jonesannleslie's review against another edition
5.0
Ironically for a book about a teenager with depression, I found it hard to stop smiling as I read it. The way the author uses Mona’s family, friends and therapist to model different ways of helping someone who is struggling to come up with his or her own solutions helped me understand how to reach out and how to step back.
leadeadoo's review
Just not my kind of read - it’s meant for a middle grade audience and I’m not interested in the content.
suzannedix's review
4.0
So well done and I really considered adding this into my mental health section in nonfiction (and still may). Gulledge's perspective is so honest and searing and I know students will be grateful to know that they are not in this alone.
Grades 7 and up.
Grades 7 and up.
ladykaylee's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
As a teacher, I enjoyed this graphic novel. As Mona battled her depression (aka dark matter), I could see a lot of personal parallels, as well as parallels with my students. I enjoyed the art style as well, but I just wish it had been longer.
dezosborne's review
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
mshellrung's review
2.0
I really wanted to enjoy this but honestly the benign mass and the way it was handled just ruined it.
zepysgirl's review
3.0
I didn’t like this one as much as the previous book by her I read. It felt more cheesy somehow. Like we were following the same story beats but it wasn’t as unique this time?
rainystast's review
4.0
Genuinely helpful to decompress and help deal with depressive thoughts, but was overall surface level and more like an instruction guide for the depressed than a fiction comic book.
debzemanlms's review
4.0
A well thought out Graphic Novel about a female teen learning ways to deal with depression and anxiety. She refers to her depression as "Matter" and the illustrator draws it in such a way that it wraps itself around Mona, showing the reader how she suffers both physically and emotionally from this "matter". The author's message to the reader is as overwhelming as the matter can get, look at what helps you physically/emotionally/mentally - look at the good in your life to help battle the matter.
The illustrations were drawn to perfectly match the mood and what was happening emotionally/physically to Mona. I liked that the author included her own Self Care graphic at the end of the book, along with a blank one that readers could fill out for themselves.
The illustrations were drawn to perfectly match the mood and what was happening emotionally/physically to Mona. I liked that the author included her own Self Care graphic at the end of the book, along with a blank one that readers could fill out for themselves.