Tina's Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary

Dear Jean Paul Sartre,

I think you would like this book, which begins many pages with “Dear Jean Paul Sartre”.

Yours,
Jeff

I've just recently started getting into graphic novels, and this is one I loved! I really love existentialism, and this was a fun exploration of it from a teenage perspective. Well worth the read and full of beautiful illustrations.

I loved this! Tina's nerdy pretentiousness/soul-searching really resonated with my memories of teen Renata. The art was a cool, rambling way to illustrate her thoughts.

I picked this up and thought maybe it could be one to share with the junior high kids I booktalk to, but I really think it's probably best for actual high school and up kids. Like, very early on, Tina's friend asks something like “What do you think anal sex feels like?” totally legit great teen dialogue; not something I want to share with every 8th grader in town.

oh and I forgot to say, it's a good diverse book–Tina sorts through her Indian-American identity and various religious traditions along with existentialism and teen dating and other concerns.