Ariel Schrag

Ariel Schrag is an American cartoonist and television writer known for her autobiographical comic series chronicling her high school years in Berkeley, California. Her graphic novels "Awkward," "Definition," "Potential," and "Likewise" document her experiences from freshman through senior year, including her coming out process and relationships. Schrag began self-publishing her comics while still in high school, later having them collected and published by Slave Labor Graphics and Simon & Schuster. Her work gained recognition for its raw honesty in depicting teenage sexuality, queer identity, and the complexities of high school social dynamics. Beyond comics, Schrag worked as a writer for the Showtime series "The L Word" and has taught comics and graphic novels at The New School and other institutions. Her first prose novel, "Adam," published in 2014, tells the story of a teenage boy navigating New York's LGBTQ scene in 2006.

Readers appreciate Schrag's raw honesty in depicting teenage experiences and LGBTQ+ themes, particularly in her graphic memoir series about high school. Many note her detailed artwork and ability to capture authentic teenage dialogue. Common praise focuses on her candid exploration of sexuality, relationships, and identity. Several reviews mention the relatable nature of her high school experiences, even for readers who don't share her specific circumstances. Critics point to uneven pacing and sometimes difficult-to-follow narrative structures. Some readers find her later work, particularly the novel "Adam," controversial in its handling of trans themes. Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - Potential Unbound: 3.8/5 (500+ ratings) - Definition: 3.9/5 (600+ ratings) - Likewise: 3.9/5 (700+ ratings) - Adam: 3.3/5 (2,000+ ratings) Amazon: - Awkward & Definition combined: 4.3/5 (30+ reviews) - Adam: 3.7/5 (50+ reviews) The lower ratings for "Adam" often stem from readers' disagreement with the book's perspective on trans issues.

Awkward and Definition (1995-1998) A four-volume graphic novel series chronicling the author's experiences during each year of high school in Berkeley, California.

Likewise (2009) A graphic novel depicting the author's senior year of high school, focusing on her coming out process and first relationships.

Part of It (2018) A collection of short autobiographical comics about childhood and adolescent experiences in Berkeley during the 1990s.

Adam (2014) A novel about a teenage boy who pretends to be transgender to pursue a relationship with a lesbian, set in New York City's LGBTQ community.

Stuck in the Middle (2007) An anthology of comics about middle school experiences, edited by Schrag and featuring contributions from various artists.