Review: Lost at Sea - Bryan Lee O'Malley

Where I got it: Library

Rating: 4 stars  

Cover Rating: 5 stars (Nice and simple, with great colors. My copy is more navy with brighter orange on the bottom.)  

Genre: Young Adult 

Publication Date: May 3, 2005

Publisher: Oni Press

Page Count: 160 p.

Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon

Raleigh is a girl lost at sea. After her parents divorced and she lost her best friend, she is just floating around. She ends up on a road trip home from California to Canada with a bunch of kids she sort of knows from school. They might get back to Canada eventually, but until then Raleigh has to try and make new friends and move on from the past.

What the heck is with all the cats?!?!? Seriously? Is there something I just don't get? Is it just that cats are associated with souls, so it only makes sense? Did Raleigh really lose her soul and sisters to the devil? Why couldn't Raleigh at least open that damned letter before the end of the novel?!?!? *breath*
Okay, regardless of my slew of questions, I did really enjoy this book. Raleigh's stream of consciousness flowed smooth and true. There were a lot of things on her mind and she got it all out on the quiet road ahead of her and her car mates. I guess Bryan Lee O'Malley is just weird. Scott Pilgrim was weird and Lost at Sea is weird. Things happen that leave you scratching your head, but all the characters seem okay with what's happening, so you feel like you're the odd one not them. I did love the drawings of the cats and went they went to go find the cat with Raleigh's soul. That whole part was hilarious and completely realistic...mostly. I could totally see my friends and I searching, during the wee hours of the morning, for a cat that contains someone's missing soul. It's fun and free and ridculous, but some things you just do without too many questions. I recommend this if you enjoyed the Scoot Pilgrim books, even if you didn't read this anyway. Unless you hated the books, then maybe this won't be up your alley.

First Line:

"I have a lot on my mind and not a lot to do so it's going to come out, all of it, and then, then, it may begin to make a sort of sense."

Favorite Lines:

"Hey, wake up. We have to go find Raleigh's soul, it's in a cat."