Hockey Girl Loves Drama Boy

Another wonderful graphic novel by Faith Erin Hicks. I've collected a lot of Hicks' comics over the years, and I've loved pretty much all of them. I've been meaning to get around to this ever since Hicks started talking about it, and I'm sad it took me so long to finally get to it, but I'm glad I finally gave it a proper chance, because it's very good. The art is gorgeous, as usual, the characters are wonderful, and the story is phenomenal.

One of my favorite things about "Nothing Can Possibly Go Wrong" is that it's one of the best depictions of being a child of divorcees, and generally Hicks is very good at depicting the children of parents who are separated for one reason or another, and that is again well-handled here. My one show more criticism is mixed because I think it's accurate to the narrative/relationship to have Ezra's mother kind of force him to hang out with the maybe soon to be stepfather. It's what I'm used to, it's what a lot of parents getting new partners do with their kids from previous relationships don't get along with their new partners. I just have issues when parents do this. While Ezra's issues stem from very strong fears, I don't think this really solves the issue. It's mostly just treating him like a spoiled child. But I also know my issues stem from my own dissatisfaction with my own family attempting to this, particularly since my own stepparents are both assholes and my disliking them has nothing to do with remarriage. So yes, it's accurate, uncomfortably so. It works for the narrative, it's just not enjoyable for me.

This is also a really great depiction of setting boundaries, openness, and validation in relationships, and means of being supportive. All in all, a nice book. Well worth the time. show less

Teen drama with an emphasis on healthy communication, empathy, anger issues, sexuality, and being a bystander to bullying.

Ultimately, a little dull but had some much-appreciated depth. I enjoyed the non-toxic love between Alix and Erza and the parent dynamics. The characters here have strong feelings, but they express them and apologize when wrong. Refreshing!

SN: everyone in this story has got a chin, baby. Ones that could cut steel.

ending spoilers: erza seems pansexual as of now

also, i love that alix didn't have to give up hockey. it's realistic that Lindsay didn't magically Disney change or that the other girls rallied around her. the coach gaslighted and refused to care too. this shows that sometimes (admittedly it's not always an show more option) there are other options than staying in an abusive environment. going to play on another team was a great idea! show less

I’d really enjoyed Rainbow Rowell’s Pumpkin Heads, which Hicks illustrated, but while someone’s illustrations can give an indication of how that person might approach telling their own story, they don’t convey what sort of story that might be, which is to say, I didn’t know what to expect from this one.

Alix, the titular hockey girl, approaches Ezra, the aforementioned drama Boy, for advice. She’s noticed that he’s good at remaining calm and cheerful when others try to give him a hard time, while Alix struggles to contain her anger in similar situations -- and has been punished for her outbursts.

I read this over a month ago, and I was sick at the time, but I don’t think I’m misremembering anything when I describe this show more story as “sweet”. I mean, not the bullying, obviously, nor the way Alex’s coach ignores it, that’s awful and awfully realistic, but the relationship which develops between Alix and Ezra -- the way they support, and become comfortable with, each other -- is heart-warming and optimistic. show less

2.5 Stars. This doesn’t rate as one of my favorites from this author, but there were some moments of authenticity I did appreciate.

As someone who watches sports (though plays none), I’ve seen enough real life stories in recent years to recognize the truth in portraying a coach as so consumed with winning that they’ll overlook abuse to keep the victories coming. It also felt true to life that someone as relentlessly bullied as Alix might reach her breaking point and lash out in anger. Where this hit a potentially false note for me was where that part of the story ended up going and how easily it occurred. I don’t want to venture too far into spoiler territory here, so I’ll keep this as vague as I can, it’s just that with so show more much red-tape, so many rules and regulations to participate, I don’t know how viable an option that avenue would be for anyone in reality, this also didn’t really address how the sports world is quick to slap unwarranted and career threatening stigmas on athletes for being perceived as difficult or not a “team player,” so I just kind of feel like any attempt to either fix or extracate yourself from a situation like this would be more complicated and more of an ordeal than the way this graphic novel made it seem.

Overall I was fine with the illustrations, although sometimes I found it difficult to diffiarentiate between the players when their helmets were on and the hockey scenes in general could have used a bit more detail, especially when it came to really giving a sense of the action and how skilled Alix is supposed to be.

I wasn’t the biggest fan of the love story, I liked both Alix and Ezra, it’s just for me there were more friendship vibes than romantic.

I liked that Alix and Ezra have parental baggage, there was a scene between Alix and her mom where the mom’s emotions and her words got away from her, and that seemed like something that, as harsh as it was, could really happen, so I was then disappointed that this ultimately didn’t dig into the parent stuff more and get more out of it emotionally, especially with Alix’s father. show less

This book was adorable. They were parts that highly annoyed me, but the overall story is such a heart beaming, inclusive story that you just want to suck it up. The parts that make me mad was how coach did not stand up for her players even when they said “hey, there’s a problem”. I didn’t like how other people ignored problems, but when Ezra was so warm and welcoming, it was just amazing. Plus, one of my favorite things that Ezra and his friends do is “permission to hug”. It’s such a great lesson. It’s just in there. It’s not bragging, it’s not pretty, it’s just there. There’s tension when you think about following in your mothers or your father’s footsteps, why it works, why it doesn’t. All of that goes in show more to this book. It’s overflowing and brimming with heart and conscious and love and hope. While they often joke about being Canadian famous, this book will be all the way famous not just in Canada. If you’re a fan of Heartstopper you need to pick this up. show less

Trigger Warnings: homophobia, bully, domestic abuse

After Alix lashes violently out at her rude and mean teammate, Lindsay, she knows she needs to control her anger. So, she goes to Ezra; the cool, calm theater kid from her grade, for help. As they begin to hang out more and more, Alix learns there’s more to Ezra than the levelheaded front she puts on. And maybe, there’s something more than just friendship forming…

This is a cute YA graphic novel romance with a bit of the gender roles switched than what you usually see in rom-coms.

I enjoyed the storyline and the chemistry between the two felt genuine and wasn’t that insta-romance. I do however wish the ending was a little longer, so it could flush out a little more of the story show more better.

Overall though, I will be recommending to those who enjoyed the author's other works, like Pumpkinhead by Rainbow Rowell, and the series Check, Please! by Ngozi Ukazu. And those that like a cute YA graphic romance. show less