The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl is such a fun, quick read that I’d recommend it to just about anyone in 8th grade or higher.  It’s especially good for teen boys that don’t like to read much, or girls who are interested in a teenage male’s point of view.  Fans of graphic novels and comics will dig it, too, as it’s full of references to popular graphic novels, comic books, and their famed creators.  Having said that, it also seems that readers who are new to the world of graphic novels and comics, or even slightly curious about them, would enjoy this story and find the world of Fanboy and Goth Girl highly entertaining.  Lyga, a comic lover himself, is a great writer and fills the book with short, entertaining chapters sure to hold the reader’s attention.

The main character is a cunningly smart 15 yr. old who attends a typical high school where he is often overlooked and just can’t seem to fit in anywhere.  He despises the jocks, yet his best friend, Cal, is one.  This particular dynamic thread proves itself to be one of the most interesting relationships in the story.  Then there’s Goth Girl.  Ah, Goth Girl.  She’s fearless, predictably unpredictable, and in many ways just what Fanboy needed in his life.  The two of them together-often hilarious, sometimes dark, essentially realistic-are quite the pair and it’s a treat to witness their adventures.

Aside from the high school bubble, Fanboy lives with his Mom (who’s preggers) and his step-dad (more commonly referred to as the step-fascist) and has been secretly pouring his heart and soul into the creation of his own graphic novel he calls Schemata. He’s a diehard fan of classic comics and graphic novels and has hatched a semi-secret plan to present his work to his favorite creator at the upcoming Comic Book Convention.  He figures it’s his best shot at publication, fame, and fortune.  Check it out for yourself to see what actually happens!

Posted under Libraries Together, review

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga

Fanboy is your standard geek.  He’s in to computers and comics.  He’s constantly bullied at school and has no where to turn.  His mother is pregnant and his stepfather is just another bully.  His only refuge is the comic book he’s creating in the middle of the night, and his only dream is to meet Brian Michael Bendis, who will surely help Fanboy get his book published.  Then he meets your standard goth girl Kyra, and they become friends based on their shared hatred of the same bullies.

Barry Lyga’s book has a great blend of humor and drama.  Most of the humor is very sarcastic.  Fanboy makes hysterical comments about high school society in his very dry, sardonic voice.  There are also lots of in-jokes about the world of comics.  If the reader doesn’t know comics well, most of these jokes may be lost.  This use of humor based on the world of comics would make me recommend this to a person who has read a lot of comics but doesn’t read a lot of traditional novels.  Fanboy’s cynical voice and wry observations of high school and the world of comics makes for an enjoyable book.

The book is also, at times, very dark and depressing.  There is a constant threat of violence throughout the book.  Fanboy has a List, a running tally of all those who have ever tormented him.  These are not petty bullying episodes, they are violent incidents that are completely unjustified.  Fanboy is quiet, keeps to himself, is viewed as weak, and is therefore a target.  It is at times difficult to read and you question why he just won’t stand up for himself.  In addition to the List, he carries a bullet with him at all times, reaching for it almost like a religious icon when he is being bullied.  Kyra is far more vocal about her violent tendencies, and one of the central stories of the book is learning why she is so angry.

I particularly enjoyed the fact that the two title characters are not romantically involved.  They have great banter, constantly bickering with each other but developing a great friendship.  So many books of this sort show the weak hero all of a sudden coming into his own and finding the love of his life.  Fanboy definitely begins to stand up for himself, but he isn’t shown getting a relationship.  Not every milestone has to happen before the age of 18.

I felt this book was very relatable without being too preachy, and I never felt that this was an adult writing.  This is pretty much a pitch-perfect angsty teenager who is being pushed to the edge by bullies.  I especially liked the book because not everything was resolved at the end.  Fanboy is slightly more assertive, but you see that he is still a work in progress.  His relationship with his mother and stepfather seem to get better, but it’s still not perfect.  I highly enjoyed this book, because this was me in high school.  Cynical, angry at the world, feeling like there is no place to turn, and learning that there are people out there ready to listen if you are willing to open up.  I would recommend this to everyone, and I’m going to close this by saying I’m glad high school is over for me.

Posted under review