dlberglund's review
4.0
I'm a little late to this party, but this is still a great graphic novel about censorship and the attempt to ban books that are beloved by others. Everything here is pretty black and white, but I was still rooting for the intellectual freedom advocates, and hoping that the like-minded folks find each other. The story within a story was interesting, too.
turrean's review
4.0
I enjoyed this very much. It's a pretty dark image of high school -- most of the kids are wrapped up in their own petty concerns, and only peek out at anybody else to savagely snarl at, bully, ignore, or torment them. Nearly every teacher was a waste of protoplasm, too. But I thought the book was brutally honest in how difficult it is for teens being raised in communities that have little experience with, or tolerance for, anyone different from the norm. There were several small gems of scenes that illustrated this: an impatient young clerk, trying to get past a group of older women, who has to resort to rudeness for which the women immediately condemn her; the hero's conversations with a diffident, quiet neighbor (my favorite character) who finally explains in public how much a teen series of books means to him; the disapproval of other shoppers when the protagonist's mother lets him buy a black (GOTHS!!! MAYHEM!!!) shirt. And of course, the fiery young librarian is wonderful!
The artwork was not of a type I usually find appealing, and I was very uneasy about the stereotypically overweight, crass, overbearing, spare-not-the-rod Christian mom, so I thought a couple of scenes showing her with her husband, sadly contemplating her chosen path, rounded her out a bit. I still think the story could have had a more nuanced portrayal of the townspeople who wanted to ban the popular fantasy series; most of the would-be banners are either dogmatically and unreasonably opposed ("Because Jesus") or are mindless followers, rejecting the books without ever reading them, primly saying they could just tell the novels were ungodly. In the real world, there are definitely people who hate the Harry Potter books who have plowed through every word. In the real world, there are polite, smart folks who condemn all fantasy, and they're actually harder to fight because of the aura of reasonableness.
The artwork was not of a type I usually find appealing, and I was very uneasy about the stereotypically overweight, crass, overbearing, spare-not-the-rod Christian mom, so I thought a couple of scenes showing her with her husband, sadly contemplating her chosen path, rounded her out a bit. I still think the story could have had a more nuanced portrayal of the townspeople who wanted to ban the popular fantasy series; most of the would-be banners are either dogmatically and unreasonably opposed ("Because Jesus") or are mindless followers, rejecting the books without ever reading them, primly saying they could just tell the novels were ungodly. In the real world, there are definitely people who hate the Harry Potter books who have plowed through every word. In the real world, there are polite, smart folks who condemn all fantasy, and they're actually harder to fight because of the aura of reasonableness.
sde's review
2.0
First a qualifier - I think graphic novels are just not my genre. I try reading them because my kids love them so much, but I think I still don't "get" them. The only ones I have really liked are the historical ones, like Maus and Persepolis.
This book was about a couple of teen boys and their love of a fantasy book series. This series ends up causing a lot of controversy in his small Oklahoma town of Americus. One boy gets sent away to boarding school to get him away from "corrupting influences." The other boy is left behind when the book is challenged by the people in the community who want it to be removed from the library.
As I librarian, I know this scenario happens all too often. However, I think this novel creates extreme caricatures of the people who want to remove the book. People have very complex and nuanced reasons for wanting books removed, and I felt like this book belittled those feelings. I also felt that the book took cheap shots at conservative Christians and people living in "flyover country."
The two main characters were outcasts in their town, and I would have liked some of the side plots developed more. Even the supportive relationship between the boy Neil and the librarian could have been given more depth.
This book was about a couple of teen boys and their love of a fantasy book series. This series ends up causing a lot of controversy in his small Oklahoma town of Americus. One boy gets sent away to boarding school to get him away from "corrupting influences." The other boy is left behind when the book is challenged by the people in the community who want it to be removed from the library.
As I librarian, I know this scenario happens all too often. However, I think this novel creates extreme caricatures of the people who want to remove the book. People have very complex and nuanced reasons for wanting books removed, and I felt like this book belittled those feelings. I also felt that the book took cheap shots at conservative Christians and people living in "flyover country."
The two main characters were outcasts in their town, and I would have liked some of the side plots developed more. Even the supportive relationship between the boy Neil and the librarian could have been given more depth.
wall0w's review
hopeful
medium-paced
4.0
As someone who works in a library in current year, it's shocking and painful how close to home the discussions within still (or increasingly as of recently) are 12 years after this book was published.
Could definitely see an updated version of this having a discussion on the personal worldview, politics, and opinions of authors reflecting in their work, and the increased centrality of social media in communities of readers.
For it's age, this book still provides insight into school board level book challenges and what that may look like in your community and the importance of readers to stand up for the art we love, especially against people who have never, and will never read it themselves.
Could definitely see an updated version of this having a discussion on the personal worldview, politics, and opinions of authors reflecting in their work, and the increased centrality of social media in communities of readers.
For it's age, this book still provides insight into school board level book challenges and what that may look like in your community and the importance of readers to stand up for the art we love, especially against people who have never, and will never read it themselves.
jkenna90's review
5.0
I absolutely adored this book. Growing up during the time when Harry Potter came out I really related to this story about censorship. I would highly recommend this book to any book lover.
chesspargeter's review
4.0
I really, really love this book. It can come off as simplistic and the art is not stellar. But the story and characters are very interesting.
The main villain, Nancy Burns, has to cope with the fact that her eldest son, Neil's aforementioned best friend Danny, is not following her beliefs. Plus he's gay. Instead of coming to terms with the fact that maybe Danny was just born this way, she needs something to blame, because she thinks she's failed as a parent. So she chooses the Ravenchilde books. She can't understand that sometimes children defy you and don't act the way you want, so finds something she can blame all of her son's problems on. Then she doesn't have to examine her own problems. It's all the book's fault.
The other characters have to learn to cope too. Danny's little sister has to learn to be without her brother. A girl Neil meets, Jael, obviously has issues and lashes out at everyone, but she seems to be warming up to Neil near the end. So she's learning how to deal with her issues in a non aggressive manner. Danny's father has trouble being in such an unhappy household, so he copes with drinking. The towns people spread rumours about Danny being "a bad kid" and a lot of them side with Nancy Burns, so that they don't have to acknowledge that maybe their town's intolerant attitude has problems.
Almost everyone in this story is learning how to cope. Be it with loss, lack of control, or anger issues. Some may say the characters are one dimensional, and sometimes they are, but I find the story very enjoyable and interesting. To me, Nancy isn't just a religious nutcase looking to ban a book for no good reason. She's a mother who needs something to blame for what she feels are her failings as a parent. Does that make her a good person? No. It just makes her human.
I highly recommend this book. If you don't like it, I get that. But I hope you do.
Spoiler
In my opinion, it's all about people learning to cope with problems and the methods in which they cope. Neil Barton loses his best friend, Danny, when Danny is shipped to military school. So Neil has to cope. He starts by reading the Apathea Ravenchilde book series, something he and Danny both loved. It lets him escape. But he learns to also cope through music, working at the library, and making new friends. He finds healthy ways to deal with his problemsThe main villain, Nancy Burns, has to cope with the fact that her eldest son, Neil's aforementioned best friend Danny, is not following her beliefs. Plus he's gay. Instead of coming to terms with the fact that maybe Danny was just born this way, she needs something to blame, because she thinks she's failed as a parent. So she chooses the Ravenchilde books. She can't understand that sometimes children defy you and don't act the way you want, so finds something she can blame all of her son's problems on. Then she doesn't have to examine her own problems. It's all the book's fault.
The other characters have to learn to cope too. Danny's little sister has to learn to be without her brother. A girl Neil meets, Jael, obviously has issues and lashes out at everyone, but she seems to be warming up to Neil near the end. So she's learning how to deal with her issues in a non aggressive manner. Danny's father has trouble being in such an unhappy household, so he copes with drinking. The towns people spread rumours about Danny being "a bad kid" and a lot of them side with Nancy Burns, so that they don't have to acknowledge that maybe their town's intolerant attitude has problems.
Almost everyone in this story is learning how to cope. Be it with loss, lack of control, or anger issues. Some may say the characters are one dimensional, and sometimes they are, but I find the story very enjoyable and interesting. To me, Nancy isn't just a religious nutcase looking to ban a book for no good reason. She's a mother who needs something to blame for what she feels are her failings as a parent. Does that make her a good person? No. It just makes her human.
I highly recommend this book. If you don't like it, I get that. But I hope you do.
rpmckinney's review
4.0
3.75 ⭐
short and sweet, good plot and excellent illustration, nothing too exciting
short and sweet, good plot and excellent illustration, nothing too exciting
ljrinaldi's review
4.0
Admittedly, I read this a while ago. I don't even recall when, but I saw this getting poor reviews, and I just wanted to say that when I read this book, I loved it. It was first available online, but I ended up buying the print edition, because I enjoyed it so much. Unfortunately, so did my daughter, who took it off to college with her.
The story is of a boy who is reading a novel (as sort of series like Harry Potter, but with women who are powerful) that the local town parents think is too dangerous for the children to read.
So the boy has to join up with the library and fight the censorship.
I thought it was quite well done. At the time, unlike what some of the reviewers are saying, that the "bad-guys" are too black and white, I actually found I had some sympathy for the parents. They were reading into the story what they felt was bad for children.
The story is of a boy who is reading a novel (as sort of series like Harry Potter, but with women who are powerful) that the local town parents think is too dangerous for the children to read.
So the boy has to join up with the library and fight the censorship.
I thought it was quite well done. At the time, unlike what some of the reviewers are saying, that the "bad-guys" are too black and white, I actually found I had some sympathy for the parents. They were reading into the story what they felt was bad for children.
ajworkman77's review
4.0
A well drawn graphic novel about censorship and book banning. What I love is the author's brilliance in creating a new novel of his own to ban from the library. The book within the book is almost as exciting to read as the real novel. This should be in any middle/high school library and classroom.