Daniel Handler does it again! Very enjoyable book, completely different from the also-very-enjoyable Lemony Snicket books. I notice one poster takes issue with the reason Min and Ed broke up, but that's sort of missing the point. The book builds a marvellous portrait of an unusual teen romance, with all the bumpiness of the mismatch that Min and Ed are. It's both sweet and bittersweet, with moments that make the reader cringe as well as moments that delight. All this makes the reason they broke up all the more devastating - the book builds to the ultimate let-down on purpose. This book is so well-written - Min's voice is especially strong - and follows a perfect arc. I borrowed it from the library but got a copy for myself, I liked it so much.

I don't want to put this book down! I love, love, love it. Although under the umbrella of a graphic novel it is a great story of coming of age love and what can happen to it.

son of bitch!!

I should probably start by saying that I'm a high school teacher (not a teen reader) - I like to be able to make recommendations to my students about 'what to read' and I'll definitely be recommending this one. While the plot was nothing new (boy and girl from 'opposite sides of the fence' begin dating, much to the chagrin of friends on both sides), I enjoyed the original format in which the story was presented: Min (the narrator) is going through the contents of a bulky box of mementoes which she is returning to Ed (the recently-dumped ex). Each chapter has an illustration of a new object and then Min tells (by means of a lengthy letter to Ed) about how the object factored into their breakup. I liked Min; she's an intelligent, witty girl who is cool despite the fact that she & her friends are not part of the "cool crowd" at school. I recommend this novel for readers who are at least 14 years old as there are some scenes with mature content (underage drinking, sex - the latter of which is sweet and awkward, not obscene or filled with dirty details).

It is a departure from the Lemony Snicket books (less wierd), but worth reading. The illustrations, are lavish and compliment the book well. While it isn't particularly gothic, it did have a bit of a melancholy feel to it.

AKA Lemony Snicket