All Star by J. Lonergan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20361/G2S89ZAbstract
Lonergan, Jesse. All Star. New York: NBM Publishing, 2014. Print.
It’s the bottom of the ninth, with two runners on and two outs, in the second to last regular season high school baseball game in a small rural town in Vermont called Elizabeth. Carl Carter, Elizabeth Monarch School’s all star player, steps up to the plate and hits a home run to win the game. The Elizabeth Monarchs are off to the playoffs and Carl is on top of the world. He is graduating this year and has everything going for him; a baseball scholarship to the University of Maine, a great group of friends, and the admiration of everyone in town. However, being the golden boy leads Carl to take advantage of people around him. Carl believes he can do what he wants, when we wants, without any consequences.
Carl’s best friend Esden is not a baseball superstar or town hero. Esden comes from a very dysfunctional, low-income family and is perceived by many people as a bad boy. Nonetheless, Carl enjoys his company and impulsive personality. A party, drinking, and impaired driving cause Carl and Esden to make a serious mistake. Will they each get the consequence they deserve, and how will the repercussions affect their futures and friendship?
This graphic story, set in 1998, is a powerful story about fairness and self-perception in young adults. The manga-inspired art and text placement captivate the reader from start to finish. The reader’s eyes are drawn naturally from panel to panel by the simplistic black and white illustrations. Lonergan’s talent of capturing delicate and extreme body language is apparent in every character sketch. This book appeals to baseball fans and adolescents that yearn for a compelling, character driven story. All Star was the winner of 2015 ALA Great Graphic Novels for Teens and was nominated for the 2015 YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adults Readers. The story includes mature language and content which may not appeal to all readers.
Recommended: 3 out of 4 stars
Reviewer: Jackie Heinrich
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