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Stuck in the Middle

By Henry Chamberlain
January 15, 2008 - 14:24

One of the current darlings on the graphic novel/comics shelves is Stuck in the Middle, a first-rate anthology about the angst of pre-adolescence, the middle school years. Only a few years ago, a book like this would have had difficulty getting published let alone finding an appropriate spot in a bookstore, relegated to the humor section. Thankfully, that has pretty much changed. As more people recognize the art as well as the profit potential in comics, we as readers are the ultimate winners.

Stuck in the Middle does an exceedingly well job in creating an anthology of comics that is a pleasure to read. This is not always the case whether it be a vanity project by a comics club or a high-end effort by a big publisher. Sometimes the theme is too broad or too narrow. Sometimes the creators chosen for the book are not the right fit. And often the actual content just plain sucks. Stuck in the Middle gets it and delivers. So, you want to go back to those awkward years of middle school and maybe enjoy some artful expression of anguish? You've come to the right place.

Including a variety of talent from master cartoonists like Dan Clowes to younger artists with fresher memories of middle school, Schrag provides the reader with a generous selection of viewpoints. The Clowes story is a classic story of unrequited love with a heavy dose of alienation and would seem to set the tone for the other stories: a thirteen-year-old boy on a summer vacation with his grandparents pines over a girl in the next cabin, never meets her, and only has a creepy older boy as a peer.

Blissful happiness is rare and hard to come by but constantly sought. Indeed, it would seem the kids in this book don't have much to smile about. Whether dealing with abusive parents as in Robyn Chapman's story or dealing with having to move away and start all over as in Cole Johnson's story, life can be tough. But as low as the lows can be, the highs are worth the wait. In Chapman's case, the boy gets to dance with a sympathetic girl; and in Johnson's case, the girl finally makes a friend. And some stories manage a more upbeat tone as in Lauren Weinstein's detailed account of her misadventures at summer camp or Aaron Reiner's discovery of his hidden artistic talents.

The great thing about this book is that it is full of voices, voices that have something to say and with all the passion of a child retelling what happened. In this book you have not one but two detailed accounts of dealing with bullies: one from Tania Schrag about the rules of how to survive a mild bully and not lose your friends and  Gabrielle Bell's take on it also more concerned with socializing than the mere bully. Among these seventeen stories, there's two from the editor herself. "Plan on the Number 7 Bus" is a very sweet story about two girls who think they know everything. Ariel's distinctive style is perfect in capturing the girl's snide expressions with some minimal well placed lines. They learn their lesson the hard way when they're scared out of their minds and their parents save the day.

So, as good as the Clowes contribution to this book happens to be, he does not speak for everyone. Well, maybe the inner cynic in all of us.

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12