Customer Reviews

Turning Japanese: Degrassi Extra Credit #1 (Degrassi: Next Generation)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've never read a graphic novel before, but as a devoted Degrassi fan, I knew I had to get this book, especially since I love Ellie, and I wasn't disappointed at all. The book is just like an episode (and that's about how long it takes to read it), but it takes place between episodes and gives you storylines you've never seen on the shows. They use lines and events from the show to let you know where and when in the storylines that these take place. Sometimes it's hard to tell the order of the dialogue, but maybe it's just me since I don't usually read graphic novels.

In short: if you're a Degrassi fan that can't seem to get enough of the show...this book is for you!

TURNING JAPANESE is about the kids at Degrassi High School and their personal lives. Just your basic, average teenagers. They don't have super powers and they aren't geniuses.

Ellie has a job at a comic book store and her boss is highly inappropriate with her. J.T. turns to some not-so-great things on the Internet to relieve the stress of his girlfriend (maybe it was his ex; I never did figure that out) giving their baby up for adoption.

I felt like I was thrown into a story that gave me almost no background on what was going on and was kind of hard to understand. But if you like manga, or stories based on the Degrassi characters in particular, this is definitely the book for you!

**An added note from "The Genius:" If you're a follower of Degrassi The Next Generation - Season 1, you'll be able to follow the plot of TURNING JAPANESE quite easily. For those unfamiliar with the show and its plot, however, this probably isn't the best place to learn about the characters. I highly recommend Degrassi, though, so start from the beginning!

Reviewed by: Taylor Rector

i wasn't sure about how the characters would be protrayed in graphic novels but, turns out that some of the storylines are right in the book. amazing art work by both author and artist. great book. definitely recommend for any degrassi fan.

This graphic novel is about two characters and their struggle over summer vacation with some pretty serious issues. Ellie is a teenage girl (maybe 17 or 18) who is working for a comic book company. She's uncomfortable with some comments and body language by a boss. Could it be sexual harassment? What can she do to make him stop? Should she even be worried about this? Her friends try to help, and she makes some good decisions in the end. The other (sub)plot is about JT who has recently become a teenage dad and how he is coping with losing his girlfriend and the adoption of their baby by strangers to him. He turns to inappropriate pictures on the internet to "relieve stress" - any teen will be able to figure out what he's up too locked in his room. He eventually learns that this is not the best way to deal with his troubles and finds ways to deal with the adoption of his baby (with the help of his friends and his former girlfriend). Familiarity with the series and characters is not essential but is helpful.

so, i won't lie; i'm pretty much OBSESSED with degrassi: the next generation. it's my obsession. this book was amazingg, i just ordered the second onee.

anywayyss, i loved it x 48059834. 1. J.T. is probably my favorite character on that friggen show and i LOVED it when him and Liberty we're together, once i read what the book was about, i knew rite away that i didn't WANT it, but that i NEEDED it. also, i'm friggen in LOVE with stacie farber [ ellie nash ] so i was like yepp, it's minee.

it basically talked about how ellie's job is going at the co op job she received after impressing caitlin ryan, and also about how J.T. is dealing with his break-up with Liberty, and his baby adoption.

AHH i friggen loved it, i swear i'm gonna get ALL of them.
the book was pretty amazing, i won't lie.

I want to start off with some information that covers all 4 of the Degrassi Graphic Novels. They read just like episodes of the show, with two main plotlines. All 4 take place basically in the summer between Seasons 5 and 6 with some overlap into those 2 seasons. I'm not sure if I would suggest them for people that aren't familiar with the show, they just kind of jump in where the show left off so there isn't much framework for someone that is new to these characters.

Also, all 4 are illustrated by different people, I'm going to guess the reason for this was because these all came out in a short amount of time and it would be impossible for 1 person to illustrate them all that fast. Though because of the way the different artists draw the characters it helps that there is a page near the front of each book that shows all the characters who are main players in that specific story.

Onto the book, Ellie's internship at a Comic Book company alternates with J.T.s summer at home trying to get over his trying year. I definitely enjoyed Ellie's story more so, there were some great comic references and we got to see more of the characters in her story.

I enjoyed the art, especially the full page illustrations, they provided more detail and in turn more expression on the characters faces.

I think the author did a great job of staying in tune with the show right up to the signature ending without much resolution (which I found hilarious when I first started watching the show). It's hinted that that things will turn out ok but you never actually see it happen!

I am a huge fan a Degrassi the Next Generation and I was a fan of the originals from the 80s as well. The only problem I find in the show is that with a drama of this nature many things get pushed forward very fast. The show is only about 23 minutes long after commercials. The extra credit novels offer a unique chance to fill in the gaps of storylines that have already been established but not addressed in the show. There are many things addressed in the mangas that throwback to episodes and fans of the show will see the connection. These were truly made for fans!

In the first manga we see Ellie's job as an intern at a comic book company. She mentions this job to Jimmy once but it is never addressed in the show after that. She deals with some issues and questions about sexual harassment. Meanwhile, JT is depressed about losing Liberty and the baby and has cut himself off from everyone. These are two serious issues and as they say... it goes there!