A review by kelly04
How to Be Ace: A Memoir of Growing Up Asexual by Rebecca Burgess

emotional hopeful informative

3.0

With so little representation of aces, the intent of this volume is largely commendable. If you are unfamiliar with asexuality, this memoir does convey the basics of what it is, and largely what not to do when talking about it. 

There is also a lot in this memoir that is not about asexuality, and a variety of mental illnesses and struggles are presented. While there are signs it is geared to discuss the titular subject, the memoir overall is, as one might expect, primarily about the various experiences of the author, more so than any external concept.

The volume is approachable and by no means bad; however, as a memoir it lacks the mature introspection and vulnerability of something like Fun Home. It was my impression that the author was too young - either literally or figuratively, as there are hints of profound trauma merely glanced at in one panel late in the volume - to be able to deliver these elements. 

Let us simply say: there is a scene where the artist receives feedback from a professor concerning her interpretation of a folk song. As we see, she approached the assignment in good earnest, but in his critique, her professor indicated he found her interpretation rather superficial, and urged her to consider the subject matter underlying the idea more deeply and carefully.
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