Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense    by Corinne Mucha Order:  USA  Can Zest, 2011 (2011) Softcover Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Freshman year is a major event in every teenager's life. While living it, it can seem like almost a tragedy, but in graphic novelist Corinne Mucha's hands, freshman year for her protagonist is a comedy for anyone reading it. Freshman: Tales of 9th Grade Obsessions, Revelations, and Other Nonsense is so true to life that anyone who has survived freshman year (or is currently in the middle of it) can relate to the characters and their predicaments. Before her first day of high school, Annie's older brother tells her that her choices as a freshman will affect the rest of her life. Determined to end up as the old lady she wants to be, Annie tries hard to make her freshman year go right. With the Fall comes field hockey at which Annie fails miserably, but she gains a best friend (with a hot older brother) in the process. Annie's winter is consumed with the school musical and all the drama that comes along with it. By spring, Annie has fallen into a funk and needs to learn to see that her life is not the disaster she thinks it is. Reading Freshman was very close to reliving high school. Mucha's writing is realistic and comical at the same time, and her three-color illustrations help bring out the bevy of emotions that all teens feel. While Annie was a relatable protagonist, the star of the novel was her best guy friend, Richie. While Annie is worried about how freshman year will affect her entire life and thus hesitant to do anything, Richie lives in the moment and goes for everything with gusto – and amusing results. Freshman is the type of graphic novel that everyone will enjoy – teens, adults, and those who think they are too cool to read a comic book. Corinne Mucha's writing is fresh, fun, and totally realistic, making Freshman the best YA graphic novel I have ever read. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more Teens books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews