The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Lyga, Barry. The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl. ISBN-10: 0618723927, ISBN-13: 9780618723927. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. 2006.

Summary
Fanboy is having a really bad sophomore year. Rather than being invisible—which he'd prefer—he seems to have garnered the unwanted attention of the school bullies. And at home, he's irritated by his very pregnant mom and her husband, the Step-Facist. Only working on his comic book and knowing that he's got the bullet in his pocket seem to give him a break from his so-called miserable life. That is until, he meets Kyra. Kyra (also known as Goth Girl) steps in with her foul mouth, common hatred for the jocks and the bullies, as well as the matching love for comic books and graphic novels. He can't help but fall head over heels in love with her because she actually understands him. He leaves his rule-following life behind and starts following her on her rebellious escapades. In turn, Goth Girl teaches Fanboy that he can stand up for himself.

Critical Evaluation
Barry Lyga introduces us to Fanboy as a kid who is just miserable in his life. There is nothing good except for the comic book (Schemata) he's creating, and the bullet in his pocket. He hates home because his mom's pregnant, and Fanboy doesn't get along with his Step-Facist. He hates school because he's the easy target for bullies—all of which are added to "the List", which is the list of people he's going to get back at… someday. But one night he gets an IM from GothGirl, and his life changes. They come together as two outsiders that have found each other in a sea of confusion, and forge an odd alliance. Because she understands him, Fanboy falls in love with her; but as much as Goth Girl likes him, she keeps Fanboy at arm's length. Lyga touches on Columbine-esque violence, depression and suicide in this darkly funny and weirdly uplifting book. Readers will like seeing how Fanboy changes in the book, and how his confidence replaces the bullet and "the List." Adults and parents, who read this book, will also appreciate that Fanboy is able to put aside the violence fueled by his anger and loneliness.

Reader's Annotation
He's a comic book creator. She's a foul mouthed rebel. They commiserate about their miserable lives, and discuss their common love for comic books. Together Fanboy and Goth Girl learn about themselves and each other, even while they are misunderstood by everyone else.

About the Author
Barry Lyga is the popular author of The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, as well as a collector and activist of comic books. After he graduated from Yale (with a degree in English) he went to work in the comic book world, and he was a major player in the development of Free Comic Book day*. He served as the spokesperson for industry and is well-quoted in numerous publications as well as penning a book on the topic on incorporating these graphic materials into schools and school libraries.

Lyga changed gears a bit when he jumped into the realm of young adult novels. He used his vast comic book knowledge to write the rave-reviewed young adult book The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl in 2006. Boy Toy followed in 2007, and it was garnered enthusiastic reviews. In 2008, Hero-Type was released, and then in 2009 Goth Girl Rising the sequel to The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl was published. He's also written books for middle school aged readers, short stories, a film and copious articles and essays. Lyga was named a "Flying Start" from Publisher's Weekly for his strong debut in 2006.

Genre
Relationships
Bullies
Comic Books
Romance

Challenges
Sexual Content
Language

Curriculum Ties
Sociology: are teens still afraid of violence at school?

English: create your own comic book

Booktalking Ideas
If you were bullied, what would you do? Wait it out or retaliate…
Do you have an object or an activity that you use to calm down when life works you up…

Awards
n/a

Reading Level/Interest Age
Ages 15+

Why I included this title...
After I read Boy Toy, I wanted to read all of Barry Lyga's novels.