't stop me from relishing the experience of reading about Claire's journey.
I must warn you that this is not a happy book, and that's probably the best part. It doesn't have a HEA at the end, but it still gives you an optimistic feeling that things can be alright in the future.
I enjoyed this (painfully) real book and would like to recommend this read to everyone who needs it. Regardless, there were a few details that made it hard for me to rate it higher. For example, the inner monologues were too poetic for my taste. It didn't match the realistic setting. The pacing of the story bothered me a little bit too. There's also the art. It was beautiful yet, I found it chaotic at times. It was difficult for me to understand what was going on in some scenes.
Nonetheless, I believe this book will be of great help to young people struggling with their identity or fighting an addiction.
tanyamhudson's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
reading_tea's review against another edition
5.0
It’s the 1980s and Claire is a gender non-conforming teen who is sick and tired of constantly being asked “Are you a boy or a girl?” As someone who’s been asked that same question, I identified with Claire immediately.
The 1980s weren’t a great time to be queer in the US, and Claire’s story reflects that. The world is cruel to her, but at least she has best friend Greg and a six pack of beer. Things come to a head after another girl kisses her at a party and the whole school finds out. As the bullying from students, teachers, and her own family increases, Claire goes on a bender that ends with court-mandated rehab.
In rehab Claire meets other teens struggling with their own issues. She makes friends she can be herself around and begins to open up about her own past traumas. It’s an honest and raw picture of struggling youth that does not shy away from hard truths. It shows the ways in which the system both helps and fails kids like Claire. She is one of the lucky ones.
I received an ARC of this title that has only the first few pages in full color, which is disappointing. The watercolor art is absolutely gorgeous even in black and white, but I felt like I wasn’t getting the full experience. Will definitely check this out of the library in order to do so.
The 1980s weren’t a great time to be queer in the US, and Claire’s story reflects that. The world is cruel to her, but at least she has best friend Greg and a six pack of beer. Things come to a head after another girl kisses her at a party and the whole school finds out. As the bullying from students, teachers, and her own family increases, Claire goes on a bender that ends with court-mandated rehab.
In rehab Claire meets other teens struggling with their own issues. She makes friends she can be herself around and begins to open up about her own past traumas. It’s an honest and raw picture of struggling youth that does not shy away from hard truths. It shows the ways in which the system both helps and fails kids like Claire. She is one of the lucky ones.
I received an ARC of this title that has only the first few pages in full color, which is disappointing. The watercolor art is absolutely gorgeous even in black and white, but I felt like I wasn’t getting the full experience. Will definitely check this out of the library in order to do so.
saidtheraina's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
4.0
Follows the alcohol abuse and rehab experience of a butch teen raised in a small dying factory town. Fictionalized account written from lived experience. Depictions of gender expression-based harassment, assault, among other things. Most of the pages focus on group therapy/support sessions in the rehab center.
Glasheen's illustrations are distinctive and are consistent with the cover - full-color, with a chaotic watercolor effect. Lined notepaper-like fragments show up throughout, which implies the vibes of a daily journal/processing tool. Their figures have notably angry eyebrows almost all the time. Glasheen is a tattoo artist in PA, alongside their authorship.
Glasheen's illustrations are distinctive and are consistent with the cover - full-color, with a chaotic watercolor effect. Lined notepaper-like fragments show up throughout, which implies the vibes of a daily journal/processing tool. Their figures have notably angry eyebrows almost all the time. Glasheen is a tattoo artist in PA, alongside their authorship.
vinceyface's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aceinit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0