Dakota Lane

Gothic Lolita is essentially about two half-Japanese girls who, despite living thousands of miles away from each other and only knowing each other because of their blogs, are deeply connected. The main two characters are full of angst and anguish, both having lost close family members.

Unique features: This book is set in lapslock, first person POV that changes from Chelsea to Miya and includes photography.

Confusing parts: The front cover labels it as “a mystical thriller,” but I don’t agree. Mystical? Maybe. But thriller? No, I wouldn’t say there’s anything especially thrilling in this story. Also, despite being called Gothic Lolita, the plot has almost nothing to do with the style. Miya and Chelsea are gothic lolitas. Miya’s friend Matsu introduced her and Chelsea found it in a magazine when she was seven. That’s it.… (more)

I picked this up at the library because I was intrigued by the title. I had also just checked out a book called Gothic Lolita Punk. That one was non-fiction and full of pictures.

I did not expect this book to be as sad as it was. I knew it would be quirky - no capitalization, odd paragraphs, photographs. First Miya speaks, then Chelsea. Then Miya. Back and forth, back and forth.

Two half Japanese teenagers meet on an online blog. Both have brothers. The brothers are an integral part of this story. Something happens and the blogging stops. Both girls are going through some extremely hard times.

There's a bit of supernatural element to it and that becomes clearer toward the end of the book. Quite a bit of symbolism, also. Elephants, the forest, spiders, gothic lolitas.… (more)

This weird book is billed as a mystic thriller, and it is definitely about so many things that it is hard to know where to start. Miya, who lives in Japan, and Chelsea, who lives in Los Angeles, live eerily similar lives. The book is told through short chapters and photos, and will appeal to teens who are involved in either the gothic Lolita lifestyle or reading manga with its visual style. The reader is plunged into the stories of these two girls who began reading each other’s blogs. They are tied together through many things, including younger brothers with some sort of developmental disabilities, a manga series that they are both obsessed with, and missing parents. Throughout the book the girls clearly have a shared history, but it never is elucidated. The book is gauzy and ethereal, much like the gothic Lolita style. The one thing this book does well is explain this lifestyle and its appeal. I liked the mystery part of this book, and how the girls eventually came together in an unexpected way. I did appreciate how unusual this book is, and hope that it finds an audience among the manga readers even though it is in the fiction area.… (more)