Module 7: The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

SLIS 5420/ Module 7/ February 24-March 3
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl
By Barry Lyga

Bibliography: Lyga, B. (2007). The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. New York, NY: Graphia.

Summary:
The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl tells the story of a high school boy named Donnie. Donnie's life has always been plagued by bullies and family drama, but lately it has taken a turn for the worse. Donnie's mom is pregnant with his HALF sister or brother, the stepfascist is still married to his mother, and the bullying is just getting worse. Luckily Donnie has his one escape, Schemata. The graphic novel he has been working on for years. If he can just show it to Brian Michael Bendis at the comic-con coming up in a couple of weeks everything will turn around. Then Kyra enters his life and his world goes topsy-turvy again. Fanboy might not survive Goth-girl.

Impressions:
I really enjoyed reading this book. I love comic books, superheroes, and all of those nerdy types of things. So I could really relate to Donnie's desire to meet Brian Michael Bendis. The characters in the Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl are also complex and deep, they seem like real people which is always nice to find in YA fiction. This book also deals with lots of teen angsty issues like suicide, bullying, divorce, death, and betrayal, but in a realistic and sympathetic way. I think it is nice to see such serious issues treated in a respectable way.

Professional Review:
Lyga has crafted credible protagonists in his first work of fiction about two misfit teens who forge a friendship. Donnie (aka Fanboy) is a comic-book aficionado, who lives with his newly remarried, pregnant mother and his “step-fascist.” Rule-abiding and honest, Fanboy’s goal in life is to meet writer and illustrator Brian Michael Bendis, to show him his own graphic novel. Unfortunately, Fanboy is tormented at school and has fantasies about school massacres; he finds comfort in his talisman, a single bullet. Enter Kyra (aka Goth Girl), who is confused and frustrated with Fanboy as she observes him refusing to stand up for himself. She reaches out to him, and the two quickly establish an uneasy albeit powerful relationship based on their mutual disdain for most of their peers and their love of comics. Although it seems likely that Goth Girl’s recklessness and cynicism will have a detrimental effect on Fanboy, he begins to see her as vulnerable, and helping her gives him new purpose. Because it’s authentic and well-written, teen readers will appreciate the complexities of these unique characters, and root for them to triumph. (Fiction. YA)

Library Setting:
This book would work well as part of a suicide, bullying, or high school issues book display or discussion. Even if the readers haven't dealt with any of these specific problems themselves The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl makes the characters easily relatable. This book can be used to bring these issues to light and make students aware of the issues their class mates might be facing.

Reference Review: Kirkus Reviews. (2012). The astonishing adventures of fanboy and goth girl. Retrieved from https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/barry-lyga/the-astonishing-adventures-of-fanboy-and-goth-girl/
Image: http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lgoey4spop1qe0xj3o1_400.jpg