Boy oh boy. Where to begin on this one. Let’s just start by saying that there is a tremendous amount of very concerning content in this very short illustrated graphic novel. And that is what makes this concerning content so much worse. This is the latest example of a “graphic memoir” where an adult is telling biographical information, but in a format that will inevitably be consumed by children. We are not a fan of this trend, but this is one of the most concerning we have seen (in the category of “Hey Kiddo”) as the author recounts her college experience. Thinking of a young child picking up this book at a library after seeing the captivating pictures (which make it look like a children’s comic) is heartbreaking. And to show this is not just a theory, in the process of reviewing this book we did have a child see the cover and ask to read it. As you will see very clearly below… the answer was a very clear, “no way”.

There is a pretty significant amount of sexual and related content (again, remember this is an illustrated book that looks like it is for young children). When camping with a group the main character and her friend hear people in the tent next to them having sex, which the book makes clear and spends a bit of time on, leading to the girls sharing about their sexual experience. At college orientation we read, “Who's ready to talk about sexually transmitted infections”. Early in the book the main character is changing clothes and is shown in her undergarments. A close friend comments about a boy from back home, “I thought you guys were just gonna hook up”. She also sleeps overnight with another boy and girl who are friends and later with a group of people after a party. Her chest is mentioned a couple of times, where the book writes out the word “boobs”. She is seen kissing someone. A one night stand is implied, but not shown. The play “Vagina Monologues”, the book “The Sexual Contract” and an “adult superstore” are mentioned. When packed for starting college we see birth control shown in an image. A girl is overheard saying, “I am totally going to fail this class. Is it too late to seduce the professor?” A board is shown with a Christmas tree made out of condoms, with a message saying, “Ho, ho, ho. Being one? Use protection”. The girls begin distasteful joking about this and eventually “taste” the flavors and test the glow-in-the-dark.

There is a really unfortunate part around drugs that sends a dangerous takeaway message. The main character regrets taking part in D.A.R.E. education (a popular drug prevention program). She selfishly comments that she didn’t think it actually helped on any college application (implying that was her reason for doing it). A friend implies that this type of prevention education doesn’t help, saying “If you’re the type of person who wants to experiment, you do”. The main character then goes on to say, “I just think they should teach us that it’s ok to be curious, as long as we are respectful of our bodies and treat ourselves with kindness”. Wow. (Please keep in mind the format of this book when taking that one in). Smoking is shown in a way that implies marijuana.

For much of the book the main character comes across as sad, worried, upset and/or depressed. At one point we see a drawing titled, “Sarah’s emotional landscape” showing a scene of total destruction with someone saying, “Ahhhhh! God has forsaken us”. The vast majority of the book feels like a “downer”.

There is a decent amount of drinking. The main character drinks. At times she gets stressed or worried we see an implication of heavy drinking.

And from a purely educational sense, this book shows college as an immoral, stressful, depressing, downer of an environment. Christians, especially those who have experience with quality Christian universities, will know that this in no way has to be the experience young adults experience in this amazing time of their life. To make this worse, one of the friends from back home shares that they are getting their bartending license, commenting about college, “why waste the time and risk the student loans”.

An example is given where a girl has totally gone off the rails morally in college. A really unfortunate comment is made that, “I bet her parents were really strict or something. She’s trying on a new identity”. Another subtle and dangerous message comes when we see a timeline of the main character’s life over the last few years. At age 11-12 she is shown doing Bible trivia at a Catholic school. By 12-13 she is in a group called the “Catholic school outcasts”. By the time this book is set we see zero Christian influence shown in her life. Showing this as a “progression” of a teenager’s life is of course not at all what we Christian’s want and expect for our children.

She meets a new friend who says he quit art school because it “didn’t have much of a queer scene”. Later he gives a presentation “Exploring queer desire and queer isolation”. A friend has a dad who has a ‘partner’.

A handful of other concerning items:

The main character mentions an “obligatory Christmas mass” and an image shows Jesus on the cross, with a flippant comment, “Happy birthday”.

The boyfriend “smokes and stuff” with his friend

Dad advises her on how to position someone who is extremely drunk so they don’t choke on their own vomit.

A scene shows her suitcase with “jumbo pads” sticking out. She is also shown buying Vagasil.

There is a drawing of a girl in either a small swimsuit or underwear. A man is running in a speedo.

There are several instances of cursing, with the full word shown. The s-word is shown around a half dozen times. B-word several times as well. “Pissed” appears. A music group is called the “Heinous Pitches”.

There are a couple of weird images, e.g., of a skeleton. Reference to Lady Gaga.

The following terms are used: hell on earth, rush hour in hell, kill me now.

“Oh my God” is used multiple times as is “what the hell!”.. There is a reference to “Rocky Horror”, Dracula and vodka. We hear a reference to “everyone on staff there is hot”.

A list of very, very distasteful insulting names for women are shown written on a board.