Play Book Tag discussion

  Blankets By Craig Thompson - 4/5

Blankets is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about a boy named Craig and the way he interacts with everything. The way he interacts with his family, his peers, his religion, even his environment and the way everything interacts with him to shape him as a person. Its a coming of age story that does a really good job of weaving together memories throughout Craig's childhood into adolescence. Its one young man's journey to adulthood and all the growing pains involved in that transition.

One aspect of this story that I really appreciated was the setting. Craig's environment in this book almost feels like another character. It obviously doesn't speak or think but it did almost have a life of its own, it seemed to breathe. Craig lives in a small town in what feels the middle of nowhere and the ever-present snow and the isolation were moving the story just as much as any character could have. The world around him had meaning in this context.

Overall I really enjoyed Blankets. I think It did a wonderful job examining so many aspects of life and it all felt real and down to Earth. The only thing I wished for was more about Craig's relationship with his brother and how it changed over time. All in all a fantastic read.

I keep seeing this at the library, but since it's so long, I don't pick it up. Thanks for the encouragement.