I read this book in conjunction with Lyga’s Boy Toy. Fanboy is Lyga’s first, and in my opinion his best, novel. Both books have an honest, fresh feel, but Fanboy is easier to relate to. I wasn’t exactly a comic book geek growing up, but I was definitely a geek. Fanboy is naive, obsessive, nerdy and paranoid. Goth Girl is suicidal, jaded and prone to violent outbursts. Together, they make a great couple.
The story traces Fanboy’s attempt to escape his hellish high school existence and become a published graphic novelist. His graphic novel, entitled Schemata, tells the story of a teacher named Courtney who has the ability to manifest the fears of her students. Wikipedia defines schemata as “an elaborate network of abstract mental structures which represent one’s understanding of the world.” It’s apropriate, because although Fanboy doesn’t achieve his dreams before the end of the novel, his understanding of the world does evolve.
Overall, a great book for former geeks, goths, wimps and losers. I listened to it on audiobook, and I liked Scott Brick as the voice of Fanboy (though some reviewers on Amazon thought he sounded too old for the role).
DweebMeter: 4/5
