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23rd out of 23 books
—
17 voters
Escape from "Special"
by
Miss Lasko-Gross (Goodreads Author)
Fantagraphics Books is proud to follow up our launch of rising star R. Kikuo Johnson (author of the acclaimed Night Fisher) by showcasing Miss Lasko-Gross in her graphic- novel debut. Escape from "Special" is the coming-of-age story of Melissa, who we first meet as a small child and depart from at the end of the book just before she enters high school. Willful, funny, and...more
Paperback, 136 pages
Published
February 26th 2007
by Fantagraphics
(first published February 1st 2007)
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Anger, rage, and the confusion and frustration that inevitably results from the endless, fruitless compulsion to fit in. Early on (at 6 years old), Melissa is horrified to realize that she can't remember her own birth, and decides that she much sear every important memory onto her brain. I remember having these same thoughts as a child, when I would narrate my life to myself. I always assumed I would remember the narrative at a later date and write it down, but Lasko-Gross actually followed thro...more
A quick and easy read despite it's sometimes heavy subject manner, Escape from "Special" contains a series of semi-autobiographical vignettes. The topics are nothing new in the vast world of stories about "weird" kids: a child not fitting in, her parents trying to do what's best (but not always succeeding), and the struggle to become comfortable with oneself. There's not really an ongoing plot, either, so when I finished reading I couldn't help but wonder if there was any real point.
Still, Escap...more
Still, Escap...more
I wanted to love this book a lot more than I actually did, especially since it was described as a cross between David B., Lynda Barry & Judy Blume. And since I related to so much in it---the trouble with female friendships, not fitting in at school and everywhere else, the idea of escape (and I loved that for her it was through comics and horror movies, which matched my experience but not that of many girls I knew....and the escape into horror movies is something I have rarely encountered in...more
This is Melissa’s semi-autobiographical story of her childhood years – growing up Jewish, free (as in raised by hippie parents), alternatively schooled (at least for awhile), and strange. She’s the dark outcast with the weird ideas who never seems to know the latest trends or fit in anywhere. She has difficulty learning, then surpasses her peers, who hate her for being stupid and then for being smart. Melissa can’t win. Eventually, though, it stops mattering to her – they stop mattering, and wha...more
True tales of a childhood saturated in depression and anger - Not an uncommon subject in the comic/graphic memoir genre.
Part One of a trilogy. Part Two - A Mess Of Everything, covering the high school years, was recently released and has received good reviews. After reading Part One and knowing the general difficulties of the teen years, I don't expect much of an escape from the darkness for the main character- Melissa.
I almost would like to wait until the trilogy is complete before rating this...more
Part One of a trilogy. Part Two - A Mess Of Everything, covering the high school years, was recently released and has received good reviews. After reading Part One and knowing the general difficulties of the teen years, I don't expect much of an escape from the darkness for the main character- Melissa.
I almost would like to wait until the trilogy is complete before rating this...more
A collection of short vignettes about how the author was misunderstood by those around her when she was growing up. Each vignette only runs an average of three or four pages though, so there's not enough room for us to feel her angst. Instead she tells us about her angst. The longest pieces towards the end seem to almost totally consist of the main character sitting and thinking to herself about how she longs to fit in but hates those she longs to fit in with in panel after panel of the protagon...more
This is the story of Melissa who grows up "different" or "special" (in her words) compared to everyone else and then tries to fit in with the "normal" crowd. It takes her the whole book to learn that she doesn't have to try to fit in. If she doesn't fit in, maybe she doesn't have the right friends.
Ahhhhh the meanness of middle school girls. Poor Melissa. It sucks growing up/being different from the people you want to be friends with. I feel like we all have struggled with this feeling at one ti...more
Ahhhhh the meanness of middle school girls. Poor Melissa. It sucks growing up/being different from the people you want to be friends with. I feel like we all have struggled with this feeling at one ti...more
One more semi-autobiographical graphic novel telling of the author's childhood as an other. I'm still feeling a bit conflicted about this one. On the one hand, I liked the illustration style - instead of the spare drawings I usually enjoy, this is rich illustration. And I found the author's childhood fascinating - she keeps switching schools, seems to be raised by hippies, and has trouble reading. She's constantly torn between hating/disdaining the other kids at school, and wanting to be accepte...more
An interesting collection of short memories of the author's childhood - spent being shuttled between different special education classes and schools. She really captures the alienated feeling of childhood and teen years and her insights into the special ed system were interesting but not as resonant as the core themes of alienation that ran throughout. I am eagerly looking forward to the sequel!
Hmm... this was a bit of an odd book, but I did like it overall. The main character has such a shitty childhood that it was almost painful to read sometimes. Between the Waldorf schools, the hippy parents, and the general awkwardness of the main character, her life was definitely challenging growing up. It was nice to see her finally accept it towards the end of the book.
Jul 10, 2009
Aneesa
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People who like young adult fiction
Shelves:
comics-graphic-novels
The back cover copy of this book was right: it recalls childhood and adolescence without being self-righteous or nostalgic. This is one of the most accurate portraits of a misunderstood youth, both from her own perspective and an outsider's. Unfortunately, the end is too abrupt, and my library doesn't have the sequel.
view all 4 comments
Oh the angst! From a child wondering if her dreams are real memories to an adolescent wondering if she sees colors like her best friend sees colors Miss Lasko-Gross draws a world relate able to everyone. This captivating book portrays childhood woes and teenage angst with wonderfully real vignettes.
Mar 20, 2009
Kirsten Ashley
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
old school comic strip fans
Recommended to Kirsten by:
Dana
Pretty good graphic novel. More comic strip style than graphic novel. I like the shaded b&w ink style of the artwork.
The main character had eerily similar experiences- has a younger sister, attitude, comes from a jewish background, atheist, changed schools often, mouth of a sailor.
The main character had eerily similar experiences- has a younger sister, attitude, comes from a jewish background, atheist, changed schools often, mouth of a sailor.
I read the sequel to this first about her life in high school. This was about her life as a child growing up and feeling totally at odds with the people around you and not being able to relate to anyone and always feeling like you were doing the wrong thing. I really liked it.
Do you ever get that feeling that some people think they were more precocious as kids than they actually were? Didn't get very far into this one before I got very bored of the kid the comics are about.
I read this because it reminded Darenna of me. It really reminded me of me as well. A weird girl with a very complex inner life and no social skills comes of age. This could have been written by me.
A somewhat disjointed account of an awkward child growing up with hippie parents and her attempts to fit in as she is sent from school to school. Kind of odd and confusing at points.
This was very personal and revealing and I completely felt my teenage self re-awakening and remembering all that drama and trauma, and the adult in me wanted to smack the smart ass teen.
Rather ironic that the other graphic novel I grabbed on impulse from the library today turned out to be by her husband-kismet or what!!
When you're a kid, being labeled as special is not necessarily a good thing. In Melissa's case, it means that other kids don't like her much and teachers think that she doesn't understand anything. Her outspokenness and eccentric ways are often misunderstood as she struggles to fit in. Blocky black and white illustrations give this semi-autobiographical comic a homemade feel, as it describes the author's childhood as somewhat harsh but with moments of occassional joy. Fans of Lynda Barry's carto...more
I love that this girl questions everything and really, for the most part, doesn't give two craps what people perceive of her.
Captures the experience of being a (quirky, imaginative, bright, neurotic misfit of a) kid pretty well.
Weird but funny, I'm sure everyone has done at least 1 thing from this book, I know I have. :P
A series of concise vignettes that resonated with my experience growing up in the same town as the author, Miss Lasko-Gross.
Dang! I read this book a few weeks ago, and now I can't remember what exactly the back of the book said that I wanted to quote.
This is a coming-of-age story, at least semi-autobiographical, told in comic book form. It is about a girl who ends up being an outcast, mostly because she doesn't feel it necessary to go through the trouble of trying to fit in with her peers. It is both heartbreaking and lovely. I liked that it didn't sugar-coat the main character's life and experiences but went ahead a...more
This is a coming-of-age story, at least semi-autobiographical, told in comic book form. It is about a girl who ends up being an outcast, mostly because she doesn't feel it necessary to go through the trouble of trying to fit in with her peers. It is both heartbreaking and lovely. I liked that it didn't sugar-coat the main character's life and experiences but went ahead a...more
There was little that I didn't love about this honest, thoughtful and hilarious book.
I love autobiographical comics. These may not be for everyone though.
I read this in one day, in about an hour. The drawings are cool and have a dark twisted look, but I found the stories to be too short with no real depth. I would often find myself thinking, "What was she trying to say? Or “What was the point of that?" There was no real clear message in many of the stories, maybe because they lasted about two pages. The stories did start to pick up and get more detailed and interesting at the end and I liked her overall message of embracing your awkwardness. Wort...more
Keep reading! at first, I was not feeling it, but then at turns it was quite moving and had some moments of breaking and thinking. Overall, the misfit narrative always speaks to me, so wait it out, it gets better and I can't wait to see more of her work. It's bound to carry the same projection of improvements and vignet gold. reminds of times when I wish I could have said what I wanted instead of just thinking it. I like to think these were not similar and were in fact truths. misfits are my fam...more
No plot. No actual ending.
Really lame. Boring.
Really lame. Boring.
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Born Boston Massachusetts 1977
B.F.A in Communication Design, Pratt Institute
Books
Fantagraphics Books: Escape From "Special" nominated for YALSA's 2008 Great Graphic Novels.
Fantagraphics Books: A Mess Of Everything
Contributions / shows
Smith Magazine: Next Door Neighbor series
New Museum of Contemporary Art Alt.Youth.Media show
CBGB's Gallery
Indie spinner Rack: Awesome 2 Awesomer
Screw Magazine
House o...more
More about Miss Lasko-Gross...
B.F.A in Communication Design, Pratt Institute
Books
Fantagraphics Books: Escape From "Special" nominated for YALSA's 2008 Great Graphic Novels.
Fantagraphics Books: A Mess Of Everything
Contributions / shows
Smith Magazine: Next Door Neighbor series
New Museum of Contemporary Art Alt.Youth.Media show
CBGB's Gallery
Indie spinner Rack: Awesome 2 Awesomer
Screw Magazine
House o...more
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