Read this in just one sitting. I think mainly what made this happen was that from page one the characters were engaging and charming. Plus, the art style really went along with the feel of the story. Emmett Helen's illustrations really made this novel amazing for me. It was fun and impactful at the same time. It had a heart, a beating and rebellious one. The overall tone of the story is what I appreciated the most.
Although I loved the first portion and really connected to it, I left the ending of this book feeling a bit confused. I think even though the characters were lovable some relationships weren't explored to the fullest, and their arcs didn't quite round up. In my opinion, the story wasn't as fleshed out as it could've been. Maybe it's because stuff kept happening that wasn't adressed in the end, when I expected it to be (perhaps this was because I related a lot to the main character). I wish we the readers just could've seen more.
Don't get me wrong, I liked it very much while reading it, but the more I think about it, the more mixed feelings I get. I think I'd give it 3.6 stars rating. I would recommend it but with several TWs (it contains a graphic depiction of an ed).

It's the early 90's and teenaged Val feels the pressure from her ballet instructor to lose those final 5 or so pounds to get under 110 pounds. She is starting to feel dissatisfied with her life. Then she meets Kat, a girl with a wild streak, who quickly becomes her best friend. The two teach themselves to play instruments and form a punk band. This is during the height of the Riot Girl scene.

This was a fun, well-written graphic novel full of 90's teen girl angst. There was great character development so I feel like I really grew to understand Val. She was a complex character and the author & artist did a good job of getting that across. It was cool to see Val's sense of self AND her relationship with her mother evolve as the story progressed.

What to listen to while reading this: Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, Siouxsie and the Banshees. Plus: The Ramones & The Cramps.

Riot grrrls, black lipstick, xeroxed zines — My Riot is a love letter to the 90's and to everyone who still has a pair of docs in their closet. Emmett Helen knocks the art out of the park. Line work in My Riot is absolutely luscious, and Helen knows when to keep style tight and when to go off model for beautiful pages that are a joy to pour over. Color is lovely too. I returned to the early pages to check something mid-read and was shocked by how the palette had expanded without my noticing. Spears' maintains a tight script that pushes the story along at a clip., and a few lines resonate long after you've left the page. This book is nearly five stars. While the first five chapters are neatly paced, the sixth pivots abruptly at the end into an epilogue. A slightly stronger punch at the end would help tie up the story, but the last page, and the last panel in particular, are an excellent cap.

I find that graphic novels are really hard to get right because it's challenging to fit in any significant back story and detail. 'My Riot' didn't go into a lot of massive detail but in this case I thought it worked really well. It suited the story and the characters! It's the perfect punk, wild, feminist, coming-of-age story. I thought the characters were awesome and LOVED the artwork. I really fell into the world, even when it quickly jumped to different locations.

Was this book *perfect*? No. It had some flaws but I really didn't care. It needs trigger warnings, especially for eating disorders. But I loved it. It's fast-paced, chaotic and just plain delightful!

PS - would love a follow up book focused on Rudie <3.

This graphic novel was very well illustrated and had a great plot. The characters were relatable but extreme enough to be interesting. Following the main character as she grew and pursued her dream was nice but also seeing the post-band days was the best.

TW: eating disorders

I really liked this graphic novel!! Being born in 1990, but loving tv shows and movies from the late 80s/early 90s I was just hoping for something that would remind me of that. With no major technology and families. TBH, I got what I asked for - from house phone calls and a lack of communication when they were out of the house. Perfect.

The art style was different than anything I have read before, but I think it suits the grunge/punk style of the story. I don't think the other styles I have seen would have worked as well, They did such a great job.

The band reminds me of the Spice Girls - but about 5 years earlier, perhaps they paved the way! Fun thought.

I was worried about the pressure on our MC to loose weight when she didn't need too. I genuinely think that her best friend was great for her, and I adore that the three Girls in the band, and how different they look is such great rep - even with this set 30 years in the past, that story is still ongoing today in ballet and other sports and activities.

I think the ending was a little rushed - I would have liked a longer chapter 6 or even a chapter 7 - but I like where it went.

My Riot by Rick Sears is one of my favorite reading of July.
90's vibes, girls band, character development, slice of life... in My Riot there are all of this amazing things.

Val is an adolescence who's trying to figure out who is she, what she really want and take a chance on new adventures. Val is quite a talented ballet dancer but her teacher wants her to lose weight, and even to start smoking.
Val meets her new best friend, and during the height of the 90's punk rock riot, they started a band (Val, Kat and Rudie).
I loved how they grew up as a band. Started with a guitar, a bad guitar chord, they call themself "Proper Ladies", made songs about anger and teenage problems.

My Riot is also a story about first love, woman supporting, relationship. Val have interest for two boys, but she have to discover who is the one (or if there is one that worth).

The ending broke my heart but immediately put it back together.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It was completely different to anything I have read or was expecting to read when I picked it up but in a good way. I love that it is set in the 1990s and that it’s based around the music scene of that time. The characters were really realistic, particularly Val as she isn’t perfect but that’s what makes her likeable. The fact it deals with a lot of sensitive subjects like eating disorders in a delicate way is also a great addition. Yet, still manages to be lighthearted at the same time. Overall it was a really enjoyable story.

A hell of a punk rock coming of age story! I absolutely loved this! The struggles she dealt with, trying to fit in and finding herself was so relatable. I loved the bad ass take no shit attitude and I really had so much fun with these ladies and their band journey!

⭐3 Stars⭐

A coming of age story about sisterhood, escapism and the power of music.

This graphic novel takes us back to the early '90s, where we meet three girls who want to transform societies expectations of what it means to be a woman. Their anger at the social climate leaps off the page and immediately draws you into their cause but the plot itself left much to be desired. Plot points that seemed pivotal at the beginning of the novel were dropped by the midpoint and the actions of some of the characters had no impact on the larger plot. The riot that brought two of the main characters together is never mentioned again, the treatment of Val by her ballet teacher is never contested or properly resolved and her growing addiction did not impact the story as much as I feel like it would have in reality. These subplots could have added so much to the story but unfortunately, their addition and lack of depth only showed us a brief glimpse of what we could have had. These issues were made worse by the fact that the pacing made the story so disjointed that lulls lasted for pages and the more interesting sections were brushed over in only a few panels. This is especially true for the ending which felt so rushed due to all of the plot points that were tacked onto the end of the novel. The last ten pages or so could have been expanded on and turned into a second volume which could have developed the story for a more mature audience.

However, the art style was fantastic. Its consistency eased the abruptness of the scene transitions, the colour usage made the passage of time easier to comprehend and the scenery brought this world to life. The vast differences in each characters design highlights Riot Girls themes of body positivity. Characters are rendered with such attention to detail (like the inclusion of body hair on female characters) that I was surprised by how much I enjoyed and remember the intricacies of the designs by the end.

Overall, although I think the plot of this graphic novel is lacking, I would recommend it for young people who want to learn about feminism or for parents who want to introduce their children to books with more mature themes as long as they are ready to discuss its content.

If you are looking for a nostalgic book that is ready to discuss sex drugs and punk rock then pick up your copy of Riot Girls when it's released on September 8th 2020 📖.

⚠Trigger Warnings⚠: Eating Disorders, Body Shaming, Smoking, Slut-Shaming (Challenged) & more than once instance of self-induced vomiting,

I received an advance review copy for free via NetGalley in association with Oni Press. I am leaving this review voluntarily 📚.

I really enjoyed this! Its was a story of a girl becoming of age and who she wanted to be. I lived how she took her chance and became someone that she wanted to be and not someone that someone else wanted her to be. And she never let anyone get in her way. Or let someone tell her wanted she needed to do for herself.

2/5 stars

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing this e-arc

TW for eating disorders

I....just didn't like it. The whole forming a band felt too quick and the title didn't make any sense. And here i thought the social systematic racism was at least gonna be talked about

I love this brilliantly told and drawn story! I love the way the quiet narrative is set against the strong imagery to tell a story about how a young woman fights to achieve independence through her band.

It is thoughtful and deep and gives an insight into the thoughts and feelings of the heroine, who is unable any longer to be what others want her to be, and just wants to find out who she is.

She meets a rebellious friend, they both get caught on the edges of a riot, and this creates a trigger for them to form a band. She becomes a riot grrl and decides to take on the world on her own terms.

It is excellently written and has something for everyone to take away.

The narrative, is cleverly understated, and the graphics and the story are beautifully woven together. So for example, in one scene she is going through some angst trying to understand why she is putting on weight, when it is obvious from the image in the mirror that she is maturing beyond a ballerina’s figure, whilst in the background her friend is secretly becoming bulimic to try to stay in trim for the ballet recital.

The imagery is subtle and cleverly drawn, with intentionally rough edges, and a clever use of colour and
negative space to show isolation, self acceptance, self confidence, anger, angst, unhappiness, strength, and a number of other emotions.

Brilliant. The book can deservedly be called a work of art.

Firstly I would like to point out the trigger warnings for Eating Disorders, in particular Bulimia and weight loss.

I enjoyed this graphic novel and was't sure what to expect when I initially started reading. My Riot is a 90's inspired graphic novel that follows a girl called Val not only discover who she is and who she wants to be, but follows her and her friends as they start up a feminist punk rock girl band. Val comes to love punk music with her whole heart as many teenage girls do.

The art throughout was incredible, I really felt myself being pulled into the story and I feel the imagery had a huge part to play. The only fault I found with the novel was the ending; it felt rushed compared to the pace of the rest of the story. I enjoyed it nonetheless though.

Overall, My Riot was a raw and inspiring graphic novel about self discovery, friendships, parental relationships, first loves and societal expectations. The portrayal of teenage anger, frustration, doubt and self-discovery was fantastic and I would recommend this novel to anybody.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book to read and providing me with the opportunity to give my own, honest opinion.

My Riot was a cute, quick graphic novel. Set in the 90's grunge era, it follows Val as she goes through a transformation from a ballet dancer, dieting and smoking, on her instructors says to get to that goal weight - to being a part of the trio known as The Proper Ladies.

I enjoyed the graphic novel, it was cute and the story was overall good, it just felt a bit rushed and unfinished at times. Overall a quick, enjoyable read.

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

While I related to Val in her dancer turned concert/band loving self, I was a bit too young for the Riot Grrl time, so I didn't know how much I'd enjoy it.

Thankfully I did enjoy this coming of age story of 17 year old Val. Her inner monologue was not unlike other teenagers and the issues she deals with are no different than what I went through when I was her age, and even the kids of today.

I also appreciated that it showcased supportive parents. Even though they're not perfect, it's refreshing to see a healthy relationship rather than a broken one among someone with so much angst inside.

The artwork is beautiful and you can really feel the energy coming off the page. I was transported back to jumping around at concerts without a care in the world.

I gave this graphic novel 4 stars, however, as I felt many of the more interesting parts were rushed. And besides the parental relationship, I wasn't heavily invested in the outcomes of the friendships and romantic relationships in the book.

<i>My Riot</i> tells the story of Val, a teenage ballerina in the '90s. Overwhelmed by the pressure to maintain a certain "lady-like" personality, be a certain weight, and conform to her parents' conservative rules, Val must evaluate who she truly is and what she actually wants. It is within the punk music scene that she finally finds the freedom she craves; even though she's never picked up a guitar before, she starts a riot grrrl band with two other people, which becomes an instant success.

Even if you aren't that big on punk music, or specifically riot grrrl punk, <i>My Riot</i> is for everyone. It's honest, it's angry, it's down to earth in the best way possible. You don't need to be familiar with mosh pits and rioting, or even ballet, to appreciate Val's messy coming-of-age. <b>There's such a familiar sense of teenage anger and mistakes that couples so well with the themes of injustice, gender roles, body image, and general societal expectations--and it is incredibly empowering.</b> Even though Val made quite a few blunders, I was cheering her on the whole time as she fumbled her way through self-discovery.

However, if you are familiar with the punk scene, you definitely should not miss out on this one. <b>This graphic novel was exactly what I've been desperate to find since I discovered punk in middle school.</b> Val comes to love punk in the same way that I'm sure many others have in their teen years. I'd like to emphasize again the excellent portrayal of teenage anger and frustration--it was just showcased so wonderfully in <i>My Riot</i> as an important factor in breaking apart from the often harmful expectations that are thrust upon young girls. I also thought it was fun to see references to bands that I grew up with--Black Flag, Bikini Kill, Sleater-Kinney, you name it. I think I might have been living a bit vicariously through Val. I was both surprised and thrilled that punk was portrayed in multiple lights. Even though there were plenty of characters who drank and smoked (which punk is often associated with), this was the first time I've seen a straightedge punk person being explicitly represented in fiction. As someone who identifies with the straightedge punk culture, I really appreciated this.

Overall, <i>My Riot</i> is a raw, inspiring graphic novel about friendship, first loves, parent woes, and dangerous societal expectations, all tied together beautifully through the power of music. I highly recommend this one to anyone who loves messy yet strong characters who have learned to use their anger as a tool for self-betterment.

Potential trigger warnings: eating disorders, some violence, sexism, slut-shaming, drinking/smoking, teenage sex, mentioning of abortion

I thoroughly enjoyed the story of an awkward teenager who finds her passion. Val, a 17-year-old taking ballet classes, finds that she doesn't fit in at ballet and is made to feel bad about her body. She eventually meets a new friend and they decide to start a band together. Neither one of them knows how to play, but they want to rebel a bit. Soon Val drops ballet, cuts her hair, and morphs into a riot grrl.

For anyone who was a teenager in the 90s or is a teenager now, My Riot should hit the spot. The drawings are great, the characters are interesting, and it's a fun story.

*Disclaimer: I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


Despite the fact that this graphic novel touches on eating disorders, body image, race relations and sexism, this is a light yet empowering read about the power of music, particularly the messy kind of punk that grows from nothing and is done for fun rather than money.

Set in the 1990s, this reminded me of all of the bands I grew up loving from that era and made me regret not going to many gigs when I was younger. Val was a flawed protagonist that made mistakes but I loved her determination; she let things knock her back at points but it never took her too long to bounce back and stand up for herself.

The only negative I could say about this graphic novel is that the pacing is a little strange. I loved the slow development that happens for the first two thirds of the book. However, I felt that the final third seemed too easy, too convenient. The writer skips over significant portions of the characters' lives and although I understand that this was to show that people can make their own happiness, it felt rushed towards the end.

Overall I really enjoyed this and have found a new illustrator to follow in Emmett Helen. I love their illustration style and will be looking out for any other graphic novels they publish in future.

4 out of 5 stars!

plot: set in the 90s, val, a teenage ballerina, is longing for a better place in life, than to starve for her next ballet performance. she's lucky to find a new friend, who loves punk rock as much as she does. they form 'riot grrrl' together. featuring new experiences, lots of concerts, and angry, conservative parents.

3/5🌟: this graphic novel was enjoyable to read, but still a bit over the place. there's a lot of talk about eating disorders, which is important, but i wish there would have been more criticism from literally any character to be honest, than val just not taking part in ballet classes anymore. while you can see a lot of issues regarding bodies, drugs etc. being mirrored in the characters, they don't really talk about it at all.
the story was highly unrealistic, their band got famous in no time, but i guess i can excuse that for the story's sake. val's mum goes crazy, when she thinks val is having sex, but lets her go on a world wide tour. it just didn't make sense to me. nevertheless the illustrations were wonderful and definitely gave me a 90s vibe. i also loved that val's best friend was shown with body hair and thick thighs, but again, why didn't they talk about it? i expected a little more..


thanks to netgalley i received an early access digital copy in exchange for an honest opinion.