aus10england's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
3.25
Fairly light graphic novel with themes of identity and reflection. Art style wasn't my favorite.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia
Moderate: Body shaming
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
markwillnevercry's review
3.5
Pretty good. I really liked the way the story was told and how the mood was kept. Yes, it was an emotional trip for the writer, but it still was a summer camp and things were still happening whether they wanted them to or not. It was interesting to read, but at the start I was unsure about how much I wanted to continue with it because of the art style (it really did not matter that much).
If someone is discouraged by the warning about minor/adult relatioship - there is no power imbalance, since the relationship does not really get that far (like past talking), but the homophobia is intense. It is not everywhere through the story, but at the places were it is - it is bad.
If someone is discouraged by the warning about minor/adult relatioship - there is no power imbalance, since the relationship does not really get that far (like past talking), but the homophobia is intense. It is not everywhere through the story, but at the places were it is - it is bad.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Lesbophobia, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, and Homophobia
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
kays_reading_journal's review
medium-paced
2.0
This graphic memoir tells the tale of Maggie’s discovery of her sexuality between the ages of 15-17. I enjoyed the writing style and the voice that shined through. Despite popular opinion, the art style didn’t really bother me once I got into the story.
The major problem I had with this memoir was the relationship at the center. I was really excited to read a self-discovery/ coming out story when I picked this up, but that joy was overshadowed by the inappropriate relationship at the center.
I understand that this is a memoir and is nonfiction, but this toxic dynamic wasn’t frowned upon. The only character who pointed out the issue also went about it in a homophobic way, in a way that conveyed to the reader she was wrong about everything.
If this memoir had included just one little part in the future of the author pointing out the toxicity, I probably would’ve rated this much higher. But unfortunately, I believe this book will be advertised to younger kids, and the unhealthy relationship is romanticized too much for me to feel comfortable recommending this to anyone.
I think Thrash is a really good storyteller. This felt like I was being told a tale of someone’s past while sitting around a bonfire in summer. If anything, the art style helped immerse the reader in the teen summer camp setting.
Again, just one page stating the relationship is an unhealthy one would’ve made my rating at least 4.5⭐️
P.s. it seems like a lot of reviewers didn’t realize this is nonfiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Lesbophobia, and Homophobia
ellajane047's review
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
as a teenage lesbian at summer camp it definitely hit! as others have mentioned the art style definitely took some getting used to, but i honestly didn’t find it too grating. maggie’s emotional turmoil was so so real and i know a lot of people were bothered by the sudden ending but i thought it actually captured the way so many relationships of this nature do end. and of course, the age gap was weird. i will give some leeway since i know it’s a graphic memoir and i appreciate maggie thrasher staying true to her experience. i do think seeing as she’s writing as an adult reflecting on her experience it could have been portrayed a little more critically (especially seeing as the graphic novel is being marketed to a YA audience). but! my silly little criticisms aside, i did really enjoy this book and i would definitely check out more from maggie thrasher in the future.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Adult/minor relationship, and Lesbophobia
rain08's review
challenging
sad
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
carleesi's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
sad
slow-paced
I feel uncomfortable writing this review because it is the author’s memoir of her youth and it’s her story to tell. She doesn’t seem to see the relationship she depicts as problematic - in fact, the only character who calls the adult who flirts with a 15 year old a predator is horrifically homophobic so her assessment is clearly undermined by that.
As an adolescent coming of age/discovering of sexuality this was a powerful story. For me it falls into the same category as Call Me By Your Name. As a queer woman I know it’s harder to find yourself as an adolescent, but that makes queer adolescents far more vulnerable and this story seemed to be an example of that.
The author’s insecurities and anxieties about the predatory relationship highlight the age and maturity difference. The need to be seen as older and mature, the constant feeling that the child didn’t do “enough”, the self-doubt about when to make a move.
Even the conversation at the end when they are 17 and 21 was just so uncomfortable. One is talking about teaching high level mathematics at college while the other is talking about failing her SATs.
I would absolutely read more by this author. I loved her illustrations and my heart ached for the young Maggie she depicted in this book, the bullying, the homophobia, the confusion, the fear, the joy. I wish it had been an entirely unrequited crush and not… whatever it was
As an adolescent coming of age/discovering of sexuality this was a powerful story. For me it falls into the same category as Call Me By Your Name. As a queer woman I know it’s harder to find yourself as an adolescent, but that makes queer adolescents far more vulnerable and this story seemed to be an example of that.
The author’s insecurities and anxieties about the predatory relationship highlight the age and maturity difference. The need to be seen as older and mature, the constant feeling that the child didn’t do “enough”, the self-doubt about when to make a move.
Even the conversation at the end when they are 17 and 21 was just so uncomfortable. One is talking about teaching high level mathematics at college while the other is talking about failing her SATs.
I would absolutely read more by this author. I loved her illustrations and my heart ached for the young Maggie she depicted in this book, the bullying, the homophobia, the confusion, the fear, the joy. I wish it had been an entirely unrequited crush and not… whatever it was
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, and Lesbophobia
courtneyfalling's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
3.5
I loved the camp setting of this memoir, and the art style matched it pretty well. I was reminded the whole time of my own intense camp experiences and emotions... the way scenes occur and things get talked about with friends, in this all-encompassing and traditionally weird environment, feels very authentic to summer camp. But the age gap between Maggie and Erin wasn't ever addressed in an appropriate way. The only character who really expresses concern about the huge age and maturity gap is painted as a homophobic jerk... And while I get this is nonfiction, you can't change what happened, I do feel like you can offer a slightly critical lens on your past experiences, you can comment on the age gap more than it felt like this framing allowed.
Spoiler
And I liked the unresolved, kind of embarrassing ending. It felt authentic to the letdown endings real life often offers, and anything else (like a "this is what I learned" moral) would've been too much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship and Bullying
Moderate: Lesbophobia
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Alcohol, and Stalking
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