Book Review: The Stereotypical Freaks by Howard Shapiro


Reviewed by: Siobhán
Format: Arc PDF
Pages: 154
Published: 14th Nov 2012
Publisher: Animal Media Group
Source: Author for Review
Genre: YA Graphic Novel, Music,
Buy: Amazon UK* I Amazon US I Book Depository UK* I Book Depository US*

Description:
Four desperate high school seniors come together to compete in their school's battle of the bands. Sharing a love for playing rock and roll, the members name the band "The Stereotypical Freaks" because they feel stereotyped by their classmates - smart kid, geek, star athlete and quiet weirdo… when in fact they know they are much more than those labels that have been placed on them. When one member reveals life altering news, winning the competition takes on more of a meaning to each member. Scared and angry, upset and yet still with a lot of resolve they set out to win one for the good guys… will they?



Review:
When the author contacted me about reviewing his upcoming graphic novel, I admit at first I wasn't sure. I haven't read many and I think I have only reviewed two. But something about this one was different. I was drawn to it straight purely based on the cover. I love music so I knew I wanted it. And then I read blurb and thought it would be good. And damn I was right, it was good and totally not what I expected.

The Stereotypical Freaks is about a group of boys who are all different but shsre a love of music and come together to form a band for Battle of the Bands at school. However, as they go about their normal days, complaining like teenagers do, one of the band members reveals a life changing secret that puts everything into prospective and makes them even more focus on winning Battle of the Bands.

The characters in this story are all very different and each make the story that more special. All four boys are stereotyped at school "smart kid, geek, star athlete and quiet weirdo"  but they are so much more than that. The story is definitely a comng of age tale and we see all these boys change and learn to not sweat the small stuff. 

I went into reading this expecting something light and fun and even though it is there was a very real and serious emotional side to it. And even though I knew how the story would play out I still wasn't emotionally prepared for it. So if like me you are a cry at easily have some tissues because you will need them.

Overall, I highly recommend The Stereotypical Freaks to everyone. Whether you like graphic novels or not this just needs to be read. It will habe you laughing and crying. And since it is a graphic novel it was a very quick read with wonderful art work.

*I can't find links to where to buy the book other than Amazon.com


Rate: 4/5

2 comments :

  1. BookLoverPrincessFriday, 19 October, 2012

    Graphic Novels are not ny usual reading but sounds ok. Great Review

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks Siobhan for the wonderful review! Tremendous job on it and as she mentioned, at the moment it is only listed for sale on the US Amazon site: http://www.amazon.com/Stereotypical-Freaks-Howard-Shapiro/dp/0578112175/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1347114525&sr=1-1&keywords=the+stereotypical+freaks

    It will be posted next week on my publishers site www.animalmediagroup.com and hopefully soon it will be on the amazon uk site. Please email me for any additional details including a few giveaways we're doing to celebrate the book's 11.14.12 release! Thanks again!

    Howard Shapiro
    www.howardshapiro.net
    hockeyplayer4life@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

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