Graphic Novel Review: Blankets

Blankets

 

By: Craig Thompson
 

Genre: adult graphic novel

Pages: 592
 

Published: 2003

Read: February
 

3 out of 5 stars

Taking place in Wisconsin and the protagonists being teenagers grabbed my attention immediately.  I have always enjoyed stories, whether fiction or nonfiction, that the setting is a place I can relate to. Craig is an awkward child and teenager who meets and eventually falls in love with a girl from church camp, who lives in Minnesota.  The fact that their parents allow Craig to spend two weeks with Raina’s family was shocking to me.  The only explanation for allowing this to occur was that “they are a Christian family”.   However, Craig’s mother never once talked with Raina’s parents who were going through a divorce and rarely home throughout Craig’s visit.  There were a couple of side plots, one being the relationship between Craig and his brother, Phil.  The other, and essentially the basis of the novel, is Craig’s struggle with his religious beliefs, which does complicate his decisions on his direction in life, relationship with his parents, brother, and Raina.  I recommend this novel to all fans of graphic novels, but will cautions that several pieces of the artwork contain nudity.

Craig Thompson has won several literary and artist awards; you can read more at www.craigthompsonbooks.com