Review: a + e 4ever - i. merey

Where I got it: Library
Rating: 4 stars  
Cover Rating: 5 stars (The illustrations in this are weird but awesome.)
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: September 15, 2011
Publisher: Lethe Press
Page Count: 214 p.
Buy it: Book Depository / Amazon
Add it: Goodreads

Asher and Eulalie are cast out by their peers because they look different. Asher is a bit androgynous and Eulalie is tall and looks a bit like a dyke. Luckily they meet each other. They hang our listening to music and drawing. Life is good until Eu realizes that she wants more than friendship with Asher. At first she doesn't mind, because he is into guys. When he mentions that he might be into girls too though, Eu is devastated. She just wants him to feel comfortable with her and care about her as much as she feels about him.

Let me start by saying how much I love the illustrations in this graphic novel. They are some kind of fantastic. They are weird and rough and just completely perfect for these characters and the tone. I also liked how this book broke away from the strict storyboard set up that most graphic novels follow. Screw boxes these scenes flow the way they want. It was pretty perfect.

Ash and Eu. These are two kids I could totally have found myself hanging out with in high school. They listen to great music and draw. Now I'm no great artist, but I do enjoy it and if you throw some music into the mix, I'm in heaven. I'm not much of a club goer, but I probably would've gone, I could have kept Eu company while Ash went out to go fulfill his needs. Asher was pretty selfish and it was hard to see why Eu liked him so much. He was pretty awful to him. Not that he owed her anything (even if she was the only person who accepted him) but he could at least be a bit more decent. He seemed to enjoy her company, but had an odd way of showing it.

I wasn't a huge fan of the epilogue. I know that it's a more true and honest ending to their story, but I felt robbed. It was just not what I wanted for Eu. She worked so hard and got so little. Maybe it was enough for her.

This was a great story though and fantastic illustrations. I can totally see why it was on the Stonewall honor list. It was a really great story about teenagers and life and how some things aren't cut and dry. If you are a fan of GBLTQ or graphic novels, definitely check this one out. It's weird but amazing.

First Line:
"Year: Junior
Day of School: Third
Hair: Light Brown
Pants: Skin-tight
Orientation: Shy
Direction: Pending
Sex: Still Waiting
Religion: Jewish"

Favorite Line:
"Eulalie hears colors."