‘Be Prepared’ by Vera Brosgol leaves something to be desired

When “Be Prepared” by Vera Brosgol was first announced, I was extremely prepared. Brosgol’s first graphic novel — the Eisner-winning “Anya’s Ghost” published by First Second Books in 2011 — was the graphic novel that got me into reading comics in the first place. It was the first time I’d read a story about a Russian-American girl like me, which was beautiful, interesting and emotionally impactful. And now, seven years later, that same creator published a memoir comic about her experience at Russian-American nature camp as a child. I couldn’t wait to see how much Brosgol’s abilities as a cartoonist have grown since “Anya’s Ghost,” and whether or not I’d relate to her childhood experiences. “Be Prepared,” published by First Second Books on April 24, 2018 was alright.

The art is still ideally suited to the subject matter. Brosgol’s appealingly stylized, rounded aesthetic compliments a story about childhood perfectly. The character designs are adorable. Brosgol also keeps the comic monochromatic, like “Anya’s Ghost,” and uses shades of a simple yellow-green color to evoke the feeling of being surrounded by nature in the summertime — it works very well. The use of dry brush textures make the forest atmosphere feel very present and believable.

Where “Be Prepared” falls flat is the story. Vera the character isn’t the most sympathetic at times, and the majority of the side characters are also pretty awful. I feel like there wasn’t enough bright spots to make the more miserable parts of the story fun to read. I’m also not a fan of the author’s decision to end the novel on a cliffhanger, without implying a sequel. It’s a little funny by itself, but as an ending it doesn’t feel like a wrap up to the story.

As a Russian-American kid, I did find some parts of this painfully relatable and some extremely understandable. It’s nice to see Russian culture depicted in such an honest way. While the author clarifies in the end notes that this is a fictionalized autobiography, the emotional truth resonates with the reader. I just wish it was a bit more hopeful.