Block’d

Gr 8 Up–Cam is a monster on the basketball court but finds himself unable to control himself with the anxieties of high school that cause him to turn into a werewolf. Hawkins uses the werewolf curse as an interesting allegory for familial abuse and generational trauma, as Cam goes into bouts of anger while trying to rein in the monster inside. The mentoring relationship he receives from his basketball coach feels realistic, as Cam opens up but then snaps at a moment’s notice. While the romantic relationship that Cam forms with Liza makes for interesting drama, it also muddies the message of the story by playing into the stereotype that women can either change men, or that men need a relationship to feel whole. Cam’s father makes for a very scary presence and perfectly exemplifies the metaphor, but is notably absent from the closing scene when Cam makes his final choice about how he wants to live his life. The artwork throughout is poppy with thick line drawing and bright colors.