Goth Girl Rising is the second installment in The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl duology, written by Barry Lyga. The sequel follows the daily escapades and troubles of Kyra Sellers as she adjusts to life back home after being released from a 6-month stay at a mental health institution. The book was smart and eye-opening. Kyra as an angry, depressed, and wild teenager struggles with suicidal thoughts and a minor case of boy trouble.

Kyra, also known as Goth Girl, develops slowly throughout the novel and, by the end, she blossoms into a strong and changed woman. Kyra transforms from a bitter goth to a semi-optimistic “post-goth” (her words, not mine). Goth Girl was struggling with grief after her mother died from cancer; something she blames her father for. Her constant arguments with her father kept me captivated, not because I like parental defiance, but because she was one of a few people who tell others what they need to hear and lets others know how and what she feels. Her rage was so strong that I could practically feel it coming at me. By the end of the novel, she apologizes to her dad and forgives her mother for dying.

I would definitely recommend this novel to those who enjoy reading about people with real and/or relatable struggles, but I also suggest that you read the first novel, The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, before you even think about picking up this one. I ripped through this book so fast, I almost wish I had taken my time with it. My mom had to pry it from my sluggish hands as I forced myself to stay awake and finish the chapter I was on. It took me two and a half days to finish this 388-page novel. I hope you choose to pick up this series, and that you enjoy it as much as I did.