Description: Susan, Esther, and Daisy started at university three weeks ago and became fast friends. Now, away from home for the first time, all three want to reinvent themselves. But in the face of hand-wringing boys, “personal experimentation,” influenza, mystery-mold, nu-chauvinism, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of “academia,” they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive. Going off to university is always a time of change and growth, but for Esther, Susan, and Daisy, things are about to get a little weird.

Review: Giant Days is a slice of life comic which takes a hilarious peek into freshman year of college from the eyes of three spunky, different, and realistic young women in the U.K. Susan, Esther, and Daisy have become fast friends during the first few weeks at university mainly because they all live in the same dorm. Susan is blunt and angsty since she broke up with her longtime boyfriend. Esther is a punk/goth girl who dwells in drama and Daisy is a sweet, sheltered, wallflower who is beginning to explore different parts of herself as she first experiences drugs, goes clubbing, and has girl crushes that she finds confusing.
  On the whole the graphic novel is a bit manic. There is no linear narrative or story arc, but rather episodic, misadventures of the three girls. We see them endure a dorm room flu epidemic and bringing down the frat boys who are responsible for putting Esther on a website that objectifies "hot" freshmen girls. I had a few chuckles while reading this volume and a few eye roll moments of exaggeration. Since it takes place in the U.K. the humor is British and there are few Briticism and references that are sprinkled in the volume but they are not distracting. The illustrations are vibrant, warm, and cartoony.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is drug usage and drinking, which is legal for 18 year olds in the U.K., there is also language, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.


Description: Continuing their first semester at university, fast friends Susan, Esther, and Daisy want to find their footing in life. But in the face of hand-wringing boys, holiday balls, hometown rivals, and the willful, unwanted intrusion of "academia," they may be lucky just to make it to spring alive.

Review: I liked the second volume of Giant Days a bit more than the first. Esther, Susie, and Daisy are getting ready for a big dance at their university. Their meager budgets send them to a second-hand store on the hunt for the perfect dress. Thanks to Esther’s handy sewing-machine skills, the ladies look fantastic. What hoped to be a magical evening turns out to be the exact opposite. In the other chapters Susie doesn't have a pleasant experience going home for break considering she burned some important bridges the last time she was there. The girls also tackle exams, bad relationships, and binge watching one of my favorite tv shows, Friday Night Lights. My favorite part of the volume is the poignant moments where Daisy further explores her sexuality. The artwork continues to complement the manic tone of the graphic novel with bright colors that show the warm and colorful personalities of its characters. I'm not completely in love with this series and I don't plan on continuing it.

Rating: 3 stars

Words of Caution: There is drinking, which is legal for 18 year olds in the U.K., allusions to sexual situations, language, and crude sexual humor. Recommended for Grades 10 and up.
If you like these books try: Lumberjanes series by Noelle Stevenson, Adulthood is a Myth by Sarah Andersen