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Refresh, Refresh
Fathers, sons, and the war that comes between them.
There's nothing Josh, Cody, and Gordon want more than their fathers home safely from the war in Iraq -- unless it's to get out of their dead-end town. Refresh, Refresh is the story of three teenagers on the cusp of high school graduation and their struggle to make hard decisions with no role models to follow; to discover the possibilities for the future when all the doors are slamming in their faces; and to believe their fathers will come home alive so they can be boys again.
There's nothing Josh, Cody, and Gordon want more than their fathers home safely from the war in Iraq -- unless it's to get out of their dead-end town. Refresh, Refresh is the story of three teenagers on the cusp of high school graduation and their struggle to make hard decisions with no role models to follow; to discover the possibilities for the future when all the doors are slamming in their faces; and to believe their fathers will come home alive so they can be boys again.
144 pages, Paperback
First published September 29, 2009
7 people are currently reading
282 people want to read
About the author
Danica Novgorodoff
17 books66 followersDanica Novgorodoff is a writer and New York Times best-selling illustrator. Her books include the graphic novels Slow Storm, The Undertaking of Lily Chen, Refresh Refresh, and Long Way Down, written by Jason Reynolds, and the picture books Alexander von Humboldt: Explorer, Naturalist, and Environmental Pioneer; and Not a Cat, written by Winter Miller. Danica loves learning the names of plants, climbing mountains, and drawing animals.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
February 7, 2025
I have to call shenanigans on this comic. This is merely a hypothesis, mind you, albeit one lent credence by the fact that this is based off of a screenplay adapted from a quite excellent short story that was included in the Best American Short Stories anthology.
The movie never came to be and this adaptation may have been the compromise because it has a rather conspicuous storyboard quality. Percy’s prose is entirely absent, dialogue is sparse.
Being so removed from the source, it relies primarily on visual storytelling that I can see making a solemn and compelling indie film, but which whips by like a sock full of pennies swung at your face.
Perhaps I didn’t dwell long enough on the panels to allow myself to be absorbed in the desolate surroundings and deprived lives of three wayward teenage boys—all of whose fathers enlisted in the Marine reserves and were deployed to Iraq—duking it out with each other in camaraderie to toughen up in the masculine dearth left by their fathers’ absences. They send messages to their fathers overseas, anxiously awaiting reply. Refresh, refresh, until they respond, or don’t, and with similar lack of prospects, follow in their footsteps.
Now to reread the short story of the same name. It’s very good.
The movie never came to be and this adaptation may have been the compromise because it has a rather conspicuous storyboard quality. Percy’s prose is entirely absent, dialogue is sparse.
Being so removed from the source, it relies primarily on visual storytelling that I can see making a solemn and compelling indie film, but which whips by like a sock full of pennies swung at your face.
Perhaps I didn’t dwell long enough on the panels to allow myself to be absorbed in the desolate surroundings and deprived lives of three wayward teenage boys—all of whose fathers enlisted in the Marine reserves and were deployed to Iraq—duking it out with each other in camaraderie to toughen up in the masculine dearth left by their fathers’ absences. They send messages to their fathers overseas, anxiously awaiting reply. Refresh, refresh, until they respond, or don’t, and with similar lack of prospects, follow in their footsteps.
Now to reread the short story of the same name. It’s very good.
November 10, 2018
I am the wrong audience for this story. Not only that, but this story did not make a whole lot of sense to me as to what is going on.
The story starts out with the boys beating the crap out of each other to toughen themselves up while their dads are fighting in Iraq. There little town is gutted by all the men leaving. They are looking for futures in college, something different from their dads, but for some reason after being accepted to college, they join the army anyway.
The story is brutal and it shows people in desperate situations. I don't know the point of this little story and I don't know that the violence shows or leads anywhere accept to say some people lead violent lives. I really don't understand this. I would think anyone interested in war and army themes might make something of this and it could speak to them.
The story starts out with the boys beating the crap out of each other to toughen themselves up while their dads are fighting in Iraq. There little town is gutted by all the men leaving. They are looking for futures in college, something different from their dads, but for some reason after being accepted to college, they join the army anyway.
The story is brutal and it shows people in desperate situations. I don't know the point of this little story and I don't know that the violence shows or leads anywhere accept to say some people lead violent lives. I really don't understand this. I would think anyone interested in war and army themes might make something of this and it could speak to them.
March 2, 2012
Aaargh!
This book has had me tied up in knots since I finished it yesterday. I don't know if it's because of the air of quiet desperation hovering around the pages, that certain knowledge that NOTHING will end well for anyone, or if it's the fact that I have two teenaged boys whose futures I'm worried about... It's not a pleasant feeling.
The boys in this story live in rural Oregon. Their fathers are fighting in Iraq. There's not much to do but hang out in the Walmart parking lot, drink, and get into trouble. And fight. The boys stand in a circle and wail on each other. First with boxing gloves, later with sticks and, dear god! - socks full of pennies!
Then they go home, get on the computer and look for emails from their dads. Constantly hitting refresh, refresh, they hope for a sign. One that, no matter what it says, means "Hey! I'm alive!"
The artwork in this graphic novel is excellent. Seasons bleed into one another, and the beautiful landscapes contrast sharply with the violent story.
The plot itself is far from perfect. Some storylines emerge, get interesting, then disappear altogether, or are left up in the air.
Having a parent fighting overseas is something many children and teens have had to deal with. I hope their options turned out to be more hopeful than the ones facing the boys in this book.
This book has had me tied up in knots since I finished it yesterday. I don't know if it's because of the air of quiet desperation hovering around the pages, that certain knowledge that NOTHING will end well for anyone, or if it's the fact that I have two teenaged boys whose futures I'm worried about... It's not a pleasant feeling.
The boys in this story live in rural Oregon. Their fathers are fighting in Iraq. There's not much to do but hang out in the Walmart parking lot, drink, and get into trouble. And fight. The boys stand in a circle and wail on each other. First with boxing gloves, later with sticks and, dear god! - socks full of pennies!
Then they go home, get on the computer and look for emails from their dads. Constantly hitting refresh, refresh, they hope for a sign. One that, no matter what it says, means "Hey! I'm alive!"
The artwork in this graphic novel is excellent. Seasons bleed into one another, and the beautiful landscapes contrast sharply with the violent story.
The plot itself is far from perfect. Some storylines emerge, get interesting, then disappear altogether, or are left up in the air.
Having a parent fighting overseas is something many children and teens have had to deal with. I hope their options turned out to be more hopeful than the ones facing the boys in this book.
August 1, 2016
I really didn't like this graphic novel. I'm sure some would, but it wasn't my cup of tea...2 stars.
This graphic novel is about 3 friends who live in some state, I can't remember. All 3 of their dads are in the War with Afghanistan. The boys are seniors and are bored so they like to dick around town either drinking or fighting. One boy is a good kid with good grades and wants to go to college. One boy is really into joining the military like his dad and I don't really know much about the other kid.
Anyways, the graphic novel is called refresh, refresh because all three boys continually refresh their email in hopes of hearing from their fathers.
There is an older guy, not sure his age, that likes to talk to the boys, not sure if he wants them to join the marines or what. This man is also the one who comes to your door with the bad news of so and so has just died.
One of the characters finds out from this older guy that his dad has died in the War. So the boys beat the shit out of him. The boy who just lost his father wants to kill this man. Instead he decides since he just turned 18 he will also enlist in hopes of getting revenge for his father's death.
I am not interested in reading about War. I am not interested in reading about teens getting drunk, looking to get laid or fighting each other for kicks. And I'm certainly not interested in reading about people beating up the bearer of bad news.
It was just all kinds of awful.
This graphic novel is about 3 friends who live in some state, I can't remember. All 3 of their dads are in the War with Afghanistan. The boys are seniors and are bored so they like to dick around town either drinking or fighting. One boy is a good kid with good grades and wants to go to college. One boy is really into joining the military like his dad and I don't really know much about the other kid.
Anyways, the graphic novel is called refresh, refresh because all three boys continually refresh their email in hopes of hearing from their fathers.
There is an older guy, not sure his age, that likes to talk to the boys, not sure if he wants them to join the marines or what. This man is also the one who comes to your door with the bad news of so and so has just died.
One of the characters finds out from this older guy that his dad has died in the War. So the boys beat the shit out of him. The boy who just lost his father wants to kill this man. Instead he decides since he just turned 18 he will also enlist in hopes of getting revenge for his father's death.
I am not interested in reading about War. I am not interested in reading about teens getting drunk, looking to get laid or fighting each other for kicks. And I'm certainly not interested in reading about people beating up the bearer of bad news.
It was just all kinds of awful.
October 3, 2011
This sounded like it was going to be a lot more interesting and deep than it turned out to be. Very few words throughout the entire thing. It was one of those reads that was mostly pictures, and that had just enough conversation to fill in the blanks and make some impact.
Overall, I don't have much to say about this book. It was so swift and without anything really of consequence that I read the entire thing, front to back, in less than half an hour. I took no breaks, and whatever thoughts I had weren't notable enough that I felt I even had to put up status updates to comment on them. It was one of those reads that... I just... read. And then when it was done, it was done. '_' Comments? No, don't really have any. Feelings, emotions, thoughts? ...well. I get what they were trying to portray through it, and in some senses, I felt like I was getting a little bit of the message. But for whatever reason, I couldn't empathize with these characters. It had nothing to do with the fact that they were high school boys, or that they did crazy things, or that their fathers were in the war. I just felt there was not enough content to... warrant any reaction. It ended up leaving me really "Blaaaahhhhh" to the whole thing. *Shakes her head* I don't even know what to say to this. I didn't like it, and I didn't hate it. It gets no emotions out of me, and I even have to question whether or not there's anything worth more than a few pictures here.
It seems like they wasted an awful lot of ink and paper to give us a message that could have been conveyed on a couple of pages at the most. '_' Shameful.
In the end, would I read it again? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Eh~ It was alright. If you want to check it out, don't buy it. Please. Save your money. It's not worth it. Get it from your library or read it in the comic book store if you have to. It'll only take 30mins at the most, if not even less. It's that easy of a "read."
Overall, I don't have much to say about this book. It was so swift and without anything really of consequence that I read the entire thing, front to back, in less than half an hour. I took no breaks, and whatever thoughts I had weren't notable enough that I felt I even had to put up status updates to comment on them. It was one of those reads that... I just... read. And then when it was done, it was done. '_' Comments? No, don't really have any. Feelings, emotions, thoughts? ...well. I get what they were trying to portray through it, and in some senses, I felt like I was getting a little bit of the message. But for whatever reason, I couldn't empathize with these characters. It had nothing to do with the fact that they were high school boys, or that they did crazy things, or that their fathers were in the war. I just felt there was not enough content to... warrant any reaction. It ended up leaving me really "Blaaaahhhhh" to the whole thing. *Shakes her head* I don't even know what to say to this. I didn't like it, and I didn't hate it. It gets no emotions out of me, and I even have to question whether or not there's anything worth more than a few pictures here.
It seems like they wasted an awful lot of ink and paper to give us a message that could have been conveyed on a couple of pages at the most. '_' Shameful.
In the end, would I read it again? Probably not. Would I recommend it? Eh~ It was alright. If you want to check it out, don't buy it. Please. Save your money. It's not worth it. Get it from your library or read it in the comic book store if you have to. It'll only take 30mins at the most, if not even less. It's that easy of a "read."
August 9, 2010
When I read that this was a graphic novelization of a screenplay adapted from a short story, I got worried. I'd read some good reviews of this, but could it really be that great?
But I sped right through it and really felt for the characters. My library serves many military families stationed at Fort Lewis so I felt a special connection with these boy's stories. The plot didn't have as much to do with their backyard boxing ring as I expected. All three boys have very different experiences with their fathers' deployments and the small-town Oregon setting made it that much closer to home.
My main concern, though, is I can't figure out how I can get this in the hands of my local teen readers. The cover is this muted green color that I don't think has very high guy appeal. And the illustration style is a little inaccessible. Most of the book are short scenes and character sketches of the three guys. The hook-potential action doesn't happen until the climax, so I'd hate to give that away in a booktalk.
But I sped right through it and really felt for the characters. My library serves many military families stationed at Fort Lewis so I felt a special connection with these boy's stories. The plot didn't have as much to do with their backyard boxing ring as I expected. All three boys have very different experiences with their fathers' deployments and the small-town Oregon setting made it that much closer to home.
My main concern, though, is I can't figure out how I can get this in the hands of my local teen readers. The cover is this muted green color that I don't think has very high guy appeal. And the illustration style is a little inaccessible. Most of the book are short scenes and character sketches of the three guys. The hook-potential action doesn't happen until the climax, so I'd hate to give that away in a booktalk.
July 14, 2009
A disturbing tale of three high school boys living in a small town. Their fathers, like many people in the town, have been shipped off to the Iraq war. Left to take on responsibilities and face realities about violence and adulthood, the boys flounder but maintain a tight friendship. The art is not great (I was surprised to learn the artist had used models for the characters, as I had a hard time telling them apart), but there are a few scenes of beauty or well-conveyed emotion.
January 28, 2010
Although I understood the plight of the boys, this was a little too pro-military for me. It reads like a "Join the Army" brochure. Ponsoldt writes teenage boys very well, and this wasn't what I'd call a waste of time ('course I read it in like 15 minutes). However, the whole tragedy leads to conformity ending really pissed me off.
August 5, 2013
A series of artful, full-color vignettes present the intertwined stories of three American teen boys whose fathers are fighting in Iraq. I gobbled this down in one sitting, and I can see my high school boy students really enjoying this. My one beef with this book is the ending. It was resolved enough, but I wanted more.
February 22, 2017
This story didn't do much for me. The characters never drew me in, and I felt no empathy for them. It is a sad topic, and an important one, but the way it was presented was not very interesting. I think you could find better books on the topic.
February 23, 2012
This is a quick read, but one that will stay with you. Three boys, Cody, Josh, and Gordon live in Oregon. Their fathers are away at war. Their families are struggling to survive the wait. The boys are faced with situations permeated with violence, at home, at school, in bars where they drink. Sometimes they are the targets of the violence. Mostly they are the ones who cause it.
The brightest colors in this book are the flames during funeral pyre for the snowman. The bright red blood of a deer killed in a hunt was rendered brown in the next panel. The rest of the art was created with a muted palate largely made with secondary colors. Even the stripes of the flag in the recruiting office were dull. The rusty browns and oranges evoked a town that was stagnant with the life blood of its community removed.
The art was well done, but the story left too many threads unfinished. I worry about the little brother. I worry about the grandfather. The mother. The sister. The sudden tragedy that closes this book left these stories untold.
The brightest colors in this book are the flames during funeral pyre for the snowman. The bright red blood of a deer killed in a hunt was rendered brown in the next panel. The rest of the art was created with a muted palate largely made with secondary colors. Even the stripes of the flag in the recruiting office were dull. The rusty browns and oranges evoked a town that was stagnant with the life blood of its community removed.
The art was well done, but the story left too many threads unfinished. I worry about the little brother. I worry about the grandfather. The mother. The sister. The sudden tragedy that closes this book left these stories untold.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2012
Really a 3 1/2 but the message was so strong I couldn't bear to give it a three.
Very intense. It was a quick read, but it packed a lot in that quick read. It was a little hard to keep track of some of the characters as some of them looked very similar. It seems to be a very small town, and almost every adult male is in the military, but there are a couple of times when you wonder how small it is since the boys get into the bars so easily.
The end is so dark and bleak it just causes shivers to run up and down my back.
Some reviews say that this is basically an ad for the military, but I would say its quite the opposite. It shows how hopeless people's lives can be when they don't know what's happening. It shows how strong people need to appear when they just want to curl up and cry. It doesn't show the people who join the military because they really want to, because their family really wants them to.
This is not a positive book, but its good.
Very intense. It was a quick read, but it packed a lot in that quick read. It was a little hard to keep track of some of the characters as some of them looked very similar. It seems to be a very small town, and almost every adult male is in the military, but there are a couple of times when you wonder how small it is since the boys get into the bars so easily.
The end is so dark and bleak it just causes shivers to run up and down my back.
Some reviews say that this is basically an ad for the military, but I would say its quite the opposite. It shows how hopeless people's lives can be when they don't know what's happening. It shows how strong people need to appear when they just want to curl up and cry. It doesn't show the people who join the military because they really want to, because their family really wants them to.
This is not a positive book, but its good.
Read
October 23, 2014(MY OPINION ALERT!)
i read refresh,refresh. this book takes place during the Iraq war this book is about boys who want to be men. it demonstrates the savage nature of man by showing the viewer how the kids glorify war and look at it as a game. josh on the other hand wants no part in the war, he wants to go to collage.
in my opinion this book was horrible it did not make any logical sense what so ever. all these kids do is fight each other for no reason. they beet up people and stole there stuff. the book ended with them going to war after beating up who tried to informed inform him of his brothers death in the war.
this book was very poorly illustrate, i believe the art in this book could have been done better. if the art style was better i may have been enjoyed it more. i found this book very difficult to fallow. my opinion this book was far bellow what i had expected.
i read refresh,refresh. this book takes place during the Iraq war this book is about boys who want to be men. it demonstrates the savage nature of man by showing the viewer how the kids glorify war and look at it as a game. josh on the other hand wants no part in the war, he wants to go to collage.
in my opinion this book was horrible it did not make any logical sense what so ever. all these kids do is fight each other for no reason. they beet up people and stole there stuff. the book ended with them going to war after beating up who tried to informed inform him of his brothers death in the war.
this book was very poorly illustrate, i believe the art in this book could have been done better. if the art style was better i may have been enjoyed it more. i found this book very difficult to fallow. my opinion this book was far bellow what i had expected.
June 2, 2016
Usually, graphic novels take me a while to read because I process the illustrations really thoroughly and that takes time. This graphic novel took me about a half an hour to finish. The illustrations were really plain and simple and the dialogue was really easy to read. Although I found the story of the war in Iraq touching and deep, the dialogue made this book so poor. I felt like I was reading a graphic novel that one of my classmates made. The ending still confuses me; whether the father dies in Iraq, or if he makes it back to see his children. I guess the purpose of the ending was to leave the reader with a cliff hanger and cliff-hangers are my least favorite ending to a book. I give this book three stars because it had a touching storyline to it, but it was written with plain dialogue and sloppy illustrations.
October 16, 2009
Danica Novgorodoff has been my new favorite artist since I read Slow Storm. She works in watercolors and her style is beautiful. The story is also heartwrenching, about boys growing up in a nowhere town where everyone joins the army and goes to Iraq. I don't know anything else about this author though. But I will probably love anything she illustrates, I hope she keeps it up.
July 5, 2019
** help and insight needed
I really didn't like this book. I am still trying to decide whether it was bad and problematic as a whole or if it bad and problematic on purpose to try and provoke a response in the reader. I am interested in looking through some of the other reviews from some other readers.
I originally bought this book at a book warehouse sale because I was trying to expand my classroom library. Most of my books had female leads and weren't about subjects such as war, so I snatched this one up, hoping to open up my library a little more in the hopes that one of my students, either male or female, who were interested in some of the subjects that this book deals with, would be interested in reading it. Now I am not so sure that I should have this in my classroom. I am not sure if it's because of the visual format of the graphic novel combined with the content that is making me uneasy, because I have many books in my classroom that deal with tough or sensitive situations.
If anyone wants to read this book and help me with their own thoughts and reactions, it would be greatly appreciated. Its a short read, I finished it within an hour.
I really didn't like this book. I am still trying to decide whether it was bad and problematic as a whole or if it bad and problematic on purpose to try and provoke a response in the reader. I am interested in looking through some of the other reviews from some other readers.
I originally bought this book at a book warehouse sale because I was trying to expand my classroom library. Most of my books had female leads and weren't about subjects such as war, so I snatched this one up, hoping to open up my library a little more in the hopes that one of my students, either male or female, who were interested in some of the subjects that this book deals with, would be interested in reading it. Now I am not so sure that I should have this in my classroom. I am not sure if it's because of the visual format of the graphic novel combined with the content that is making me uneasy, because I have many books in my classroom that deal with tough or sensitive situations.
If anyone wants to read this book and help me with their own thoughts and reactions, it would be greatly appreciated. Its a short read, I finished it within an hour.
January 6, 2010
Well...I would give it a 3.5.
"Refresh, Refresh" is a graphic novel that follows three teen boys (Josh, Cody, and Gordon) all struggling with the "loss" of their fathers who are soldiers in Iraq. They continuously click "refresh" on their computers, hoping for news from their dads. Their frustration and rage grows and festers to the point where they can not contain it and look for ways to vent. They do this in largely unhealthy ways (violence, substance abuse, sex, etc.). The book is disturbing in its depiction of all of these things and requires a mature reader.
This is when I don't like graphic novels. "Refresh, Refresh" deals with a serious contemporary issue - the ramifications of war that we may not always see - how the family left behind deals with another family member being away at war. I read the book in fifteen minutes. It troubled me that there was no time to really take in the author's message. The characters and their stories are covered quickly and not explored in depth. The issues of families of soldiers struggling to survive financially, with loss, with loneliness, with rage, with having to take on additional roles, with lack of information, with rage, etc. deserve our thought and consideration. "Refresh, Refresh" does not give the reader time to do this.
Visually the book is also disturbing - dark, violent images that clearly portray the emotions of the characters. There is an attempt to distinguish characters via color; however, one really has to pay attention to these minute shifts in color and focus(the yellow shirt of one boy is not that different from the orange shirt of another). I also felt that the characters were not developed in any depth, which would have also helped to distinguish them - again more of an issue of the chosen format for the story.
This graphic novel has received good reviews and is worth a read - but it is not one of my favorite reads of late.
"Refresh, Refresh" is a graphic novel that follows three teen boys (Josh, Cody, and Gordon) all struggling with the "loss" of their fathers who are soldiers in Iraq. They continuously click "refresh" on their computers, hoping for news from their dads. Their frustration and rage grows and festers to the point where they can not contain it and look for ways to vent. They do this in largely unhealthy ways (violence, substance abuse, sex, etc.). The book is disturbing in its depiction of all of these things and requires a mature reader.
This is when I don't like graphic novels. "Refresh, Refresh" deals with a serious contemporary issue - the ramifications of war that we may not always see - how the family left behind deals with another family member being away at war. I read the book in fifteen minutes. It troubled me that there was no time to really take in the author's message. The characters and their stories are covered quickly and not explored in depth. The issues of families of soldiers struggling to survive financially, with loss, with loneliness, with rage, with having to take on additional roles, with lack of information, with rage, etc. deserve our thought and consideration. "Refresh, Refresh" does not give the reader time to do this.
Visually the book is also disturbing - dark, violent images that clearly portray the emotions of the characters. There is an attempt to distinguish characters via color; however, one really has to pay attention to these minute shifts in color and focus(the yellow shirt of one boy is not that different from the orange shirt of another). I also felt that the characters were not developed in any depth, which would have also helped to distinguish them - again more of an issue of the chosen format for the story.
This graphic novel has received good reviews and is worth a read - but it is not one of my favorite reads of late.
October 29, 2010
A quality story with a classic plot to it
This book was well worth the time spent! The author James Ponsoldt really did a marvelous job with his story line in this book. He did a good job of describing the lives of not just the main characters, but also the remaining parts that are not as important, but is still needed to explain the situations well.One of the reasons why i really love this book is because even at a few of its driest parts, the book still has a type of cling to it that keeps the reader alert and always focused on what the next event will be. Refresh, Refresh is a well thought out piece of literature that is a ravishing read for teens and young adults.
The story is basically about three boys, Josh, Cody and Gordan, and how they must struggle to take care of themselves with hard life changing choices that they must make themselves since their dads are all in the War in Iraq. They also try to make themselves stronger in order to make their fathers proud of them when, or if they ever return home. A lot of suspenseful parts in the story are when they constantly check their email and click the refresh button time after time to read the responses they get from their fathers since that's the only way to contact them when they're not fighting on the battle field.
I also like how the author portrays the kids in this story because a lot of sad events that occur really make the book more realistic since thought that there are young boys, and girls that actually go through this everyday, waiting to hear good news about their parent or parents start running through your mind. It Is because of that realization that I recommend this book for any readers that like drama and suspense.
This book was well worth the time spent! The author James Ponsoldt really did a marvelous job with his story line in this book. He did a good job of describing the lives of not just the main characters, but also the remaining parts that are not as important, but is still needed to explain the situations well.One of the reasons why i really love this book is because even at a few of its driest parts, the book still has a type of cling to it that keeps the reader alert and always focused on what the next event will be. Refresh, Refresh is a well thought out piece of literature that is a ravishing read for teens and young adults.
The story is basically about three boys, Josh, Cody and Gordan, and how they must struggle to take care of themselves with hard life changing choices that they must make themselves since their dads are all in the War in Iraq. They also try to make themselves stronger in order to make their fathers proud of them when, or if they ever return home. A lot of suspenseful parts in the story are when they constantly check their email and click the refresh button time after time to read the responses they get from their fathers since that's the only way to contact them when they're not fighting on the battle field.
I also like how the author portrays the kids in this story because a lot of sad events that occur really make the book more realistic since thought that there are young boys, and girls that actually go through this everyday, waiting to hear good news about their parent or parents start running through your mind. It Is because of that realization that I recommend this book for any readers that like drama and suspense.
July 5, 2013
Refreshing the computer screen has become a way of life for high school seniors Josh, Gordon, and Cody, whose fathers have deployed to Iraq. They keep a near constant vigil over their email accounts to intercept any communication the moment it arrives. When they aren’t monitoring their messages, they spend their time sneaking into bars, orchestrating knock-down drag-out fights with one another, and talking about their futures. Novgorodoff solemnly examines each character both in the context of his home life and of his friends, revealing how the war, and the absence of their fathers, have influenced their existence. Particularly striking are Cody’s exchanges with his younger brother, which underscore the effects his father’s deployment has had on his character. When one of the boys receives bad news, their collective anger and frustration bubbles over, resulting in a decision that will have far reaching consequences for their futures, Josh’s in particular. Novgorodoff’s depiction of the boy’s small Oregon town, where many people are “just trying to get by”, is the perfect backdrop upon which to portray the quiet anxiety that characterizes the boys state of mind. The character’s severe and foreboding facial expressions also serve to reflect the harsh realities faced by not only the three boys, but by their families and other community members. Affecting and disquieting, Refresh, Refresh provides a realistic window into the uncertainty that illustrates both the transition into adulthood and the emptiness that accompanies the deployment of a father.
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May 22, 2018“Refresh Refresh” is a book...well a comic book. This comic book is a 10/10 in my opinion. It details a lot of info that makes you understand it, and gets you really attached to the book. But I am going to try my hardest to not spoil the book for you, so just keep on reading this review so you can know how this book was for me, and maybe make you get the book too.
This comic book was a really interesting book. It showed some really good pictures of the events happening in the book. “Refresh Refresh” is a really good book for people who may have some relatives in the army and are never home, or maybe they never come back from combat. It also explains of how some boys want to be like some of their dads, in being tough. They have “backyard fights”. If you want to know what that really means you’re going to have to read the book and learn more about it. What this book had that made me get into it was the ways it showed the mysteries it had on how the boys were.
In my opinion this book was overall a good book. I would recommend this book to anybody, it doesn't have a main group of people that it needs to be read by. The book shows some really good pictures in the book that make you understand it even better. So you better go to your local library and get this book and start reading it.
This comic book was a really interesting book. It showed some really good pictures of the events happening in the book. “Refresh Refresh” is a really good book for people who may have some relatives in the army and are never home, or maybe they never come back from combat. It also explains of how some boys want to be like some of their dads, in being tough. They have “backyard fights”. If you want to know what that really means you’re going to have to read the book and learn more about it. What this book had that made me get into it was the ways it showed the mysteries it had on how the boys were.
In my opinion this book was overall a good book. I would recommend this book to anybody, it doesn't have a main group of people that it needs to be read by. The book shows some really good pictures in the book that make you understand it even better. So you better go to your local library and get this book and start reading it.
read-but-unowned
June 9, 2010I don't really know how to write a review of this book, which I guess is why it took me so long to do so. It's so sad, all around, and so hopeless in so many ways. The three boys that are at the center of the story aren't the only ones affected by the war, most of the town is, so there isn't really anywhere for them to go to get away from the worry and fear that they themselves feel. Each of them deals with it in their own ways, coming together for their fights. The prevailing feeling is pain. The fights just make that pain physical, shared, and visible.
Most of the story is told through the artwork. The dialog and text are pretty sparse. It works so well in this graphic novel that I can't imagine the short story it was based on. The lack of words make the faces and feelings take on so much more meaning and, in the end, the feelings are what this book is about. And it's beautifully drawn. The images pulled me into the story in a way that I don't know if the short story would have.
Anyway, I really thought Refresh Refresh was very good, but I know that I'm not doing it any kind of justice here. Just trust me, it is well worth the read.
Book source: Philly Free Library
Most of the story is told through the artwork. The dialog and text are pretty sparse. It works so well in this graphic novel that I can't imagine the short story it was based on. The lack of words make the faces and feelings take on so much more meaning and, in the end, the feelings are what this book is about. And it's beautifully drawn. The images pulled me into the story in a way that I don't know if the short story would have.
Anyway, I really thought Refresh Refresh was very good, but I know that I'm not doing it any kind of justice here. Just trust me, it is well worth the read.
Book source: Philly Free Library
June 29, 2010
Three boys whose fathers enlisted are left behind to be the men of the house. So sometimes they fight. They fight as if they have something to prove, to their fathers, to their friends or to themselves. When their lives don’t turn out exactly as planned and they end up pulling some stupid stuff. Enlisting themselves might be the only way for them to save themselves. But then, who is left?
This was a gut-wrenching depiction of war-torn families. The title comes from these boys constantly refreshing their e-mail inboxes trying to get word from their fathers. Boys pounding on each other to vent their frustrations on having life not be the way they want it. Not that everyone gets the life of their dreams, but most don’t have to face their parents’ mortality so suddenly. This was a good graphic novel, with matching illustrations. It was very brief but powerful nonetheless. If you have a chance to pick this up, I suggest you do. Enjoy.
First Line:
"Hit him in the face!"
Favorite Line:
"Hit him in the face!"
This was a gut-wrenching depiction of war-torn families. The title comes from these boys constantly refreshing their e-mail inboxes trying to get word from their fathers. Boys pounding on each other to vent their frustrations on having life not be the way they want it. Not that everyone gets the life of their dreams, but most don’t have to face their parents’ mortality so suddenly. This was a good graphic novel, with matching illustrations. It was very brief but powerful nonetheless. If you have a chance to pick this up, I suggest you do. Enjoy.
First Line:
"Hit him in the face!"
Favorite Line:
"Hit him in the face!"
July 6, 2011
There were definitely things about this book that were great, and other things that were not. I liked the drawing style for the most part, most notably the opening panels of one object that sort of set the pace for the chapter or subplot. Sometimes, though, I felt like the characters kind of blended together in physical traits. The pacing of the story was well done, but it did seem a bit choppy in certain sections.
In terms of the writing, I'm not familiar with the other initial form of the story. I was reminded in a way of the film "Hurt Locker," in that the main character suggests a hesitation in his final decision but allows comfort and familiarity to take precedence.
I will add that I spent a lot of time thinking the book might be a good read for young adults especially with some discussion of the themes, but some of the plot points and language definitely lend the book to an "outside of school" read, unfortunately.
In terms of the writing, I'm not familiar with the other initial form of the story. I was reminded in a way of the film "Hurt Locker," in that the main character suggests a hesitation in his final decision but allows comfort and familiarity to take precedence.
I will add that I spent a lot of time thinking the book might be a good read for young adults especially with some discussion of the themes, but some of the plot points and language definitely lend the book to an "outside of school" read, unfortunately.
June 25, 2015
I think that this graphic novel would have had a much more powerful narrative and focus if it had been strictly from the point of view of Josh, who is the strongest and most interesting character. Josh's story arc was the most emotional and the punch at the end could have been even more wrenching had his development been more realized. That said, the watercolors at the end were amazing and I knew the twist was coming, but still wasn't fully prepared.
This is about three friends who watch their fathers leave for the war in Iraq. The blue collar town offers no outlet and no support for them as they struggle with their broken families and their dreams of the future. Their easy express is violence and fight each other for release. I liked the art, it was all in tones of camouflage and the illustrated contrast between nature and their aggression and drinking/carousing was well done. This was short, fast paced and easy to get into. Red flags for illustrated violence and hunting scenes.
This is about three friends who watch their fathers leave for the war in Iraq. The blue collar town offers no outlet and no support for them as they struggle with their broken families and their dreams of the future. Their easy express is violence and fight each other for release. I liked the art, it was all in tones of camouflage and the illustrated contrast between nature and their aggression and drinking/carousing was well done. This was short, fast paced and easy to get into. Red flags for illustrated violence and hunting scenes.
February 11, 2016
I admire what this book is trying to touch on, but I felt like it moved too fast, only gave glimpses into things that needed more exploration. It's depressing and disheartening, and that comes through loud and clear. Maybe that's the point. It's ugly, and leaves you with a bad taste in your mouth, that's for sure. And again, maybe that's not criticism, maybe that's the point. For a fast run through of subject matter, it follows teenage boys who's father's are away in active Marine duty, and everything that means for them and their families. It shows more than tells, but I think leaves a little too much vagueness in the process. I'd have liked more personal thoughts instead of just a bird's eye view of actions, I think. But still...things are all pretty clear to deduce so it's not needed, but I feel like with more I could've been more attached to the characters instead of just feeling depressed by them.
December 10, 2009
In the humid green hills of Oregon three teenage boys box each other in a muddy back yard. They hunt a deer and dress it, then use its blood and skin to scare the bullies camping out nearby. They sit in diners that are boxes of light in the evening before going out to the bar where they will be served because there are hardly any men left in town of legal drinking age. They hit refresh, refresh on their inboxes to see if their fathers have written them back yet from their posts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Short bursts of what life in war is like in a very small town. As with her previous work, Slow Storm, Novgorodoff's art is perfectly colored to suit the landscape and emotion of the stories and environment it portrays, and is the reason to read this. I'll have to read Benjamin Percy's original short stories to comment on their adaptation.
Short bursts of what life in war is like in a very small town. As with her previous work, Slow Storm, Novgorodoff's art is perfectly colored to suit the landscape and emotion of the stories and environment it portrays, and is the reason to read this. I'll have to read Benjamin Percy's original short stories to comment on their adaptation.
December 17, 2009
Refresh Refresh is a haunting and heartwrenching novel. Novgorodoff's story follows three teenaged boys growing up in a rural Oregon town that is torn by war--like many of the town's men, the boys' fathers have all been shipped overseas to fight. The story thus frames themes of violence and abandonment as the characters struggle to cope in a world where love, life, and the future are completely unstable.
This novel is disturbing, and such is represented by a vivid violence and an overriding anxiety which Novgorodoff expertly relates in her artwork. Still, it is an extremely effective text, and it really relates the terrible situation of its characters.
Still, while I feel that this is an important novel that kids should certainly read, I think that its content and subject-matter would make it inappropriate for classroom use.
This novel is disturbing, and such is represented by a vivid violence and an overriding anxiety which Novgorodoff expertly relates in her artwork. Still, it is an extremely effective text, and it really relates the terrible situation of its characters.
Still, while I feel that this is an important novel that kids should certainly read, I think that its content and subject-matter would make it inappropriate for classroom use.
May 25, 2016
I have mixed feelings about this book. I loved the premise - a son waiting for word from his father who is in the military overseas. Checking his email, clicking refresh, day after day. This is something that so many people have to deal with. He spends his time with two of his friends. They spend a lot of time in the backyard...in a makeshift boxing ring. They fight each other...to get tougher, to prove themselves to their fathers.
This is where I have the problem. I understand them wanted to prove that they are tough like their fathers. That fighting helps them feel more like a man. I also understand that there are things that they have to deal with, like sadness, loneliness, and anger. I believe that the story takes this a bit too far toward the end, and I don't really view it as necessary. I really liked the book up until the ending.
This is where I have the problem. I understand them wanted to prove that they are tough like their fathers. That fighting helps them feel more like a man. I also understand that there are things that they have to deal with, like sadness, loneliness, and anger. I believe that the story takes this a bit too far toward the end, and I don't really view it as necessary. I really liked the book up until the ending.
March 21, 2010
Stark, I don't know why that seems to be a perfect word for this strange tale. Three boys, all with fathers in Iraq and how they go through the motions of every day life-- beating each other up in the backyard, constantly checking their email for word from them, and handling being "the man of the house." It's just a little too much, a little too over the top, although there are instances where you're brought into the world of military life when they come to tell you that you're father has been killed in combat.
I'm sure it would be a good way to get some kids talking about their experiences in a military family, but the picture of a boy with a bloody nose on the front cover might be off-putting.
I'm sure it would be a good way to get some kids talking about their experiences in a military family, but the picture of a boy with a bloody nose on the front cover might be off-putting.
January 22, 2011
A lot of mixed feelings about this book. Living in Oregon, and teaching high school reading, I wanted this book to be something I could give to my students, something they could relate to, but it is so violent and desperate. The boys are looking for guidance and role models while their fathers are fighting in Iraq. They see the military as their only option. Violence is normalized in their lives, and they don't know how to handle it. I honestly wouldn't give this to teenagers--one has to be able to reflect upon those in his/her own life before being able to understand what the boys in the story are going through.
If you want a quick, disturbing, thought-provoking read about the military and teenagers, I highly recommend this book.
If you want a quick, disturbing, thought-provoking read about the military and teenagers, I highly recommend this book.
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