Member Reviews
Thank you so much Netgalley for the advanced copy!
It took me a while to get adjusted to the art style. It wasn't what I expected and would have put it off - only to be sucked in by the beautiful storyline. Recommended!
Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC. I give it ⭐⭐⭐⭐. The illustrations were great Will recommend.
Duff Parker and the Downfall of the Dystopiad was an honest joy to read.
This graphic novel would be perfect for middle-grade aged children to read, and for teachers to plan a lesson around.
Duff Parker deals with anger management issues, and because of that he and his friends get into quite a bit of trouble. Throughout the book, we watch Duff Parker go on a journey of self discovery. His anger management gets better throughout the graphic novel, and with this comes a better friend group. He is also able to find passion for life as well as happiness by the end of the book.
This was such an incredibly heartwarming book. I think most adults who were labeled as "problem children," like myself would really enjoy this book, as well as any children who are currently experiencing the emotions and actions that Duff Parker faces.
Thank you to netgalley for the ebook copy to review.
Sadly, my Netgalley app download expired before I came to read this intriguing comic/graphic novel 🥲 From the blurb, it looked promising, but as for the expiration issue, I can't give any feedback.
I think this was a hard-hitting graphic novel as it goes through what younger children have to go through when they are being bullied when they’re an outcast when they are not what everyone else is. This is actually really intriguing how he also bands up with all the people his age and find himself a group, and he creates himself somewhere where he can feel safe with friends that he knows, which I think is a very powerful message, and it was conveyed very very well in this book
Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this graphic novel. This is a middle grade story, so I know it won't be for everyone, but I enjoyed it. The characters were interesting and the author hit on some deep topics. It might be a difficult read with triggers for some.
Duff Parker has a lot going on - his uncle has lost his leg in an injury and his friends are not speaking to him after he did not want to engage in their destructive, gang-like behavior. But his interest in a series of sci-fi books his uncle lends him become the basis for a new hobby and a new friendship group, as long as he can prove to them that his reputation is wrong. This story is heartwarming and I enjoyed the art style. The book is a wholesome love story to nerdiness but also has good lessons for managing anger and conflict.
Note: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not compensated in any other fashion for the review and the opinions reflected below are entirely my own. Special thanks to the publisher and author for providing the copy.
Duff Parker is an extremely interesting graphic novel, the promise of it is a boy who deals with anger management issues, and gets into a lot of trouble with friends of his because of that, and as he journeys to try and find better friends, or a better environment for himself, he finds passion and great friends and happiness!
I absolutely devoured this one, it was a one sitting kind of read, it was sweet, interesting, relatable and very well illustrated.
The storyline is absolutely captivating, I took it on myself, with my passions, and measured the things that Parker went through, and the things that I went through, and was easily able to relate to the story and love it, the author was really creative with making up two stories one about superheroes and a different world, and the other about teens in middle school and what they face.
The illustrations were amazing, super beautiful, super colorful and very creatively done!
I absolutely recommend!!
Unfortunately I did not have a really enjoyable Reading, maybe because I'm not the audience for this book. The premise At least it caught my attention. I think that kids may like.
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review.
I picked this up as I thought the premise sounded interesting. Unfortunately I am not the target audience for this book. I think it has some good messaging if a bit heavy handed at times but it would be enjoyed more by someone at a middle school level.
Admittedly it’s been a while since I’ve really read much of anything. Maybe that’s why it took me a little bit to settle into this read, or maybe it was the very sudden jump into the narrative. Either way, the story was cute. The overall premise is very reminiscent of things I could imagine my friends doing but the severe actions of these middle schoolers (hello court dates?) made it a bit cheesy and over the top. I think I could have benefitted from something like this when I was younger, coming from a bit of a rough background though, so I’ll give it that.
The art style grew on me as the story went on, it I will admit it was not my vibe at the start. Though mostly I had issue with the font choice. For whatever reason it made it feel like someone had colored over the bubbles and rewritten the words in their phone to make some type of meme. There’s nothing wrong with that, and I’m certain the proper age group would have no problems there but it definitely distracted me for the first few chapters.
Overall, it was a decent and quick read and if you have a young nerd in your life I would recommend having them read this.
Thank you Netgalley and Center for Responsive Schools for providing me a copy of Duff Parker and the Downfall of the Dystopiad.
A graphic novel with a unique art style, a catchy title, and an important message. Duff Parker and the Downfall of the Dystopiad.is about finding unique ways to control your anger/emotions, exploring your creative side, owning up to your mistakes, and understanding that it is normal to switch friend groups when they no longer serve us. A graphic novel packed with relatable moments for children. I just know that a kid out there will appreciate this book as it normalizes hardships we felt when we were in school. Amazing job to the author and publisher!
Thank you to Netgalley and the author for a copy of the eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It was a really funny read.
Duff Parker and the Downfall of the Dystopiad is an amazing graphic novel which deals with a very sensitive issue: bullying at school.
Our protagonist will find a new group of friends and adult people who will help him face the bullies who persecute him.
But it also deals with other topics such as anger management and not being afraid of enjoying a particular hobby!
Fun comic with a message, for the younger reader - middle school/P6-7/s1-2. Simple but effective, easily accessed artwork and narrative. I picked this comic up as a Scottish teacher to see if it would work for my pupils. And the answer is a resounding yes; it is American school based, but the context is the same. You can work on your anger issues, and find a safe place with peers that support you. Thank you to NetGalley for the comic ARC. The views expressed are all mine.
I was almost turned off from reading this book because it was published by the Center for Responsive Schools. I figured it was going to preach at me. But I was happy to say that the kids in this story were just as pig headed as all other middle grade students, especially when confronted by bullies.
So, no preaching, and a good story. Duff has been hanging out with bullies, but he beats one of them up, and realizes that he doesn’t want to be that kind of guy, so they tell him if he leaves, he won’t have any friends.
And true to form, they make sure to spread bad rumors about him and threaten him, so that no one likes him at school, until he joins a Science Fiction group, and then he finds that he has something in common with them.
It is a sweet blooming, of Duff realizing that he can make real friends. And of course, the bullies are still out there, and he says nothing to his mom or the school, so of course things get worse.
One of the things I like, in the usual lecture, is to breath, and then walk away. I know it sounds like nonsense, but Duff puts it in action.
So, cute story. Devoured it.
<em>Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.</em>