Be That Way

Creator: Hope Larson

Seventeen-year-old Christine keeps a journal of an eventful year in her life in mid-90s, while juggling troubled friendships and looking for love.

It’s January 1, 1996, and high school junior Christine wants more than anything to be that cool girl everyone notices, like her gorgeous best friend, Landry. She usually hates New Year's resolutions, but this year she vows to be that shiny kind of girl—and record it all in her diary through prose, illustration, and comics.

When Landry drops her, Christine is surprised to discover just how much she doesn’t miss her and her drama. But a misguided kiss with film-obsessed Paul, her only other close friend, also causes a rift, and she finds herself facing a long, lonely summer.

With nothing to lose, Christine finds a new sense of courage. She gets a job at her neighborhood video store, experiments with her art, and becomes romantically entangled with her next-door neighbor Whit, who’s either the coolest guy ever or a total jerk. In spite of all this, she doesn’t quite feel shiny—until a shocking betrayal shows her the value of the words and drawings she hides in her diary, and she finally understands that she doesn’t need to be cool to be noticed—she only needs to be herself.

Eisner-award winning author and illustrator, Hope Larson, has created a powerful coming-of-age story set in a time before the Internet that explores themes of betrayal, first love, self-expression, and the power of art.

A Bank Street Best Book of the Year
A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

 
$22.99
 
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# of Pages: 272

Book Binding: Hardcover

Year of Publication: 2023

Publisher: Margaret Ferguson Books

Language: en

ISBN: 9780823447619

Hope Larson is an American writer, illustrator, and cartoonist who has gained acclaim for her work in the world of graphic novels. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Larson was passionate about comics from a young age, and began creating her own at the age of 10. She went on to study at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has since published numerous award-winning graphic novels, including "A Wrinkle in Time: The Graphic Novel," "All Summer Long," and "Compass South." Her works often explore themes of coming of age, identity, and relationships, and she is known for her unique blend of storytelling and artwork. Larson continues to be a prominent figure in the world of graphic novels, inspiring readers with her captivating tales and stunning illustrations.