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While I'm not in love with it, I do enjoy the very streamlined way of reading it.

Two major things stick out for me: the relationship drama and the gender stereotypes. The former I can live with (in small doses), as it can be a very memorable and/or inspiring time in one's life. The latter, however, bugs me to no end. While I don't expect every person to treat every other person with respect, I do expect at least one person to not be a talking stereotype.

Without going off on a rampage, I'll just say this: females aren't all feminine and males aren't all masculine. Even though Annie sticks out as the least "feminine," she still fits way too nicely into the "girl" box with Tamra and Bliss. The same can be said for Johnson, Beau, and Mitch fitting way too nicely into the "boy" box. Not helping matters is the "trying to be hip/no cooties allowed" tone of the two groups' chat rooms.

To sum it up, the characters are romanticized versions of people, the plot is predictable sitcom drama, and the gender binary is emphasized WAY too much. However, it's not agonizing to read, and the dialogue-only style created by the chat logs makes things go by pretty quickly.

Check it out if you're bored, but don't worry about passing it by. There is much better high school fiction, much better chat room writing, and much better combinations of the two.

Definitely a recommended read! I didn't realize when it was written until I checked the copyright date. Even then, it still shocks me. It's not "50s writing" by any means, and it holds up interestingly well today. It's still a "past future," but one that is charmingly realistic instead of anachronisticly twee. Plus, it follows all of its own rules. I found myself stopping now and then to either laugh at the humor or think about an implication. Check this one out; it's a short yet fantastic read that won't bore you for a second.

I could very much hear this story, you know? Specifically, this song kept playing on repeat in my head. Without giving too much away, I like how the ending opened more possibilities, rather than simply tying up the loose threads.

I really enjoy Jen Wang's æsthetic style—it's fluid and expressive, yet solid and has heft. The coloring, surprisingly enough, reminds me of ink wash painting, and it's a joy to look at. Definitely check this one out! It's a solid read that'll make you feel a deep sense of contentment and (hopefully) a lust for life.

Years ago, I remember reading a story that had something to do with drawing the world using a purple crayon. It stuck in my head because of two reasons: one, the idea of literally drawing your world fascinated me, and two, my favorite color is purple. =)

Fast forward a few years, and I was walking in a local bookstore that no longer exists (I believe it was a Waldenbooks). I happened across this book in one aisle, and a creeping sense of déja vu started to seep into my brain. As I sat in the aisle, reading the book, the memory slowly trickled in to the point where I fell in love and simply had to own the book.

There's a reason it is still being read to children and taught to them to this day—it teaches that imagination can be more than idle wishing. It encourages anyone to make things, create things, and improve their world by doing so. It doesn't matter that the stories are comparatively simple or that they are over 50 years old...their simplicity and timelessness are what make Harold's adventures so universal.

I urge you to check this out if you haven't already been read these stories at night before bed. It'll take you back to childhood, yes. Hopefully, however, it'll also propel you forward in new and more creative ways.

Even though the story itself is powerful and the symbolism heavy, take another look at the story by paying close attention to the form itself. The panels, the shapes, the layouts. Everything ties the story together and brings new threads to the already beautiful fabric of the book. =)