The Clique: The Manga by Lisi Harrison
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Note: I’m trying to read more comics related material as I continue to create such material. As i travel and I find such material free or for a few bits, I’m picking it up, plan to read and then hand over to a friend. This is one such volume.

This is a disturbing lot. First this story is supposedly about 12-13 year olds. The illustrator failed that task miserably. As drawn, these are 6 foot kids with 4 feet of legs. I get the manga style tactic, but I have seen other manga and not seen this effort of elasticizing.

The writer fails to illustrate 12-13 years olds by, as the illustrator did, writing of 20 year olds than dumb kids. Adding to this is no background to any of the characters but for the main character. So there is no real foundation for the actions written. Apparently there is a written novel of all of this. Maybe more involved characters are there. If this is written for young people to read, this is an irresponsible action. The book is more surreal in portrayal than real.

As written here, there are no dumb kids. The parents are portrayed in foolish ways. With the exception of the main character’s mother, who is the only one competently written and illustrated. This is also the only character that is likable. The rest, including the main character, are either nasty or so shallow to be meaningless.

There really isn’t a story. Basically the length is devoted to antics involving the above. There is something involving one being particularly snotty. I thought a story would spark from that. Instead it began a tit for tat exchange that was empty.

Bottom line : i don’t recommend this book. Especially not for young people. 2 out of 10 points.

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