Be More Chill: The Graphic Novel

by Ned Vizzini

The groundbreaking story by New York Times best-selling author Ned Vizzini that inspired the Tony-nominated Broadway musical--now adapted in a graphic novel by #1 New York Times best-selling author David Levithan.
Jeremy Heere is your average high school dork. Day after day, he stares at beautiful Christine, the girl he can never have, and dryly notes the small humiliations that come his way. Until the day he learns about the "squip."
A pill-sized supercomputer that you swallow, the squip is guaranteed to bring you whatever you most desire in life. By instructing him on everything from what to wear, to how to talk and walk, the squip transforms Jeremy from geek to the coolest guy in class. Soon he is friends with his former tormentors and has the attention of the hottest girls in school.
But Jeremy discovers that there is a dark side to handing over control of your life--and it can have disastrous consequences.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Science Fiction, Comics, Fiction, Romance, Graphic Novels Comics

142 pages, Hardcover

Published January 5, 2021

About the author

Vizzini grew up primarily in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City. He attended Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, graduating in 1999. While still a teenager, he began to write articles for the New York Press, an alternative newspaper.

After he wrote an essay that got published by the New York Times Magazine, several of his essays about his young adult life ended up being combined into his first book, Teen Angst? Naaah.... Vizzini attended Hunter College, also located in Manhattan. Ned Vizzini lived in New York City. Vizzini's characters and situations are said be based upon his time spent at Stuyvesant.

Reviews

[Larry H · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Broadway musical Be More Chill was based on a YA novel of the same name by the late Ned Vizzini.

Now, in that magical way the entertainment world has about adapting adaptations, the book that became a musical has now been adapted into a graphic novel, by noted author David Levithan and illustrated by Rick Bertozzi. I never saw the musical or read the book, but after reading the graphic novel, I'd love to do both!

Nobody pays much attention to Jeremy in high school, other than to make fun of or spread rumors about him. He's so used to this occurring that he keeps score of the insults and jibes he sustains in each class. The only person who really talks to him is his best friend and fellow misfit, Michael.

Jeremy has a crush on Christine, but of course she’s dating a popular boy and Jeremy will never have a chance with her. He can barely sustain a conversation with her half the time. But somehow he hopes that things might change someday.

And then he gets a “squip”—a pill-sized supercomputer that you swallow. The squip transforms Jeremy into a confident, handsome heartthrob. It tells him how to dress, how to act, what to say, and whom to avoid. Suddenly Jeremy is cool and can have any girl he wants—but he still only wants Christine.

Of course, getting everything you wish for, especially because of a supercomputer, is fraught with disaster and never turns out quite like you think it will. I mean, does anything turn out well when you let a digestible supercomputer take control of your life?

Be More Chill was a fun, poignant read, although it was shorter than I would've liked. (How often do you say that about books?) I'm guessing the actual novel developed the characters and the situations more, but I enjoyed this tremendously. I definitely found myself wondering what parts might have led into a song in the musical adaptation.

Disney Books and Storygram Tours provided me a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!

Check out my list of the best books I read in 2020 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2021/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2020.html.

Check out my list of the best books of the last decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.

See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.

Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.

[Valerie H · Rating 2 out of 5]

Guy wants manic pixie dream girl. Guy gets chip in his head to tell him how to win her. He loses touch with his real self and we should be sad for him because men should just exist as they are without ever questioning themselves. If they are not chosen by girls it’s unjust and proof of how shallow the girls are. High school girls are dumb except the girl who is NoT lIkE oThEr GiRlZ. So rather than enjoy her company or get to know her or be a friend to her, he has to date her. No other relationship counts. She doesn’t want him but it’s the fault of the chip in his brain.

Incel vibes

[Ed Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comic based on a sci-fi musical based on a young-adult book. What could go wrong? A lot could. But I enjoyed this. A teen gets an AI implanted that tries to help make him more popular. The AI leads him to act like a jerk, which does make him more popular, but he eventually learns to reject the advice of the AI.

[Rod Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

David Levithan takes a chainsaw to the most offensive sexist crap from the awful novel and sands off sharp corners to deliver a thin and bland, PG or PG-13 adaptation that is probably intended to appeal to fans of the musical (though it keeps the book's original ending). Frankly, I wish I had just stuck to listening to the album and not bothered with any of the books.

[Kenzie Shea · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ending.... what

[ash · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was fine? I didn't think the art was particularly inspired, but the story was fine if a little stupid. It felt very... of the age Vizzini was when he came up with it, I guess, and it wouldn't have compelled me when I was young and it doesn't really compel me now.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I haven’t read the book or watched the musical that this graphic novel is based on, so maybe that’s why I didn’t find it that interesting? It felt too short to be impactful.

[Grace · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was okay, but definitely not great.

[Emma Bourne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Went in blind, a few friends are fans of the musical so my curiosity peaked. The story is refreshing and easy enough to follow - not much depth given here and there like a typical graphic novel. Enjoyed the story and definitely want to check out Ned’s book and the musical!

[Kassie · Rating 3 out of 5]

the CODE RED!! 🤣

[Ash · Rating 1 out of 5]

I loved Ned Vizzini's "It's Kind of a Funny Story" when I read it as a teen. I saw this book at my library and really only picked it up because it was Ned Vizzini's work, and I had like what I had read previously. Unfortunately, this fell flat with this book/adaptation. It didn't feel fleshed out, and I didn't really like the art, just wasn't for me.

I think it's really cool that Vizzini was able to articulate how big technology would get for it being 2004 when this was published.

Overall, I really didn't feel anything for this graphic novel. But definitely recommend It's kind of a funny story (at least based from what I remember from high school lol).

[Brianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. And what a great tribute to Ned Vizzini's vision. The story really worked with the graphic novel format. I really want to see the musical now.

[Ebster Davis]

I could cry of happiness.

There are some aspects of the novel that couldn't be conveyed outside of text, but it's so clearly inspired by comic books and manga that it begs for an graphic novel adaption.

I have such high expectations for this one, I'm gonna have to manage them before it comes out because I've had this vision of what a graphic novel adaption of this book would look like since I first read it.

I'd love it if the illustrators experimented with different styles:

Like the first part when it's just Jeremy it's illustrated in a western art style, and it seems like it's gonna be a superhero origin story. Then the SQUIP comes along and he's like an anime character brought to life. Surprise! You're reading a shonen-style manga! You've been reading a manga this whole time!

Then the art style morphs between the two depending on who is dominating the narrative as the story's being told, until

I'M NOT A SUPERERO, JEREMY NEITHER ARE YOU.

and the illustrations become photorealistic...leading up to the play.

It would be epic, but honestly I'm so stoked and really looking forward to any graphic novel of this thing actually existing!

Update 1-5-21:
Just finished it!

I've very much been looking forward to this graphic novel adaptation of one of my favorite stories. It's a pretty straightforward retelling and I love that the art style embraces the wannabe-grunge of the 2004-era setting.

Its also cuts out a lot of objectionable content (like references to drugs, pornography, and self harm) so the story is more suitable for younger audiences.

Even though this is a more visual format of storytelling, the squip has no physical manifestation in the graphic novel and I have mixed feelings about this:

On one hand it curtails #book!squip's character development, which is one of the most fascinating aspects of the original novel for me.

On the other hand it also prevents technology from becoming a scapegoat for the main character's bad behavior and it puts responsibility for developing integrity back on Jeremy. As much as I love the musical, it never sat right with me that Jeremy had to be rescued instead of owning up to himself. It's kinda like if Stephen Spielberg read "Jurassic Park" and somehow decided that it was the dinosaurs were the villains of the story! #just #ugh #NO!!

Luckily for Michael Crichton and Ned Vizzini, nuance is possible in visual storytelling!

I don't consider this graphic novel as a substitute for the original, because the original is a literary masterpiece, but I would let my 10 year old kid read it as a primer, if I had one

I'd like to thank my mom for getting me this book for Christmas, and amazon for delivering it on the release date.

[Basil · Rating 2 out of 5]

This... wasn’t what the musical is? I mean like it’s the book, I get that lol. But like I was so used to the musical ending that I was really prepared for a huge fight scene in the play and Michael to throw Jeremy some Red Mountain Dew and call it a day, but like the ending didn’t even include the Squip being thrown out, even after it made Rich go insane. Lol it was fine I guess

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 2.5 stars. Story is okay I liked the artwork and use of color. I would be interested in seeing the musical version to see if the story is improved when told through a different medium.

[Olivia McGuigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

in my opinion this book was not good, if you want to know the story read the actual book. the use of color was poor and the line work was shabby for this specific book, however if the same style was used for a different story i think it would work great but with be more chill it just doesn't fit. also I wish the squip was personified instead off like a voice in his head. Also a lot of the more adult elements had been taken out like "Michael in the bathroom" and stuff like drinking and smoking weed and just normal teen-age delinquency. i can see where the author was trying to go and this book isn't terrible but its not good.

[Jill · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh, it was ok. I feel like every time I read one of Ned Vizzini's books, I end up not liking the main character. Also, the artwork wasn't that great. Character's faces would be distorted in weird ways and that was pretty jarring. It would take me out of the story.
I know the lesson this is trying to convey is be careful of technology, don't be to reliant on it! Combined with, be yourself! And sure I get it, I just think there books/graphic novels that did it better. Overall, I wouldn't really suggest this unless you are already a fan.

[Christine · Rating 2 out of 5]

A graphic novel adaptation of the novel that inspired the Broadway musical. I read it because I was looking for something on my library's app that was new, to me, and since I was aware of the musical I figured I'd try this. Unfortunately, I didn't love the artwork and the plot was so thin that I wondered how it was ever a full-fledged novel. I also felt like the ending resolved itself too easily and there weren't enough answers given about what went on in the mind of the character Rick. Over all, it fell flat for me.

[Deborah Zeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. It was ok, takes place in 2004 however, Siri & Alexa weren’t around then, right? The lesson learned is to be careful with technology. It may help you with some things, but not with the heart. That’s why we have free will. Technology cannot determine who will be the person you will end up with. I’d be interested in reading the original book. The illustrations were good, the colors discerning between Jeremy & the Squib.

[Yvonne Olson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't read the novel this was adapted from, but I have seen (and listened tothe soundtrack of) Be More Chill the musical.

And my only thought on this is that this plot is pretty boring without the musical numbers.
Which is saying something, because I thought the musical was a little boring with the musical numbers... so...

This wasn't necessarily bad, just not ,my cup of tea.

[nhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty fun story to read through. I've heard of the musical before and have always wanted to watch it in person. The story felt rushed but it is a graphic novel, after all. The premise of the story was really unique, with the squip and all. The art style wasn't my favorite, but I liked how it highlighted the important parts, and those were the ones I drew my eyes first to.

[Joanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can I blame it on the pandemic that I have never heard of this YA novel let alone the Tony-winning Broadway adaptation? I thought I was on the planet.

But I have heard of David Leviathan and lurve graphic novels, so I picked this one up.

Mostly I thought it had too many mean girls and guys and nasty drama that made me happy that I’m no longer in high school. Is it really like this? Yikes. But the squip was an interesting idea with a humorous voiceover that I feel I’ve encountered before in some other movie or book….? Can’t think of it now tho.

Well now that I’m caught up with BMC I guess I’ll recognize it if it ever comes up in a season ticket subscription.

[Reading_seas0n · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing against the artist for this graphic novel.
Let me state I have only ever listened to/watched the musical, and I have never read the book. The musical I give 4/5 stars; I did not enjoy this graphic novel, so I know the book isn't for me.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am so confused... It was a good story, but the characters and some of the little details were so weird... And this is a Broadway show?! Definitely not one of the best things I've ever read, but at least somewhat interesting

[Jurnee Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't like the art, or the characters. The story had some interesting ideas but I did not feel like they were executed in the best way. I believe this was adapted from a novel, so maybe that would be better and provide more details on the premise. Or not, who knows because I do not plan to read it.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Closer to a 2.5.

[Sarah Acacia · Rating 3 out of 5]

There were some moments and themes I liked better than the musical, but there were also... moments that I disliked so much more. I'm not sure how I feel about it, but it was definitely an interesting read, especially the ending.

[charlie · Rating 2 out of 5]

i picked this up because i like a song from the musical (voices in my head), and wanted more context. but this left me so confused as to how it connected to voices in my head that i actually had to wikipedia the plot of the musical. the art was pretty okay? it was confusing and i couldn't find a pattern as to what was blue and what was black and white.

[Iris · Rating 2 out of 5]

ehh

[Sophia Xie Gong · Rating 2 out of 5]

the storytelling was kinda bad and the art style looks like a graphic novel template