All I want to say about At the End of Your Tether is that it is the result when what seems like reality takes a walk in the other side. I mean, there is no logic to this illogical ride of madness, time travel, alternative realities overlapping and coming of age. Adam Smith, you might be a nice person, but you have one heck of a warped mind.
What starts out as a graphic novel of a teen name Ludo moving to the Air Force base his mother has been assigned to and meeting the girl of his dreams, Arlo, turns into a bounce of reality. Coming back after several years, Ludo and Arlo talk the night before he arrives back. Only to learn the next day, that Arlo has been missing for two weeks and there was no way she had talked to him at her home. Oh! I forgot, before all of this happened there is a “start at the end of the story” with three kids arguing-but-not as only friends or siblings can, burning things and papers and pretty much everything in sight. But don’t worry, they’ll show up later. Giving their hitchhiking
teenage mom a lift.
What is happening? Big spoiler: The concept is how timelines are moving along, doing their thing, but sometimes, even though they do not physically cross, they do have people jump to another line. The time travel/timeline concept is way out there playing whack-a-mole!
And the illustrations by V.V. Glass. What can I say? Other than they are traditional graphic novel illustrations, seriously dark, unless good times are happening or there is fire. Oh boy does fire love showing off its reds, yellows, and oranges! And while they are artistically interesting, setting the tone (whacky but letting you see “happy” vs. “confused” and/or “dark” times, they are also dark, even ugly to a point. They can be the make or break if you like the text. I mean, do they fit with what you think should be happening? But the text can do the same thing and turn you off to the illustrations.
I am not the only person who was not thrilled with this book. There were several rating of two on Goodreads. Therefore, I do not feel as bad for not liking it. I really thought I was missing something. However, I know there has to be probably as many 5 ratings as it is that kind of book.
Reminding me of Rabbits by Terry Miles, only in graphic novel format, and frankly, maybe not as clean. It also reminded me of Rasl by Jeff Smith with its darkness that makes you want to love and hate it at the same time.
