Status
Checked out
Publication
Square Fish (2015), 224 pages
Description
After an idyllic childhood of homeschooling with her mother and three older brothers, Maggie enrolls in public high school, where interacting with her peers is complicated by the melancholy ghost that has followed her throughout her entire life.
User reviews
LibraryThing member zzshupinga
Maggie McKay is a bit lost at the moment. See she’s entering high school for the first time. Which would be bad enough, but Maggie has never been in a traditional school before. She’s only been home schooled with her older brothers by their mother...who by the way has left the family for
I’ve been following the webcomic release of this book for some time now and I’ve really enjoyed it so far, in part because the author’s commentary provides such great insight. And...in some ways I really wish the book had the commentary because it describes so much of what the author is really thinking and it’s just nice to be able to read that part of the creative process. Alas the book does not have this, but I’m still excited to have this review copy. Faith accurately captures that feeling of confusion, of hopelessness when entering high school and does a fantastic job of making the characters feel real. You can easily identify them as someone that you may have come across in your own school and identify with that sense of confusion, of loss, of discovering who you are. It’s a good coming of age story and it’s nice to see how Maggie grows and changes during the pages of the book as she finds her place in the world at large. And in her family. And I love the other characters in the story, especially Lucy. She’s so energetic, so confident in who she is and what she is that I love seeing her on the pages of the story. What really stands out to me though is the fact that Maggie and Lucy are both strong female characters. They’re completely grounded in reality so they have their faults, but they don’t ever fall into that “woe is me, I’m a girl and can’t do anything mode.”
I really like the artwork in the book. Faith has a way of capturing the characters perfectly. They have a lot of depth to their expressions so that even without the words of the story you can tell what’s going on. I get lost looking at the expressions sometimes while reading, because it is just so pitch perfect. Faith also has a way of capturing the feelings and movements of being in high school. That sense of being crowded and all alone at the same time. And that sense of relief at finding someplace to be yourself. And I love the maps that Maggie draws to find her way around the school and identifying the places not to go, like the makeout corner.
It almost feels like maybe this is part of a series as there are a couple of questions left unanswered, such as where is Maggie’s mom and what’s the story with the ghosts? Even if there are no sequels this is a good coming of age tell with strong female characters and I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.
A review copy of this book was provided by Gina at FirstSecond
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pastures unknown. So now Maggie’s facing the real world for the first time, without her mom there for support, and to top it off her brothers seem to be busy with their own lives and forgetting about her! And oh yeah, there’s a silent ghost that follows her around. So Maggie has to face the real world for the first time, attempt to grow up a bit and find her own place in the world and in her family. Along the way perhaps she’ll make a new friend (one who isn’t an older brother) and solve the mystery of the quiet ghost who has followed Maggie her entire life.I’ve been following the webcomic release of this book for some time now and I’ve really enjoyed it so far, in part because the author’s commentary provides such great insight. And...in some ways I really wish the book had the commentary because it describes so much of what the author is really thinking and it’s just nice to be able to read that part of the creative process. Alas the book does not have this, but I’m still excited to have this review copy. Faith accurately captures that feeling of confusion, of hopelessness when entering high school and does a fantastic job of making the characters feel real. You can easily identify them as someone that you may have come across in your own school and identify with that sense of confusion, of loss, of discovering who you are. It’s a good coming of age story and it’s nice to see how Maggie grows and changes during the pages of the book as she finds her place in the world at large. And in her family. And I love the other characters in the story, especially Lucy. She’s so energetic, so confident in who she is and what she is that I love seeing her on the pages of the story. What really stands out to me though is the fact that Maggie and Lucy are both strong female characters. They’re completely grounded in reality so they have their faults, but they don’t ever fall into that “woe is me, I’m a girl and can’t do anything mode.”
I really like the artwork in the book. Faith has a way of capturing the characters perfectly. They have a lot of depth to their expressions so that even without the words of the story you can tell what’s going on. I get lost looking at the expressions sometimes while reading, because it is just so pitch perfect. Faith also has a way of capturing the feelings and movements of being in high school. That sense of being crowded and all alone at the same time. And that sense of relief at finding someplace to be yourself. And I love the maps that Maggie draws to find her way around the school and identifying the places not to go, like the makeout corner.
It almost feels like maybe this is part of a series as there are a couple of questions left unanswered, such as where is Maggie’s mom and what’s the story with the ghosts? Even if there are no sequels this is a good coming of age tell with strong female characters and I give the book 4 out of 5 stars.
A review copy of this book was provided by Gina at FirstSecond
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LibraryThing member fyrefly98
Summary: Maggie's been homeschooled her entire life, but on the first day of ninth grade, she's going to high school - just like each of her three older brothers did before her. High school's tough enough to navigate for anyone, but for someone like Maggie - who has never really been around kids
Review: The cover copy of this book makes it out like the haunting is a major part of the story, so I was expecting something along the lines of Anya's Ghost. But as it turns out, the ghost is probably the least-important element of the story, and I would not have missed it had it been cut. The heart of the book, for me, was the wonderful, wonderful characterization. Maggie, her three brothers, her new friend Lucy and her brother Alastair, all feel like real people, and are all immensely likeable. The story itself is somewhere between a coming-of-age story and a slice-of-life of Maggie's first year of school, but it's thoroughly charming, and I found myself just wanting to hang out and spend more time with Maggie and her family. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: It's similar in a lot of ways to Raina Telgemeier's Drama, and well worth a read for anyone who likes charming coming-of-age stories with sweet but realistic sibling dynamics.
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other than her brothers - it's pretty overwhelming. Her brothers are technically there to look out for her, but they've got lives and friends and activities of their own, leaving Maggie to make friends - and navigate the treacherous waters of teenaged social life - more or less on her own. Oh, and also, Maggie's haunted by a ghost from the local graveyard.Review: The cover copy of this book makes it out like the haunting is a major part of the story, so I was expecting something along the lines of Anya's Ghost. But as it turns out, the ghost is probably the least-important element of the story, and I would not have missed it had it been cut. The heart of the book, for me, was the wonderful, wonderful characterization. Maggie, her three brothers, her new friend Lucy and her brother Alastair, all feel like real people, and are all immensely likeable. The story itself is somewhere between a coming-of-age story and a slice-of-life of Maggie's first year of school, but it's thoroughly charming, and I found myself just wanting to hang out and spend more time with Maggie and her family. 4 out of 5 stars.
Recommendation: It's similar in a lot of ways to Raina Telgemeier's Drama, and well worth a read for anyone who likes charming coming-of-age stories with sweet but realistic sibling dynamics.
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LibraryThing member andreablythe
I don't even know how to talk about this book with out flailing with joy.
I love the characters. After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting public school and finds herself lost and lonely in a crowd of people. I could feel that to the core. She has three brothers, each of whom is unique to
I love the art. It captures the unique personalities of the characters and expresses their emotions so well, often without needing dialog over-layering it. It's just really beautiful.
I love the geekery. These characters have things they love and it's clear they really, really love them. It fills me joy to see characters flailing with glee over something they love (much as I'm flailing over this book).
I love the story. It's really funny and sweet, and it made me happy cry by the end.
Friends with Boys is practically perfect in every way and I will definitely be reading more by Faith Erin Hicks.
I love the characters. After years of homeschooling, Maggie is starting public school and finds herself lost and lonely in a crowd of people. I could feel that to the core. She has three brothers, each of whom is unique to
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themselves and make up part of her big family. It's great to see them fight and laugh and be an imperfect, trying to be happy family. (Can I just say how great it is to see a main character who has relationships with her family?) Maggie also makes two friends, a punk-style brother and sister duo, both of whom are wonderful characters.I love the art. It captures the unique personalities of the characters and expresses their emotions so well, often without needing dialog over-layering it. It's just really beautiful.
I love the geekery. These characters have things they love and it's clear they really, really love them. It fills me joy to see characters flailing with glee over something they love (much as I'm flailing over this book).
I love the story. It's really funny and sweet, and it made me happy cry by the end.
Friends with Boys is practically perfect in every way and I will definitely be reading more by Faith Erin Hicks.
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LibraryThing member LibrarianMaven
Maggie has been homeschooled her entire life until this year, when she starts ninth grade. To add even more changes, her mother left the family, her father has been promoted to police chief and her three older brothers suddenly don’t get along like they used to. Luckily, she falls in with Lucy
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and Alistair, and realizes that perhaps she can navigate high school after all, even if she can’t fix everything in her life. Hicks’ graphic novel is a realistic take on the pains (and pleasures) of adolescence, and the ghost story in the narrative accentuates, rather than diminishes, the universality of wanting to make everything better for other people, and sometimes not being able to. Refreshingly, this is a book that is first and foremost about friendship: new, old, good, and gone bad. There is no love interest, and no characters pine for one, which readers fed up with high school drama may appreciate. Recommended for any YA graphic novel collection, but an especially strong selection for those looking to build a collection that includes books that involve homeschooled characters. Show Less
LibraryThing member shadrach_anki
I discovered Friends With Boys online one day, shortly after Faith Erin Hicks started posting the pages to her website in webcomic form as a promotion for the upcoming print release. It quickly became one of my favourite comics, and I made sure to pre-order the print copy, knowing I wanted to have
The print version is lovely. It is more or less trade paper size, so it sits very nicely in hand, and I love the cover flap detailing that creates the sense of it having a dust jacket. My only real complaint is a minor one: as with many, many other graphic novels, Friends With Boys has a few points where the edges of some of the panels get a bit lost in the spine of the book. It comes with the nature of the print medium, and there really is not any way to "fix" it and maintain the integrity of the art.
Bottom line: If you enjoy fun characters and slice-of-life type stories (with or without supernatural twists) definitely check this comic out.
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it in my personal library (particularly since knowing that after the end of February 2012 only the first sixteen pages of the book would be available for viewing online).The print version is lovely. It is more or less trade paper size, so it sits very nicely in hand, and I love the cover flap detailing that creates the sense of it having a dust jacket. My only real complaint is a minor one: as with many, many other graphic novels, Friends With Boys has a few points where the edges of some of the panels get a bit lost in the spine of the book. It comes with the nature of the print medium, and there really is not any way to "fix" it and maintain the integrity of the art.
Bottom line: If you enjoy fun characters and slice-of-life type stories (with or without supernatural twists) definitely check this comic out.
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LibraryThing member JenJ.
I started reading it online and ran out of time, but was enjoying it so much that I placed a hold on our library's copy. While I liked the whole thing, I felt like it just ended without resolution for everything. The characters appeal to me and I would love to see further into this world and their
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lives. If there's going to be more about them, then I understand the ending - it works like a serial comic book does - but I expected a stand alone. Definitely won't be disappointed if there's more though! Show Less
LibraryThing member abbylibrarian
For Maggie, a lot of stuff is changing. Not only is she starting her first day of high school (also her first day of public school ever since she was homeschooled before), but her mom's left the family and her dad's got a new job. Her brothers are fighting and she's being haunted by a ghost. It's a
I was attracted to pick up this book because I'm interested in reading more stories about homeschoolers. Maggie is NOT a girly girl. She's much rather run around with her brothers, but in high school she'll have to start making her own way. Soon she learns that there's more about everybody than meets the eye and the decent people are the ones who embrace differences instead of making fun of them.
Expressive art combines with a relatable storyline to make a graphic novel that many teens will identify with.
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lot for a girl to take. But as Maggie learns to navigate the crowded halls of high school, she'll also start to figure out that you have to move on with your life and take the changes as they come. I was attracted to pick up this book because I'm interested in reading more stories about homeschoolers. Maggie is NOT a girly girl. She's much rather run around with her brothers, but in high school she'll have to start making her own way. Soon she learns that there's more about everybody than meets the eye and the decent people are the ones who embrace differences instead of making fun of them.
Expressive art combines with a relatable storyline to make a graphic novel that many teens will identify with.
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LibraryThing member BrittDonohueWhite
Easy to read and enjoyable story of a girl trying to make her way in the world of high school.
LibraryThing member LibraryGirl11
Up until 9th grad, Maggie has been homeschooled, but now she is following her three older brothers to the local high school. Her mother has left the family, her father is the new police chief, and Maggie isn't sure how much more change she can take. Oh, and she's also haunted by a ghost. Bold
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artwork and an intriguing storyline. Show Less
LibraryThing member rjmoir
At the center of this tale of new starts and lingering doubts is freshman Maggie McKay. Home-schooled, the youngest of 4 children, and the only girl, Maggie has never had a friend outside of her own family. The silent ghost that's stalked her for the past 7 years doesn't count. But the ghost haunts
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Maggie less than the changes that have rocked her comfortable life in the past year: her mother's abrupt departure, the dissolution of her twin brothers' once close relationship, and the beginning of her time in public high school. Hicks' masterfully creates emotional and visual depth with atmospheric, expressive black and white illustration, thoughtful use of gray toning and excellent panel design. Though the story's ending may not resolve as much as the reader expects, the open-ended conclusion perfectly reflects the over-arching theme of the work: "Friends With Boys" puts forth the idea that some ghosts, literal or otherwise, can't be laid to rest in one simple stroke, and that moving forward may be painful, but is worth it. Show Less
LibraryThing member WickedWoWestwood
What a great graphic novel! I was reminded of Telgemeier's "Drama" graphic novel, but with so many more layers and done so very well. Layers in this story include: a home schooler switching to public high school, a silent ghost in a graveyard, an ancient, prosthetic hand, twins in a fight, and a
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volleyball team's falling out. There is so much packed into this great comic! Show Less
LibraryThing member akmargie
A good start to what I hope will be a series. Heavy on family dynamics and high school drama. Really strong art too.
LibraryThing member Sullywriter
Unusual coming-of-age story with some interesting twists.
LibraryThing member kayceel
So good!!! Maggie's first day of high school is a teeny bit more nerve-wracking than most: it's also her first day of public school, after having been homeschooled through 8th grade. In trying to make friends, and figuring out how to blend in with other high schoolers, Maggie makes a new friend and
Charming, funny and sweet! Highly recommended!
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helps her brothers as well.Charming, funny and sweet! Highly recommended!
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LibraryThing member blog_gal
Rating 4.5
The morals taught in this graphic novel are great:
It is always good to forgive others.
You should not judge others.
It is okay to be different.
Ignore stereotypes.
The writing style was entertaining. The art was amazing! This is a wonderful coming of age novel which would be perfect
The morals taught in this graphic novel are great:
It is always good to forgive others.
You should not judge others.
It is okay to be different.
Ignore stereotypes.
The writing style was entertaining. The art was amazing! This is a wonderful coming of age novel which would be perfect
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for those going into high school. With that being said, there are a few cuss words in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member JoeCottonwood
About 2/3 through the story, I found myself thinking: "How refreshing to read a graphic novel that gives a realistic dose of high school life and that doesn't involve werewolves or supernatural events..." And then I realized: "Wait a minute! There's a ghost in this story and I've been totally
Faith Erin Hicks captures the nuances of relationships, often wordlessly. Nice drawing. Nice writing. I finished the book feeling I'd made some friends and shared their lives for a while. Nicely done.
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buying it." That's good writing. The ghost fits in, just like the other characters.Faith Erin Hicks captures the nuances of relationships, often wordlessly. Nice drawing. Nice writing. I finished the book feeling I'd made some friends and shared their lives for a while. Nicely done.
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LibraryThing member blog_gal
Rating 4.5
The morals taught in this graphic novel are great:
It is always good to forgive others.
You should not judge others.
It is okay to be different.
Ignore stereotypes.
The writing style was entertaining. The art was amazing! This is a wonderful coming of age novel which would be perfect
The morals taught in this graphic novel are great:
It is always good to forgive others.
You should not judge others.
It is okay to be different.
Ignore stereotypes.
The writing style was entertaining. The art was amazing! This is a wonderful coming of age novel which would be perfect
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for those going into high school. With that being said, there are a few cuss words in it. Show Less
LibraryThing member mamzel
Maggie is starting high school. There's just a few problems bothering her. Up until now she had been home schooled by her mother - who just deserted her family. The only friends she had up to now were her three older brothers, all students at her new school. Oh, and her father is the police chief.
Maggie is a charming young woman but this book is, unfortunately, full of too many issues in too many pages. Volleyball bullies, her brother's drama club productions, and feuding twin brothers add to the confusion. It's messy but Maggie makes the story fun and enjoyable.
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Oh, and she is being haunted by a ghost. Maggie is a charming young woman but this book is, unfortunately, full of too many issues in too many pages. Volleyball bullies, her brother's drama club productions, and feuding twin brothers add to the confusion. It's messy but Maggie makes the story fun and enjoyable.
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LibraryThing member pussreboots
Friends with Boys by Faith Erin Hicks is a YA novel about the adjustment period of attending public school after years of homeschooling. Maggie McKay is going to high school, following in the foot steps of her brothers.
For the most part, Friends with Boys is a roman à clef in graphic novel format.
The going to high school part of the book is pretty standard. There are the usual problems of making friends, as well as the competition and sibling strife. While it's nicely done, it's not as remarkable as the events in Brain Camp by Susan Kim and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks.
There is a side story, though, about a ghost in the graveyard which serves as a short cut to the high school. She appears at the beginning of the book and at the end but there is no "meloncholy mystery" as the blurb would have one believe. Instead, it's just filler. I really had hoped to see more emphasis on the ghost plot and less on the brothers / sister relationship.
For the most part, Friends with Boys is a roman à clef in graphic novel format.
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As Hicks explains in her blog, she was home-schooled and has three brothers. While the author is from British Columbia, the book is set in Nova Scotia.The going to high school part of the book is pretty standard. There are the usual problems of making friends, as well as the competition and sibling strife. While it's nicely done, it's not as remarkable as the events in Brain Camp by Susan Kim and illustrated by Faith Erin Hicks.
There is a side story, though, about a ghost in the graveyard which serves as a short cut to the high school. She appears at the beginning of the book and at the end but there is no "meloncholy mystery" as the blurb would have one believe. Instead, it's just filler. I really had hoped to see more emphasis on the ghost plot and less on the brothers / sister relationship.
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LibraryThing member Brian.Gunderson
This book has a decent story and I really enjoyed the art.
I think the "Education of Maggie McKay" (a discarded potential title the artist considered) would have been a better title because this book is about the protagonist's adjustment from home-schooling to public school and her education about
I think the "Education of Maggie McKay" (a discarded potential title the artist considered) would have been a better title because this book is about the protagonist's adjustment from home-schooling to public school and her education about
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other people and her own family. Show Less
LibraryThing member timtom
This refreshing teenage graphic novel nicely explores the intricacies of high school friendship, family dynamics, and social integration. The story is well constructed and superbly illustrated, and manages to veer clear of the usual young adult subjects (first love, dysfunctional families, and the
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like). I agree with other reviewers that the ghost figure doesn't really add much to the story, but it's a nice twist after all. A good read (for older readers too)! Show Less
LibraryThing member 4sarad
I really liked the style and the characters, but there were some issues. There is a ghost involved in the story, but it's such a minor thing that I don't know why it's in there at all. I would have liked the story better if that was left out since it literally had no relevance to the rest of the
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story. I really would have liked to see more of the brothers and have their issues fleshed out a little more. I really enjoyed the book, though, and would love to have more! Show Less
LibraryThing member molbhall
All Maggie wants is to make friends and survive her first year in a public high school after being homeschooled her entire life, but her older brothers and the ghost of an eighteenth-century widow get in her way. This book will be extremely relatable for teens, especially younger ones just starting
One of the strengths of Friends with Boys is its lack of romance, which is refreshing in the current teen market. The focuses of friendship and family are easy to connect with. They lend themselves well to deep emotional themes, such as fitting in versus being an individual and struggling with a parent who has abandoned the family. The expressive way in which the characters are drawn adds to the emotional resonance of the plot elements. There are many themes and plot threads in this text, and Hicks is largely successful in combining them into a memorable and enjoyable graphic novel.
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or about to start high school, though it will be enjoyable for older students as well. It is worth noting that the cover does not convey the supernatural elements of the story and so readers may not get quite what they expect upon first glance.One of the strengths of Friends with Boys is its lack of romance, which is refreshing in the current teen market. The focuses of friendship and family are easy to connect with. They lend themselves well to deep emotional themes, such as fitting in versus being an individual and struggling with a parent who has abandoned the family. The expressive way in which the characters are drawn adds to the emotional resonance of the plot elements. There are many themes and plot threads in this text, and Hicks is largely successful in combining them into a memorable and enjoyable graphic novel.
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LibraryThing member Cooln3ss
Why I thought this book was good was because It was diffrent for me because it was my first book I read based on a girl and it felt diffrent to other graphic book. I don't really have any reasons why it's bad.
LibraryThing member TheMadHatters
Great story except maybe the ghost thing. I didn't really get that, but the rest of it was good. I like that Maggie made friends and still stayed close with her brothers.
Awards
CYBILS Awards (Winner — 2012)
Rocky Mountain Book Award (Nominee — 2014)
CCBC Choices (2013)
Great Graphic Novels for Teens (Top Ten — 2013)
OYAN Graphic Rave (2012)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2012-02-28
Physical description
224 p.; 5.98 inches
ISBN
1250068169 / 9781250068163