2014 Hub Reading Challenge discussion

I definitely enjoyed this title. There were a couple of things that really stood out for me. I liked the way Gulledge used stippling for shadows that were part of Will’s imagination, as if they were the shadows in her past haunting her. I thought it was a very effective technique. As someone who lives and works in Charlottesville, VA, I enjoyed the fact that the book is set there. I recognized the Freedom of Speech Wall, the downtown mall, Chaps, and the fondness for cupcake shops. Overall, the story seemed to lack a little depth. Things wrapped up a bit too neatly for me. Still, I enjoyed it and will recommend it to my teens, if only for them to see a bit of their hometown in the pages of a book.

I also enjoyed this book. I thought the art work was great and I loved the way, like was mentioned previously, that the artist used Will's shadow to tell a deeper story. I think students will enjoy this for the artwork and also for the quick read.

The story was just OK. I have read much better YA graphic novels recently and I am surprised this was a winner of the YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens 2014. Not only did I feel it jumped scenes, but I feel a few simple changes would make the book more appealing to readers, especially teens. The title and cover are misleading, which by itself is not a bad thing...but the story is not only about Will & Whit, but all of Will's friends AND they are definitely not in a relationship as the cover portrays. However, even a better improvement would be the addition of a little color. The story focuses around creative teens coming into their own and growing together. Color is referenced a lot. I believe splashes of colors would greatly enhance the reading experience, especially blue (Whit's favorite color) and yellow (Will's lamps and electricity). With both of these being bright colors, it would give the story a bright cheerful feeling which corresponds with the story as it continues; without giving it away.

This was a sweet story, and I enjoyed the way Gulledge used Will's shadow to emphasis her emotional state. But I agree with Heather that it could have been better. I think Gulledge has potential and I'll keep an eye out for more work from her, but this book didn't really impress me as much as I had hoped. I think this book could be recommended to teens who want a light-hearted comic about overcoming your fear and growing up.

I liked this graphic novel and the illustrations (especially the shadows). The friendships of the teens were believable and the way the storm and no power brought them together was nice. I liked that Will confronts her turmoil as a result of the blackout.