Comic and Graphic Books.
Humor (Fiction.)
Young Adult Fiction.
HTML:In this darkly comedic YA graphic novel, a group of teens starts a program to bring senior citizens to a local theme park to take advantage of the unofficial park policy: If someone dies on the property, the rest of their party is given lifetime passes! Sixteen-year-old Jackie Chavez loves her local amusement park, Kingdom Adventure, maybe more than anything else in the world. The park is all she and her friends Nikki, Daniel, and Berke—although they aren't always the greatest friends—talk about. Kingdom Adventure is where all Jackie's best memories are, and it's where she feels safe and happy. This carries even more weight now that Jackie's parents have been deported and forced to go back to Mexico, leaving Jackie in the United States with her Tía Gina, who she works with at the Valley Care Living seniors' home. When Gina tells Jackie that they can't afford a season pass for next summer, Jackie is crushed. But on her next trip to Kingdom Adventure, she discovers a strictly protectedsecret: If a member of their party dies at the park, the rest of their group gets free lifetime passes. Jackie and her friends hatch a plot to bring seniors from Valley Care Living to the park using a fake volunteer program, with the hopes that one of the residents will croak during their visit. The ruse quickly gets its first volunteer—a feisty resident named Phyllis. What starts off as a macabre plan turns into a revelation for Jackie as Phyllis and the other seniors reveal their own complex histories and connections to Kingdom Adventure, as well as some tough-to-swallow truths about Jackie, her friends, and their future. With artist Claudia Aguirre, Terry Blas has crafted a graphic novel that is dark and deeply moving. This book is Cocoon meets Heathers—a twisted satire about a magical land and the people who love it, even to the point of obsession. Jackie's summer is about to turn into a wild ride filled with gallows humor, friendship, and fun—or is it?… (más)
Jackie Chavez loves to go to her local theme park—Kingdom Adventure— and is disappointed to learn from her aunt that they will not be able to afford season passes this summer. Kingdom Adventure is where all Jackie’s best memories are, and it’s where she feels safe and happy. This carries even more weight now that Jackie’s parents have been deported and forced to go back to Mexico, leaving Jackie in the United States with her TÃa Gina. Jackie and her friends hatch a plot to bring seniors from Valley Care Living to the park using a fake volunteer program, with the hopes that one of the residents will croak during their visit. The ruse quickly gets its first volunteer—a feisty resident named Phyllis.
This graphic novel is dark and twisted – where teens cynically take senior citizens to a theme park hoping one will die so the park management will give them lifetime passes to smooth things over. Some have called it dark humor; however, I don’t find it humorous at all, just dark. Also, I like to find at least one character that I like or sets a higher standard, but there isn’t one in this book. While Jackie and Phyllis develop a friendship, the other characters are stereotypes of bad teenage behavior.
The positive parts of the book (diverse cast of characters and great art) are nearly canceled by the awful premise (4 teens taking senior citizens to an amusement park in hopes they will die so the kids can secure lifetime passes?!?!?!). ( )
When I went into this book, I was imagining Hide by Kiersten White, but this is a lot more chill. No murder in this book. Sweet ending and message, would recommend for a light read. ( )
There's a dark high concept pitch for this book wherein teens cynically take senior citizens to a theme park hoping one will die so the park management will give them lifetime passes to smooth things over. But really it's a slice of life book about being true to yourself and making meaningful friendships instead of shallow ones of convenience. DACA, LGBTQ+ themes, adoption, and grief are also touched upon.
Thanks to the Big Lie at the center -- I hate that trope! -- it's not perfect, but there are nice characters who actually grow as people. Thumbs up! ( )
But you came here for me. So I could have a good life. So that life wouldn't pass me by. So that's what I'll do. I'll make it count. I'll do it for you. I'll do it for me. And maybe in some strange way, what happened won't hurt as much. Only time will tell. Because if this summer has taught me anything . . . it's that the most important thing in this world . . . is our time.
Comic and Graphic Books.
Humor (Fiction.)
Young Adult Fiction.
HTML:In this darkly comedic YA graphic novel, a group of teens starts a program to bring senior citizens to a local theme park to take advantage of the unofficial park policy: If someone dies on the property, the rest of their party is given lifetime passes! Sixteen-year-old Jackie Chavez loves her local amusement park, Kingdom Adventure, maybe more than anything else in the world. The park is all she and her friends Nikki, Daniel, and Berke—although they aren't always the greatest friends—talk about. Kingdom Adventure is where all Jackie's best memories are, and it's where she feels safe and happy. This carries even more weight now that Jackie's parents have been deported and forced to go back to Mexico, leaving Jackie in the United States with her Tía Gina, who she works with at the Valley Care Living seniors' home. When Gina tells Jackie that they can't afford a season pass for next summer, Jackie is crushed. But on her next trip to Kingdom Adventure, she discovers a strictly protectedsecret: If a member of their party dies at the park, the rest of their group gets free lifetime passes. Jackie and her friends hatch a plot to bring seniors from Valley Care Living to the park using a fake volunteer program, with the hopes that one of the residents will croak during their visit. The ruse quickly gets its first volunteer—a feisty resident named Phyllis. What starts off as a macabre plan turns into a revelation for Jackie as Phyllis and the other seniors reveal their own complex histories and connections to Kingdom Adventure, as well as some tough-to-swallow truths about Jackie, her friends, and their future. With artist Claudia Aguirre, Terry Blas has crafted a graphic novel that is dark and deeply moving. This book is Cocoon meets Heathers—a twisted satire about a magical land and the people who love it, even to the point of obsession. Jackie's summer is about to turn into a wild ride filled with gallows humor, friendship, and fun—or is it?
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This graphic novel is dark and twisted – where teens cynically take senior citizens to a theme park hoping one will die so the park management will give them lifetime passes to smooth things over. Some have called it dark humor; however, I don’t find it humorous at all, just dark. Also, I like to find at least one character that I like or sets a higher standard, but there isn’t one in this book. While Jackie and Phyllis develop a friendship, the other characters are stereotypes of bad teenage behavior.
The positive parts of the book (diverse cast of characters and great art) are nearly canceled by the awful premise (4 teens taking senior citizens to an amusement park in hopes they will die so the kids can secure lifetime passes?!?!?!).
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