3 stars
I’ll start by saying I’m not usually a huge fan of realistic, middle-grade graphic novels and did not initially realize this was a memoir.
Overall, I thought the story was okay. There is plenty readers can relate to: parental divorce, fighting with siblings, new friendships, school drama, growing need for independence, friends moving away or going to different schools. This would probably work well for those who enjoy Raina Telgemeier‘s books.
For the most part, I just didn’t find Sharp’s story all that interesting. I did like the fantasy sequences but the real-life situations were a bit dull for me. I could see aspects that had a big impact on Sharp herself but they didn’t come across to me personally. I never really connected with Tori’s character.
The scenes shift very rapidly and it’s a little disorienting. You’ll be in a scene then the next page something entirely different is happening with no reference to how much time has passed. It threw me off at times and kind of took me out of the story.
Story-wise, I’d give this one 2-stars, but I did enjoy the artwork. A nice balance between cartoony-style and detail.
At the end of the book, Sharp goes through her process for making comics including character design, materials, and stages. It was interesting to see behind the scenes and may be helpful for young readers looking to make comics.