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fernthepanda's review
4.0
I enjoyed this. At times heavy-handed but I think there are many teens out there who will see themselves in Mona. This is certainly a book I could've used as a teen.
salemistrans's review
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-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
westhebookworm's review
4.0
I loved this book And the way it explored depression it was beautiful
TW: depression, mention of suicide
TW: depression, mention of suicide
juliapatt2007's review
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A great visualization of depression in young adults in children. Story was simple but sweet and I would recommend it to kids and adults alike.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness
mariahistryingtoread's review
4.0
*I'm reading all the 2022 FL Teen Reads. This is Book #10 out of 15 read. If you want to see a complete list altogether in one place in order of best to worst check out my tag florida-teen-reads-2022 to see the star ratings*
The Dark Matter of Mona Starr details the progression and impact of depression.
Mona has struggled with depression most of her life, but she’s largely managed to cope until recently. Her childhood best friend, Nash, moving out of state has triggered a spiral unlike anything she’s ever had before.
Over the course of the graphic novel, she learns how to navigate her ‘matter’ - her name for her depression - and weather the worst of its effects as best she can. She comes to find that while her struggles are more aggravated, everybody has something that ails them and that reaching out is how we fight back.
It reads a lot like a guide on depression for teens rather than a story most of the time; like those girls manuals put out by American Girl. The Care and Keeping of You, A Smart Girls’ Guide to Body Image, Is This Normal? Etc but it’s about depression instead of puberty or self-esteem. It uses Mona to explore in a fun yet educational way. The plot is loose and secondary to getting out the necessary information.
It could get a little corny at times, but I think the message supersedes the cheesiness. Plus I think we need more cheesiness in the world anyways. I’ll take an earnest attempt at putting something positive out in the world over a grimdark ‘realistic’ depiction literally any day of the week.
I could see this being very helpful to a kid first starting out on their mental health journey. This is the top pick on the list so far. Considering how long it took to get a genuinely good read on the list I expect it to stay there.
The Dark Matter of Mona Starr details the progression and impact of depression.
Mona has struggled with depression most of her life, but she’s largely managed to cope until recently. Her childhood best friend, Nash, moving out of state has triggered a spiral unlike anything she’s ever had before.
Over the course of the graphic novel, she learns how to navigate her ‘matter’ - her name for her depression - and weather the worst of its effects as best she can. She comes to find that while her struggles are more aggravated, everybody has something that ails them and that reaching out is how we fight back.
It reads a lot like a guide on depression for teens rather than a story most of the time; like those girls manuals put out by American Girl. The Care and Keeping of You, A Smart Girls’ Guide to Body Image, Is This Normal? Etc but it’s about depression instead of puberty or self-esteem. It uses Mona to explore in a fun yet educational way. The plot is loose and secondary to getting out the necessary information.
It could get a little corny at times, but I think the message supersedes the cheesiness. Plus I think we need more cheesiness in the world anyways. I’ll take an earnest attempt at putting something positive out in the world over a grimdark ‘realistic’ depiction literally any day of the week.
I could see this being very helpful to a kid first starting out on their mental health journey. This is the top pick on the list so far. Considering how long it took to get a genuinely good read on the list I expect it to stay there.
indeedithappens's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.5
jess_mango's review
4.0
A graphic novel about a high school girl who starts being swallowed by the "dark matter" of her depression after her best friend moves to Hawaii. Mona is sad when Nash moves away and feels alone at school. She feels surrounded by her dark matter telling her that she isn't good enough and that no one likes her. Slowly, she starts making connections with other students and learning to push away her dark matter.
This was a heartfelt novel that definitely attempts to offer some guidance on working through your own darkness. There is even a Self-Care Plan worksheet at the end of the book.
What to listen to while reading...
The book includes a listing of songs on Mona's Soundtrack at the end. Here are a few...
Dark Matter by Andrew Bird
Break Down by Florence & the Machine
While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles
Invincible by Muse
This was a heartfelt novel that definitely attempts to offer some guidance on working through your own darkness. There is even a Self-Care Plan worksheet at the end of the book.
What to listen to while reading...
The book includes a listing of songs on Mona's Soundtrack at the end. Here are a few...
Dark Matter by Andrew Bird
Break Down by Florence & the Machine
While My Guitar Gently Weeps by The Beatles
Invincible by Muse
allibug26's review against another edition
5.0
This book is comforting in so many ways. It feels incredibly relatable; it feels good to see some of these feelings drawn out the way they are. Sometimes that was also really hard though; since it’s a graphic novel, it’s easy to feel like you’re there, and so sometimes it made me feel like I was back in those dark places. Overall though, it’s a story that lets me know I’m not weird for feeling like this and that there are things I can do to help myself through it.