ZiTS: Chillax
by Jerry Scott
Illustrated by Jim Borgman
256 pages – ages 8+
Publisheb by HarperTeen on May 21, 2013
Jeremy felt helpless that his friend(Tim)’s mom got cancer. Jeremy and his friends were finally going to get to go to an epic rock concert without any parents (the band they want to see is called Gingivitis) but Tim is donating bone marrow for his mom on that night. Jeremy and his best friends Hector, Pierce, Sara (Jeremy’s girlfriend) and Dijon (Sara’s BFF) try to figure out how to help Tim. Sara and Dijon decide to go with Tim to the hospital when he donated the marrow, Pierce shaves his head in support, Jeremy and Hector hatch a plan of their own to try to help out.
When I first got this book, I was thinking it would be a compilation (that’s my new word for today – thank you Mr. Thesaurus 🙂 ) of Zits comic strips. I love reading Zits in the newspaper! This isn’t a bunch of comics, it’s a middle grade novel! Very cool. The novel has a bunch of great black and white illustrations throughout it. I think that Mr. Scott and Mr. Borgman did a great job changing their comic strip into an MG book. I also liked that besides lots of comic strip humor, the book had a story. It tells about how Jeremy has to deal with his girlfriend and how he wants to get to the rock concert but it also has the serious part to the plot about his friend’s mom having cancer. It made the story believable for me. It is kind of like real life. I also liked that I learned more about the characters in the Zits comic than I get just reading the strip.
I give “ZiTS: Chillax” 5 out of 5 bookworms!
To learn more, please visit the Zits official website HERE!
Check out the trailer!
WAIT!!!
Before you go – I am SO excited to say that the next stop on The Adventures of Tomato and Pea blog tour is over at Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog!!! Please check it out for an interview with me and a chance to win a copy of my book! 
Plus Ms. Hill is doing a Q&A with me and commentors! So if you have a question for me ask away! I will answer them when I get home from school today! 🙂 Click HERE to go THERE!
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Categories: Age 6-9, Age 9+, Comics / Graphic Novels
The subject matter of cancer is a sensitive one to deal with. Sounds like this middle grade novel takes that, along with other daily issues of being a middle grader, and puts them together in a fantastic story. Thanks for sharing.
It was a nice touch to add a serious part to the story. It is still a fun read, but it has a good plot to it.
Definitely have to read this and have my son read it, his friend’s mom is thankfully in remission.
I hope your son’s friend’s mom keeps getting better. I hope your son likes the book!
Thak you for your kind thoughts, my friend.
🙂
I’m glad to see real life issues incorporated into regular stories, not overtaking the story, but part of the story — just like life. Sounds like a great read for kids. Liked the video too.
It was nice that the comic strip (which is really funny) was made into a nice story that has a lot of humor and the characters I love from the strip, but it also has a good plot to it.
Great and A on Susanna’s blog.
How old is the protagonist in this one, Erik?
I think Jeremy is actually in high school, but the book is written on a middle grade level. The publishers rate the book for ages 8+ and I think that is a good rating. Most of the books I read have main characters between 11 and 15. I like Jeremy and his friends and reading about them.
Erik, that sounds awesome. I’ve had many difficult decisions with 2 things happening at once. It can be hard to decide sometimes.
Yes – sometimes we all need to CHILLAX! hee hee
Sounds like a good book with a serious side. Thanks again for being a guest on my blog today, Erik! 🙂
Thank you Ms. Hill! It was a lot of fun! 🙂
Zits is such a funny comic. I had no idea there was a mg novel based on Jeremy’s life. It sounds fun and interesting! I will have to check it out. Great review. 🙂 Awesome about the blog tour!
I think you’d love this book! I learned a lot more about the Zits characters from the book! Plus it has a great story! 🙂
Yeow! Tough subject. Still the story doesn’t seem to be a frowner.
How is your book tour going, Erik? Seems like it has been going on forever. Is everyone on the web talking about this young new author? I bet so! Glad it is going well. 😀
The story is very good even though part of the plot covers a hard subject.
My blog tour was AWESOME because of AWESOME people like you!!! 😀
The Zits comics are a big favorite with the folks at my house. This sounds like quite a dilemma for the young man. I’ll have to check this one out. Thanks! And we sure have had fun on your blog tour!
If you like Zits the comic, you will enjoy learning more about the characters from this book! 🙂 Thank you for following along on the blog tour!
If the book cover is any indication, I’m guessing that this is a fun book to read. 🙂
Yes it is very fun to read, but it also has a great story!