TW: dark thoughts, use of homophobic language
This story was something I needed in my life. It wasn't perfect or unpredictable, but it was necessary for me to consume. For more of an explanation, All the Young Dudes (Vol. 1) is a Harry Potter fanfiction, specifically about the Marauders, which, even more specifically, means Harry Potter's parents. It's narrated by Remus Lupin (who is, spoiler alert, a werewolf), Harry Potter's professor, trusted parental figure, and one of the best friends of Harry's dad. The fanfiction itself originates from a site called AO3, and it has recently had a resurgence in popularity, becoming the most popular fanfiction on AO3 at this point. This story is perfect for all Harry Potter fans, especially for those who found themselves obsessed with the Marauder era growing up. Not only was this story entertaining, but it was also professionally written and true to the original characters.
Disclaimer: Just because I read and enjoyed this story does not mean that I support J.K. Rowling or any of her claimed "beliefs". Reading this story did nothing to support Rowling, as Rowling was not the author of this story or involved in its creation in any way.
One of the best elements of this story was definitely the writing, specifically the characterization. This story felt like an extension to the Harry Potter books. The characters acted exactly as I had imagined them, they said things that were perfectly in character and nothing was at all out of character. This story did nothing to change my perception of these beloved characters either. James Potter was perfectly lovable and stupid, just as I pictured him. Sirius Black was cocky and jokey, just like he was supposed to be. Even though made out to be slightly thuggish, Remus Lupin was thoughtful, imaginative, and principled, just as I liked him. Peter was annoying, nosey, and wimpy, and I thoroughly liked hating him most of all.
The writing itself was also excellent. Even though it was written by the mysterious MsKingBean89, who was probably a teenager at the time of writing, I never once had a problem with the writing or the word choice or the sentence structure...and coming from a grammar errorist herself, that's saying a lot, considering that I am fairly often peeved by bad grammar. It truly felt like a real, published book as I read it, and I really appreciated it.
The plot itself wasn't always super entertaining, seeing as first and second year with high-strung eleven and twelve-year-olds can tend to get a little bland, but for the most part, I was fully immersed in the plot. To be honest, there was really no plot, just a bunch of happenings as we watched the Marauders hang out and wreak havoc on the Slytherins. I really enjoyed the parts with Remus and Lily's friendship. I can't wait for the plot to accelerate and dramatize across the following two volumes.
In summation, All the Young Dudes (Vol. 1) is a wonderfully fun detail of what may have happened in the lives of the Marauders, which is unfortunately barely touched during the main Harry Potter series. I hope I can get to the next volume soon, as it's sure to get...how do I say...spicier...as they get older. I need to get my Jily and Wolfstar fix before I disappear off the Internet for a month during the summer.