Maggie Thrash is the author of one of my favorite comic books, Honor Girl, published by Candlewick Press in 2015. The book is based off of Thrash's own experience growing up queer and spending time at a conservative summer camp in which she learns more about herself and her sexual identity. BookPage conducted an interview with her, in which she opened up about her comics and the inspiration behind them.
In the interview, she was asked why she decided to tell her story in comics, and she replied "comics are the easiest way to talk about personal stuff. You can present yourself really plainly and efficiently. Comics are awesome that way." Through this presentation of her story, Thrash helps herself by having a platform to express her experience, and she simotaneously helps readers by giving the young, queer community something to relate to. Many of the topics discussed in Honor Girl, like same-sex attraction, are often considered taboo, so providing readers with an inspiring story made by and for their community is a powerful concept. In class, we learned that reading comic books has benefits like developing visual and verbal skills; Honor Girl works to develop the reader on an emotional level as well. Queer readers learn that their feelings aren't something to be ashamed of, despite what society may tell them.
Honor Girl is a story of love, talent, and self-discovery. It is similar to other graphic novels, like Fun Home, with an underlying theme of queer love but focusing primarily on the dynamic of everyday life in the supposed environment. This approach normalizes queer culture, making it a simple, acceptable fact of life -- a viewpoint that is often challenged by conservative politics. The way that comic books portray romance makes valuable lessons accessible to a new audience. What differentiates Honor Girl from other books of its kind is the ending. The story has an abrupt, unhappy ending, and the main character never does get the love she has been striving for. The story is nonfiction, and Thrash did not fabricate a more ideal ending to satisfy readers. In her interview, she states, "I thought it was important for the reader to be yanked out of the idyllic bubble of camp the same way that I was." Rather than giving readers a fun, happy, feel-good story, she presents reality.
Thrash provides an environment that makes reading feel like you're sitting on the couch with your grandma, hearing a story and getting advice. Queer romance comics, particularly ones that challenge stereotypes like Honor Girl, are important, and they strive for equality. Young love is complicated in general, and it's even more complicated to write and illustrate, but Thrash was up for the challenge and was incredibly successful with her graphic novel. When asked about self-expression and authenticity, she states, "When you're 15, everyone thinks they get you, including yourself. You think you know who you are, and what your limits are. But really you have no idea. At that age, your brain is still under construction. So don't make any assumptions about what you're capable of; do whatever it takes to get out of your head and test yourself." Maggie Thrash's character of the same name in Honor Girl spends her entire summer expanding her comfort zone. She bravely cuts her hair and expresses her sexual identity in a disapproving environment. Rumors are quickly spread about her, but she continues to challenge the status quo, and she doesn't let anyone else define who she is meant to be. She takes her own advice, getting out of her head and testing herself. Then, once she has completed all the trials, Thrash, as an author and illustrator, reflects and thinks about what she can offer the world. She has a story to tell. Through her comics, she teaches the concluding, valuable lesson that she conveys in her interview: "You can plan what you do, but you can't plan the person you become."
