Opening
Bibliographic Information:
Girl
Stories / by Lauren R. Weinstein
ISBN-10: 0805078630 / Henry Holt and
Company
p. 240 / $7.18 (Amazon)
2006
Body of Content
Summary: The
comic book is a compilation of individual comic strips from writer Lauren
Weinstein. The vast majority of the book
contains comic narratives – short humor stories in comic strip form – that might
stretch from four to fifteen pages worth of information each. The artistic style is rather simplistic –
with the human faces bearing little difference between people. The style of the comics, thus, contains a sketched,
draft intentionality by the author. The
comics are in color – but the shading and tonality of the hues differs from one
story to the next. Overall, the book
offers over 35 comic stories – stretching over 240 pages. The basis of the comic series is the
adventures experienced by the self-portrayed author at a younger age – as she
relives 8th grade and high school experiences – centering on teen
issues like relationships, school work, interactions with her parents, and
general experiences endured by teenagers.
Critique: While
some comics rely on puns or physical comedy, Girl Stories fully embraces the awkwardness of the teenage years in
a person’s life. This is painfully
evident as the author discusses relationships with boys. In one comic, the author writes about an awkward
breakup experience – deciding to end the relationship – after returning from a
visit to Washington D.C.:
Lauren:
“Well, I got a present for you, too!”
Boyfriend:
“A bag of dirt!?”
Lauren:
“Yeah, like soil from our nation’s capital!”
Boyfriend:
“Oh.”
Lauren:
“Um, I think we should just be friends.”
Boyfriend: [turning as
he leaves, says] “I can’t believe you gave me a bag of dirt and then broke up
with me!” (pp. 167-168)
From covering up hickey marks after a “math study session” to
enduring secret rashes caused by belly-button piercings, Lauren goes through
the tumultuous teen years – trying not to die of embarrassment. In another comic, frustrated by lack of
success with boys, Lauren creates a home-made boyfriend from various household
items:
Robot
Boyfriend: “Lauren, I am sexually attracted to you, may we kiss?”
Lauren:
“Yes, Robot Boyfriend, yes!” … [Wait] … “STOP!”
Robot
Boyfriend: “What is wrong? Do you need space?”
Lauren: “No! I just don’t
want to make out with someone whose tongue I made with a remote control!” (pp.
222-224)
Lauren stumbles through the awkwardness of life and
relationships. Her teen audience can
likely sympathize with her ordeals – given similar experiences that likely
reside in their own personal backgrounds.
Teaser: Life is strange – and these stories are full of both life
and strangeness.
Information about the Author: The 36-year-old cartoonist
hails from Brookline, Massachusetts.
Educationally, she graduated from Washington University (St. Louis)
before settling in New York City around a decade ago. Her comic strips first appeared online –
through gURL.com, along with Seattle
Stranger. Weinstein pick up a Xeric
award – for her comic strip Inside
Vineyland – an award given to non-mainstream comic artists. Her next project was the aforementioned Girl Stories. Over the last five years, her work has also
fared in compilation books – The Best
American Comics (2007 and 2010 editions).
In her personal life, Weinstein also dabbles in a rock band – as the
lead singer to Flaming Fire – a band that has released three albums over the
last decade (Wikipedia, 2011).
Supplemental Material
Genre: Comics / Humor / Drama
/ Romance
Curriculum Ties: Art
Class – drawing techniques, narrative writing
Booktalking Ideas: 1) If
you think Weinstein’s humor is a little bit strange, her music is beyond
description! 2) Relive the awkwardness of various romantic first-times.
Reading Level: The book probably has more of
an interest from females – given the angle of the comics. Reading level extends to all high school
grades – i.e. ages 15-18.
Challenge Issues and Defense: The comic has some suggestive
humor, along with some romantic/sexual situations. The book is not horribly crass – but librarians
should be aware that it is not squeaky clean.
Personal Reasons for Inclusion: I
wanted a humor genre source from a female perspective (for the sake of
balance).
Last Thoughts
References:
Wikipedia.
(2011). Lauren Weinstein [Webpage]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/
wiki/Lauren_Weinstein_%28comic_book_artist%29
Listening to (Music):
Artist – Joy Williams / Album – “Genesis”
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