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Ben MarcusBen Marcus's books The Age of Wire and String and Notable American Women were considered "experimental" fiction because of his unconventional use of... Continue »
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Awkward and Definition: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag

by Ariel Schrag

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

 

Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments:

Ariel Schrag captures the American high school experience in all its awkward, questioning glory in Awkward and Definition, the first of three amazingly honest autobiographical graphic novels about her teenage years.

During the summer following each year at Berkeley High School in California, Ariel wrote a comic book about her experiences, which she would then photocopy and sell around school. Some friends thrilled to see themselves in the comic, others not so much, but everyone was interested.

Awkward chronicles Ariel's freshman year, and Definition, her sophomore year. With anxiety in excess and frustration to the fullest, Ariel dives in — meeting new people, going to concerts, crushing out, loving chemistry, drawing comics, and obsessing over everything from glitter-laden girls to ionic charges and the constant pursuit of the number-one score.

Totally true and achingly honest, with every cringe-inducing encounter and exhilarating first moment documented — Awkward and Definition is an unflinching look at what it's like being a teenage girl in America.

Review:

"Many memoirs both inside and outside the world of comics cover the author's high school years. Far fewer are actually written during those years. Touchstone has started reprinting Schrag's comics chronicling her teenage years through the mid-'90s. Each of the volumes in Schrag's series was created in the summer of the year it chronicles. This book includes Awkward, about Schrag's freshman year, and Definition, which concerns her sophomore year. It's hard not to notice that the books were written and drawn by a young artist. The artwork is simple and, yes, awkward, especially in Awkward, where the characters look like punk versions of the Peanuts cast. But rather than being a drawback, the artwork is actually charming. It's clear that Schrag is pushing herself. Even at this age, she had already attained the ability to keep the storytelling smooth and fast-paced, even if the stories she's actually telling aren't remarkable. The typical teenage concerns of sex, drugs, drama with friends and the importance of music are all covered. The book is comfortable because it's so easy to relate to." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Review:

"An imaginative anthropologist of the post-punk set." The Village Voice

Review:

"Impossible to put down." The Minnesota Daily

Review:

"Schrag's perceptiveness and incredible eye for detail make Definition brilliant. Rarely have I seen such substantial work come from a person of her age." The San Francisco Bay Guardian

Review:

"A scathing and meticulously documented autobiographical triumph." Alison Bechdel, author of Fun House

About the Author

Ariel Schrag is a well-respected graphic novelist. Her series of autobiographical comics are currently being made into a major motion picture. She works as a writer for the popular Showtime program The L Word. Ariel lives in New York City.

Product Details

ISBN:
9781416552314
Author:
Schrag, Ariel
Publisher:
Touchstone Books
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
General
Subject:
Graphic Novels
Subject:
Biography - General
Edition Description:
Trade paper
Publication Date:
20080431
Binding:
TRADE PAPER
Grade Level:
General/trade
Language:
English
Illustrations:
Y
Pages:
144
Dimensions:
10.88 x 8.38 in 12.705 oz

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Awkward and Definition: The High School Comic Chronicles of Ariel Schrag New Trade Paper
0 stars - 0 reviews
$16.95 In Stock
Product details 144 pages Touchstone Books - English 9781416552314 Reviews:
"Publishers Weekly Review" by , "Many memoirs both inside and outside the world of comics cover the author's high school years. Far fewer are actually written during those years. Touchstone has started reprinting Schrag's comics chronicling her teenage years through the mid-'90s. Each of the volumes in Schrag's series was created in the summer of the year it chronicles. This book includes Awkward, about Schrag's freshman year, and Definition, which concerns her sophomore year. It's hard not to notice that the books were written and drawn by a young artist. The artwork is simple and, yes, awkward, especially in Awkward, where the characters look like punk versions of the Peanuts cast. But rather than being a drawback, the artwork is actually charming. It's clear that Schrag is pushing herself. Even at this age, she had already attained the ability to keep the storytelling smooth and fast-paced, even if the stories she's actually telling aren't remarkable. The typical teenage concerns of sex, drugs, drama with friends and the importance of music are all covered. The book is comfortable because it's so easy to relate to." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)
"Review" by , "An imaginative anthropologist of the post-punk set."
"Review" by , "Impossible to put down."
"Review" by , "Schrag's perceptiveness and incredible eye for detail make Definition brilliant. Rarely have I seen such substantial work come from a person of her age."
"Review" by , "A scathing and meticulously documented autobiographical triumph."
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