Summary: Presents the diary of Tammy Pierce during her sophomore year of high school in 1988 with graphic illustrations, and describes her hopes, dreams, boredom, and agonizing experiences, which includes prank calls, school dances, boys, and more
Booklist Reviews
Watson says this panel-per-page graphic novel draws directly on a diary found in a gas-station washroom. If that's disingenuous, the protagonist s voice and candid but awkward self-perception are impressively authentic. Texas high-school sophomore Tammy is overweight, boy crazy, and underdeveloped in social skills when it comes to dealing with her younger brother, her "best" friend (a skanky jerk), and anyone else in her small, nasty circle. Watson s scratchy, turquoise-and-white art, reminiscent but not imitative of Lynda Barry's style, amplifies Tammy's physical and character flaws as well as her pathetic emotional life. Unlike the four Notebook Girls (2006), who are her age-mates, Tammy appears all alone in dealing with social and cultural nemeses she doesn t recognize. Her insider perspective is just as shocking as those of the notebook girls. Unlovable is a fine example of how art and narrative can be combined to make a potentially trivial book compelling and insight-provoking. In particular, Gen Xers ready for an unvarnished backward glance at the concerns and the cruelties of their high-school years will recognize Tammy with stark clarity. Copyright 2009 Booklist Reviews.
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