Customer Reviews

Awkward and Definition: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag (High School Chronicles of Ariel Schrag)

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I'd already read Ariel Schrag's POTENTIAL, so I knew how astoundingly talented she is -- how painfully honest and beautifully hilarious her work is. When I was finally able to get my hands on a copy of her first two graphic novels, I tore through them in an afternoon, then slumped over on my couch, dazed, dazzled, and wanting more. Heartbreakingly great!

I happened upon this book by chance, and I'm glad I did. I felt almost like a voyeur while reading it -- it's basically the diary of a high school girl in comic book form.

But I also felt a connection to the author. Though I went to high school thousands of miles away and a few years earlier than Schrag, her stories reminded me of my own experiences during that time.

And these stories are brutally honest. One of the things that surprised me most was just how open the author is. In my personal experience most people that age are, as I was, rather guarded and self-conscious. But Schrag lays everything on the table for all to see. Her lack of shame or fear in telling her stories makes them incredibly real, and I found her attitude towards life inspiring.

But don't expect a polished book. This work is rough around the edges, as you would expect from a young author. That said, Schrag's storytelling ability and maturity are evident, and beyond what I would normally expect from someone her age.

I highly recommend this book. It's dramatic, it's poignant, it's funny, and it's completely, utterly real.

This volume collects Schrag's first two efforts, cringeworthy descriptions of her freshman and sophomore years in high school. By itself, I'm only moderately fond of this book. Schrag's visual style is still developing (that said, it's truly exceptional for someone her age when she drew these), and there's just too much about high school years that begs to be forgotten.

As the opening to her three-volume set (which includes Potential and Likewise), this takes on lots additional value. Together, these show Schrag's growth over those four chaotic years. In this book, Schrag and her peers often appear as small, wide-eyed beings, almost like fawns in a forest full of carnivores. These books trace Schrag's growth from late childhood to early adulthood, with all the wonder and weirdness that entails. Among other things, Schrag's sexuality begins to emerge, bringing confusion of its own.

Coming of age stories swarm the bookshelves. This one earns its place, not just for its charming visual style, but also for the authenicity and surprising candor of the story told as it unfolds around her. I recommend this one highly.

-- wiredweird

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