Written by Jayse Smith
There’s no way in hell I would usually pick up a book about basketball as I’d have to be among one of the most non-sporty, uncoordinated, clumsy people on the planet. Looking at the cover of The Avant-Guards, you may be thinking that this graphic novel is just that, all about basketball. It’s not. This story delves into heaps of issues and to be honest, the basketball is like background music, you hardly even know it’s there. The art, the characters, and the heart in this makes The Avant-Guards a surprising read which you should pick up.
When scrolling through a catalogue of graphic novels to review, this one immediately stood out as the cover is colourful and depicts a group of young people hanging out. The style of art used was really appealing to me as it was eye-catching, modern, and fresh. This style is used throughout the graphic novel and made for not only an interesting story but one which was visually appealing also.
When Charlie arrives at the all-girls school, Georgia O’Keeffe of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, she’s not looking to make friends or join a group. The last thing she wants is to join another basketball team, but after meeting Liv, an aspiring actor and basketball nut, something in her begins to shift. Liv turns out to be very persistent and after finding out Charlie was a star player for her last school’s basketball team, she becomes determined that Charlie will join her merry gang of misfit players.
Along the way we meet colourful, interesting, and unique characters which make this story charming and takes the focus off basketball. The relationships built within the story are just adorable and ones you the reader totally invest all your hopes and dreams into. The fact that this graphic novel has LGBTQIA+ characters as well as a non-binary character really adds to the overall vibe of the story.
This book was so great and one which I hope to continue with. The art, the characters, and the heart makes this 100% worth picking up. I highly recommend taking a look and I know you won’t be disappointed.
The Avant-Guards is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers as of September 3rd 2019. Thank you so much to Netgalley and BoomStudios for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
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Synopsis | Goodreads
When Charlie transfers to the Georgia O’Keeffe College of Arts and Subtle Dramatics, she struggles to find her feet, but winds up exactly where she belongs…in the school’s (terrible) basketball team.
As a transfer student to the Georgia O’Keeffe College for Arts and Subtle Dramatics, former sports star Charlie is struggling to find her classes, her dorm, and her place amongst a student body full of artists who seem to know exactly where they’re going. When the school’s barely-a-basketball-team unexpectedly attempts to recruit her, Charlie’s adamant that she’s left that life behind…until she’s won over by the charming team captain, Liv, and the ragtag crew she’s managed to assemble. And while Charlie may have left cut-throat competition in in the dust, sinking these hoops may be exactly what she needs to see the person she truly wants to be.
From Carly Usdin (Heavy Vinyl) and artist Noah Hayes (Wet Hot American Summer, Goldie Vance) comes an ensemble comedy series that understands that it’s the person you are off the court that matters most.
