chadstep's review against another edition
5.0
Some stories are truly devastating and insightful, some are wistful and dreamy--lots of tough love for our common past as middle schoolers suffering together, mostly in silence, and reflecting on it as adults. Very honest retellings can be hard to bear.
mjfmjfmjf's review against another edition
3.0
Another book I read for being on the 100 most challenged books from 2010 to 2019. Kind of a tough book. It aimed to be unpleasant and it mostly was - though not bad. The art and writing were basically fine - though obviously different from writer to writer. The aim of the book is to show the normality of awfulness in middle school, and for this it basically succeeds. But should it be in a middle school library? Well huh, I guess that kind of depends. Perhaps if profanity would get you expelled? It is a book like this sitting in the low shelves in the graphic novel section of a public library that causes me some confusion. I have no issue with it being available from the library via a holds system. But I'm thinking that if a younger person wants to read this, they should be able to. But I don't think it is intended to be enjoyed.
mhall's review against another edition
2.0
Most of the pieces in this felt too short, or incomplete somehow. There was one that made me cry because it was so sad.
quietjenn's review against another edition
4.0
less uneven than a lot of anthologies end up being, although there were still a few i felt pretty "meh" about. overall though, solid and truthful account of a time in life that still make even the most jaded OR well-adjusted of us squirm. and, a great mix of known names and new people worth discovering.
nerfherder86's review against another edition
4.0
Funny, touching, true stories of being in middle school or just being a teen in general. Stories about being bullied, about putting up with cliques, being a nerd, being an outsider, etc. A variety of authors and artists so the styles vary a lot; if you don't like a story you can skip to the next. Made me remember a lot about middle school I wish I could forget!
lauralynnwalsh's review against another edition
2.0
This book has some good cartoons, but a lot more not so good ones. I know these cartoonists are supposed to be accomplished and distinguished, but I didn't find the art work that compelling, for the most part.
Yes, there were some all too real scenes from middle school years, most of which are painful, and only funny from a long distance.
Yes, there were some all too real scenes from middle school years, most of which are painful, and only funny from a long distance.
margaretann84's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the comics in the collection were brilliant ("A Relationship in Eight Pages" springs to mind), while others were mediocre or just plain awful. The amazing ones don't quite make up for the bad ones, but on the whole, it's a reasonably readable collection. I wouldn't recommend it to middle schoolers, really, but I wouldn't talk them out of reading it if they wanted to. Mostly meh.
3/5 on here, 6/10 for myself
3/5 on here, 6/10 for myself
abbeyjfox's review against another edition
3.0
kinda boring.
but the cole johnson comic was effing brilliant, and i need to read more of her work. and daniel clowes illustrations always ruuule.
but the cole johnson comic was effing brilliant, and i need to read more of her work. and daniel clowes illustrations always ruuule.
mitchelfacereads's review against another edition
3.0
Kind of depressing. I think I related too much to the stories. Which is great for middle schoolers to read. Everyone needs to know they are not alone, especially during those middle school years.