  | Full Text Reviews: Booklist - 07/01/2018 With three Emmy Awards and two syndicated comic strips to his credit, Tatulli offers this middle-school graphic memoir focusing on boys’ obsessions and outlook. Seventh-grade Mark is all the title suggests and thus highly subject to bullying, girl-shyness, and body awkwardness. His tale is given verisimilitude by steeping it in the pop culture of 1977, from the death of Elvis to Farah Fawcett posters. Most central, though, is a hallowed institution current readers will be intimately familiar with: the first big-screen Star Wars. The movie’s explosive appearance inspires Mark to face his tormentors and, with the help of friends and family, make his own amateur movie and embark on a career of the imagination. Tatulli compellingly depicts how an object of pop culture can galvanize genuine emotions. He uses his art, with its cartoonishly endearing figures and accurate attention to details, to ground emotion in convincing reality. A particularly poignant “where are they now” section allows the feelings to resonate even more deeply. A natural choice for fans of Raina Telgemeier or Jeffrey Brown’s Jedi Academy series. - Copyright 2018 Booklist. School Library Journal - 09/01/2018 Gr 4–7—Poor Mark. The short, skinny seventh grader is even smaller than his younger sister. He's bullied and hates participating in gym class, but he dreams of becoming a superhero, winning the girl, and getting back at bullies. However, as summer starts, Mark builds confidence and discovers that he's got a lot going for him, such as his friends, his awesome bike, and, of course, his passion for Star Wars. What can a kid with a camera, homemade props, a helpful group of pals, and a great idea accomplish? Quite a bit. Set in the 1970s, this account of comic strip artist Tatulli's awkward youth will resonate with readers. The secondary characters are slightly one-dimensional, but this is Mark's story, and his voice rings true. The clean, straightforward drawings and smooth flow of the panels make this a strong choice. VERDICT Purchase where graphic memoirs circulate well.–Mariela Siegert, Westfield Middle School, Bloomingdale, IL - Copyright 2018 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Loading...
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