rickjones's Reviews (1.66k)

I really enjoyed this book, although it was difficult reading how drastically Ria's perception of herself had been altered by Benny's abuse. I felt that watching her grow and learn to accept her limits and her autonomy and her strength was a powerful and rewarding process. I also loved following the development of her romance with Cotton. I love that what drew them together was their kindness towards each other, along with their mutual understanding of the problematic nature that comes with being viewed as both broken and brilliant, often both by the same people. 

Right now, I'm trying to read as many books with autistic protagonists as I can. While Cotton is not the main character of this book, I felt that he was a really well written and an endearing character. He has flaws, strengths, and a strict perspective on what treatment of others is wrong that Ria desperately needs affirmed. I definitely could see myself in him and never felt demeaned by his characterization. Oppositely, I felt very humanized by how our shared traits were written. I also felt that I could really relate to Ria's descriptions of how her ADHD brain works, and how trauma has added to her maladaptive perspectives of herself, even though she hasn't fully realized the extent of it throughout most of the book. 

Another element of this book that I really liked was the focus on diving and caving. I did swim team for years and have been caving a couple of times too, so I could easily emphasize with how Ria feels drawn to both the pool and the underground world she explores. Her descriptions of both were quite visceral, and I imagine they could evoke interest in both activities even for those who've never done them before.

I would definitely recommend this book to others, especially people with ADHD and autism, though you should definitely be aware that experiences of emotional, physical and verbal abuse are key elements of Ria's story.

I had a difficult time getting through this book. Susan is a very judgmental and downright mean person, and I struggled to tolerate her perspective. I understood how it developed, especially as the book went on, but that did little to make me empathize with her ableist, disparaging and overcritical thought process more. I also found it hard to accept that most of the leading characters in this book are in their forties, since they behaved more like college students, Susan included. I wasn't really invested in the contents of the story, but kept telling myself that eventually Susan would "bloom" and start seeing the world in a new way, as promised. Her growth wasn't as rewarding as I'd hoped however, and I finished the book feeling like I'd wasted my time. I wouldn't recommend this book to others mostly because of my dislike for Susan. It was well written in regards to the story and the internal and external dialogue however, so other readers may still enjoy it. I'm just not one of them.

As a final related note, due to a disability recommendation list I was going through, I was led to believe that Susan was deliberately written as autistic, and that she would discover this eventually. This never happened however, so either the book's inclusion on that list was in error, or Susan's autism was confirmed by the author outside it. I just wanted to note that here in the event that another person starts reading this book in mistake, as I did.

This was a really sweet story about friendship, family and finding the courage to stick up for yourself. The art was adorable and the comedic timing was excellent. I had no doubt I would love this graphic novel, but the story was even more meaningful and rewarding to read than I had expected. I definitely recommend it to others and I'd love to read more about Dragoslava and their friends!

I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this book, as parents of autistic children tend to have ideas that I sadly don't feel I can agree with as an autistic person interested in advocacy. There were a few lines Roy wrote that I felt a little worried by, specifically the one about how he wants his son to "overcome" autism instead of learning to live with it. This really isn't a possibility, but I do think his heart is in the right place. His efforts to push Oliver out of his comfort zone are done with patience and lack of punishment. When Oliver does things he's afraid of, he is rewarded with being brought to new places and taught new games he enjoys as he grows older. I heavily support accommodating autistic children whenever possible to prevent distress, but Roy is right in thinking that there's only so much accommodation one can expect. Some things children of all abilities have to learn for themselves, one of the most important skills being control over anxieties and emotions. Roy presumes that Oliver has the competency to learn these things with a little more creativity and patience, even though it's not what his son's specialists advise. I have to agree with his perspective. Sometimes people who work with disabled youth seem to forget that childhood is a forward path to adulthood, and it can become harder learn some rudimentary emotional skills once you're older. A child who knows that they can brave the wave of their emotions, accept them, and quiet their storms even when the world isn't making sense to them is a child who's empowered and sure in themselves. Many autistic adults also do want to be independent, and grow to feel stifled and disenfranchised by guardians who infantilize them, and who assume that they emotionally and mentally won't be able to handle the agency that other adults rarely have to earn.

As for reviewing the art, I thought it was near perfect. I loved how Roy used imaginative landscapes to pull the reader into his emotional world. The expressions and pacing of the panels were excellent as well, there was never a moment where I felt that the story had been disrupted or I had missed some sort of cue to build my understanding of a moment. The interior art isn't in color, but I didn't feel like it was missing. The sceneries Roy creates are still lush and inviting without it. 

Overall, I would recommend this book to other readers. Autistic people and advocates may not totally agree with how Roy views autism, though he does warn in his introduction that he's not set out to create a book "about" autism. This is primarily a book about learning to be a patient and unconditionally loving parent, and the resilience and creativity involved in raising a child who is unlike you in many ways. 

This was a wonderful story with meaningful lessons for kids to internalize. It's really a feat that the story is so cohesive even when it was written by nine different people. Chad Sell's art likely aids in creating good flow for the story, it's welcoming, whimsical and bursting with color and emotion. I felt very moved by the resilience and loving nature of these characters, and am certain that young readers will feel similarly inspired by them. 

The book tackles issues such as bullying, depression, secrets, guilt and trauma in age appropriate ways, all while showing how kids can build confidence and leadership skills to understand their own emotions, along with those of their friends and family, to guide them through difficult times. This is a rewarding and imaginative read at any age, and I highly recommend it.

This was such a sweet story, and one that made me a little teary eyed as well. I enjoyed reading about Bebe and Annie's budding romance, and following along with the expressive and engaging art, but the most rewarding part of this comic is watching Bebe learn to stand up for herself. 

I definitely don't think it's uncommon for trans youth, and even trans adults, to feel that they have to be perfect to order to "earn" being respected as their gender. Feeling like you cannot stand up for yourself without having your physical and emotional safety threatened is a scary and spiraling position to be in, and trans people, especially trans girls and women, need affirmation that they're still worthy and loved when they resist in order to protect their own happiness. This story is going to do wonders for the wellbeing so many trans people, and I thank Frasier, Wise, and Jupiter for creating it for us. 

This was a gripping novel, with a poignant final paragraph. Emira's perspective drew me in immediately, she's still finding her way and doesn't fully see herself as a "real" adult, but still manages to possess more wisdom and self-respect than the older characters attempting to mold her do. Emira is a perfect foil to Alix in many ways, she's not invasively interested with the private life of others, nor does she have interest in using people to create more status for herself. Most importantly, she doesn't obsess over these things and herself to the extent that they trump her dedication to raising Briar, as Alix does. Tragically, Emira seems to have more affection for Briar than Alix, and is quicker to notice when Briar is upset or overwhelmed. I felt this created a really interesting and sad dynamic; Emira knows that her life will improve once she quits babysitting Briar, but finds it so difficult to leave that she's nearly willing to sacrifice her own self-interests, while self-interest is nearly all Alix focuses on, to the detriment of Briar and Emira. 

While Emira and Alix are opposites, Alix and Kelley are eerily similar to each other. The pair both seemed to think of themselves as Emira's savior in a way, though Emira never asked for their help or wanted it. They both exploit Emira's presence in their lives to bolster their own self-esteem and sense of righteousness, and both do so in ways that insidiously seem loving at first glance, and are only brought to light by understanding the context of their past exploitation of Black people. I was relieved that by the end of the book,

Emira accepted that Alix and Kelley were both right about the worst parts of each other, but that she owed nothing to either of them. Going forward, Emira finds her way by trusting her instincts and the people who love and admire her even when she doesn't serve as a symbol to prove their goodness.

I would definitely recommend this book to others. It was a very entertaining and engaging read and provided social commentary on race and class without overly traumatizing the Black protagonist who led the story.