A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

A Mess of Everything by Miss Lasko-Gross

Fantagraphics Books (April 30, 2009)

Age Group: Young Adult

Paperback: 232 pages

Summary: "Melissa is now in high school, where the stakes are higher as she copes with an anxiety-induced drug habit and an anorexic best friend. Melissa finds herself negotiating the kinds of everyday problems facing young adults today—such as alienating her friends with her uncomfortable honesty and accidentally breaking her best guy friend's heart. Eventually, her woes cause her to nearly flunk out of school, and by the end of the book Melissa faces the choice that we all do at some point: to take the risk and pursue her dreams or settle for a safer, more secure routine."

Review: At the end of the day, my friend gave me this graphic novel to read. I wasn't actually planning on reading it, but since I had some free time in the class, and there was a sub in AP US History I figured I'd go ahead and read it.

A Mess of Everything is actually the 2nd book in Miss Lasko-Gross graphic novel autobiography but since it's a stand alone, you can go ahead and read it without reading the first. The comic deals with Melissa's struggle of fitting in, anorexia, friendships and so many other things. I enjoyed it and thought it was a pretty good comic!

On a random note, the book doesn't say where it takes place, but as I noticed in one of the pictures there was a building with "123 Beacon St" or something and my first thought was that it took place in Boston and then there was another picture. I checked the author's site and what do you know, she was born in Boston. Although the drawings were subtle, I'm glad there were details like that!

Graphics: I thought the drawings were well done and I really liked the saturation to them! I would give the cover a 3/5.

3 stars.