FICTION

Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor

by Lynda BARRY
illus. by Lynda Barry. 200p. Drawn & Quarterly. 2014. Tr $19.95. ISBN 9781770461611.
COPY ISBN
Gr 10 Up—Structured as a handwritten composition book, this title uses prose within a graphic context to serve as a forum to teach aspiring young authors. It's written as though a creatively minded person were keeping a messy journal filled with ideas, notes, and scribbles. This book presents an inside look into Writing the Unthinkable, the cartoonist's highly popular writing workshop. Neither a graphic or prose novel, it requires readers to jump around to different boxed areas of words, which resemble those in a textbook, but attempts to do so in a hip, visual, new way. The end result is discordant and sloppy and may confuse, rather than inspire, young authors.
VERDICT Those unfamiliar with comics guru Barry's previous work may find the format and style of this title extremely jarring. Stick with her What It Is (Drawn & Quarterly, 2008).
Reviewed by Ryan P. Donovan, Southborough Public Library, MA , Mar 01, 2015

Be the first reader to comment.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

RELATED 

BOOKS

Zoomi and Zoe and the Sibling Situation
by Haydu, Corey Ann
BOOKS

Little Mouse Saves The Day (A First Comic for Brand-New Readers)
by Smith, Jeff
BOOKS

Earl & Worm #2: The Big Mess and Other Stories
by Pizzoli, Greg
BOOKS

Gertrude Gish on a Dish on a Fish: A Seuss Studios Book
by Hwang, Sarah
BOOKS

Sports Are Fun!
by Avant-garde, Zaila
BOOKS

Lissa Loves Bugs
by Blom, Tracy
More
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?