Honor Girl – A Graphic Memoir
by
Maggie Thrash
Rating:
Honor Girl is a graphic memoir about the author’s coming-out experience at a summer camp in the mountains of Kentucky. When Maggie returns to Camp Bellflower at age fifteen, friends, traditions and camp activities are largely the same, until she meets Erin, a college-age camp counselor. Her crush is undeniable, but also frightening and confusing and Maggie makes her best effort to sort out her feelings, spending her free time at the rifle range where she is trying to earn a Distinguished Expert certification.
Rumors spread, however, when Maggie’s camper friends begin to question her relationship with Erin, subjecting Maggie to embarrassing jokes and conversations. Despite the taunts, she is surprisingly strong and her good friends are generally accepting.
The story has a coming-of-age and camp camaraderie feel to it and even readers who have never attended summer camp will ease into life in tents and canoes. The author tells her story with humor and light sarcasm, making Honor Girl an easy read, without a heavy message. And while the story is about Maggie’s feelings for another girl, its appeal is in the author’s ability to describe her experience in the same way as a traditional boy-girl crush.
I have not read many graphic novels or graphic memoirs, so this was a nice change. Like a comic book, it’s mostly illustrated dialogue, with occasional narrative. Honor Girl is a Young Adult book, but I would recommend it to any reader who likes to try different genres. As for the artwork, I did find the illustrations a little difficult to follow. They are simple drawings and it was sometimes hard for me to figure out who was who, as many of the faces are similar. All in all, however, a good (and fast) read.
Do you read graphic novels or memoirs? What are your favorites?
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Book Club Mom 
Sounds interesting, Barbara. I’ve never read a graphic novel or memoir. Thanks for the review.
Hi Jill, yes – I read an Archie “graphic novel” a few years ago and it was surprisingly good (I was a huge Archie comics fan as a girl!). But this is a whole different level. I read it in 2 days – it went very fast and was enjoyable!
OMG! I loved Archie, too! Loved Jughead! 🙂
I don’t think I’ve read a graphic novel since R. Crumb but can imagine a summer camp would be a good setting for one.
I’ve yet to try an graphic novel, but this does sound like a good one!
Hi Ann! I enjoyed this one – they are very popular at the library, especially for YA and kids. Thanks for the visit!
An interesting review and it must have been a very different read from your usual ones! The story sounds fine but not so good that the artwork was confusing – surely the exact opposite of what is intended with graphic novels! I haven’t read any and must say I’m not too tempted but can see there is a market for them.
Hi Annika, yes, I think the graphic novel and memoir genre is geared more to YA, so maybe the artwork is more “relatable” (haha see my grammar post) to younger readers. It’s a huge market – you should see how many we have at the library! Thanks for the visit 🙂
I’ve not read a graphic novel or memoir, but your review makes it sound like something, as a memoir writer and reader, I should check out. Thanks for reviewing this memoir!
Hi Sherrey – I’ve only read a couple – since I work in a library, I see how popular they are, especially in the Young Adult section. And this format/genre is respected. My son had to read Maus in college – I had not heard of it, but now know it is a well-known book about the Holocaust. Thanks for stopping by!