Review Detail

What I Loved:

This book is hard to put down, and it's all because of the narrator, Blaze. She's funny, addicted to comic books (vintage ones, thank you very much), and loyal to her loved ones. She's also blind or too willing to forgive the people she hopes will love her. Like her father, her "friend" Amanda, and her crush, Mark. Her voice is compelling and entertaining, and even when I was cringing at some of her choices, I kept reading because I enjoyed her narrative style. Blaze feels like the Everyman for high school girls. She isn't the top of her class, but she isn't the bottom. She has a few friends, she does her thing, but she doesn't stand out in the high school social stratosphere until she makes a string of stupid decisions that blow up in her face.

Which brings me to the next thing I loved about this book: the honest look at how a few careless choices can have a life-altering impact. Blaze goes from being moderately invisible to most of her classmates to being notorious at every single school in the area, thanks to the internet and the mob mentality of online bullies. It's easy to trace her path to infamy and see how trusting the wrong person and failing to speak up when it mattered put her in a dangerous position. The entire journey felt absolutely believable and heartbreaking. The resolution was smart and lovely as well. No boy rode to Blaze's rescue (well, outside of her adorable younger brother who loves her fiercely). Blaze had to come to terms with her situation on her own, feel the grief and the anger, and then choose to move forward. Readers will relate to Blaze and her journey from disgrace to strength.

I also have to mention the emphasis on comic book lore. While there were a few times where Blaze's tendency to compare everything in her life to a scenario from a vintage comic book got on my nerves, most of the time I thoroughly enjoyed it. As a reader who enjoys fandoms and understands that true fans know the little secrets, see the little nods to their favorite work in later works, and have strong opinions on every little thing related to their favorite work, Blaze's fascination with comic books rang true. The author ties this fascination in to Blaze's love life and family life nicely. Blaze also draws her own comic and there are drawings included in the book, which is a fun touch.

What Left Me Wanting More:

While I could see the steps Blaze took to land herself in trouble with bullies, there were several times along the way that I wanted to shake her and say "You're smarter than this." because she really was. Blaze is a very smart girl, but she kept checking her brain at the door in regards to her friend Amanda's behavior and in regards to her crush, Mark. It bothered me sometimes, even though I understood that Blaze was caught up in the moment and that, in the wake of her father's abandonment, she was desperate for love.

I also have to recommend this book for more mature YA readers because of several references to male genitalia and a sex scene.

Final Verdict:

With a funny, compelling narrator and a journey that is both heartbreaking and triumphant, Blaze is a book worth reading.