Summary

Tomboy

a Graphic Memoir
*THIS IS A REVIEW, NOT A SUMMARY* Tomboy is an autobiographic graphic novel by self-professed tomboy Liz Prince. First published in 2014, Tomboy provides a unique perspective – one of a person who does not wish to conform to gender stereotypes. The formatting of this book is unorthodox, just like the author. The vast majority of autobiographies are in prose. Indeed, Tomboy defies the stereotypical 100-word, 1-image page for memoirs. However, there is still something considered “normal” in literary terms. This is the presentation of events in chronological order, which makes the book less complicated to read. This book can be considered as an info-graphic. A surprising amount of information about the author and her experiences is shoved into 248 black-and-white art-filled pages. The ratio of art to words is perfect for someone who does not like normality. The perspective of the book is intriguing. Like most comics, the art is from a third-person angle while the dialogue is from a first-person aspect. Add that to the perspective of a tomboy and you have an alluring book in your hands. There is also the problem of a non-Catholic in a Catholic school. Liz Prince is honest with the trouble she gets in, especially with the change-out-of-mandatory-dress-code scene after mass. Liz does not hold back in spicing up the book. Unique descriptions are aplenty in this graphic novel. It is filled with information and facts about Liz’s childhood. The book describes in full detail how Liz is bullied and teased daily by both boys and girls because each think Liz is the other. This is because of Liz’s behavioral traits and clothing/apparel choices. There is also a lot of detail in this graphic novel. The art reveals happenings that could not be mentally pictured with just words as reference. Positive experiences also thrive in this book. Examples are when Liz is allowed to wear whatever she wants (meaning: no dresses), fitting in at Girl Scouts, and discovering Warehouse 21 (a teen art center). Whatever the event, Liz is quick to share in this graphic novel. All in all, this book is personal and shows perfectly the awkwardness of not fitting in. Liz Prince has done an amazing job to show the difficulties of being a girl who wants to be a boy. I recommend this book for anyone over 13 years old who wants to learn more about life.