The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl

Lyga, Barry. 2006. THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0618723927 [Suggested Grade Levels 9-12]

REVIEW
THE ASTONISHING ADVENTURES OF FANBOY AND GOTH GIRL by Barry Lyga is an enjoyable read focusing on one boy's adventures and misadventures in life and love his sophomore year in high school. In some ways he's your typical misunderstood geek: a fan of comic books, excelling in all things academic, and failing at everything requiring coordination and athletic talent. But the reader soon learns that there is more to this hero. He is creative, talented, sarcastic, insecure, sleep-deprived, driven (focused and determined), and definitely has a dark side he nurtures. Angry at the world, he internalizes his emotions and uses his imagination to seek revenge and Creates "The List" in which he keeps track of everyone who has ever done him wrong. He's been bullied at school practically his entire life. But what could turn into a morbid tale of a loner is turned into the bittersweet journey of a young boy's first experience in love. Enter Goth Girl who seems to see it all the great talent, the great mind, and the great soul hidden beneath the geeky exterior. But Goth Girl is hiding her own secrets and keeping her own mysterious cover.

CONNECTIONS
Author Barry Lyga created a video advertising and illustrating his first novel. Create your own collage on poster board depicting the novel—its emotions, its style, its characters, etc.

Engage readers in considering, “If you could turn yourself into a comic book hero/heroine who would you be? What would you do?”

RELATED BOOKS
Other books written from the “outsider” perspective:
Green, John. LOOKING FOR ALASKA. ISBN 0525475060
Portman, Frank. KING DORK. ISBN 0385732910
Vrettos, Adrienne Maria. SKIN. ISBN 141690655X


By Becky Laney