Zits: Unzipped

review by

Tony Nappa

Twelve-year-old Tony Nappa gives you the 411 on two popular syndicated cartoon collections! 

ZITS: UNZIPPED by Jerry Scott and Jim Borgman (Andrews McMeel Publishing) 

ZITS UNZIPPED was the kind of book I love---a good book that makes me laugh!

This cartoon book is about the Duncan family. There is Walt who is the dad. He tries to fit into his teenage son’s world and does fun things with him. The mom is Connie who always has a way to comfort Jeremy--but also gets on his nerves with her parenting habits. Then there is the teenage son, Jeremy, who is pretty popular and acts depressed a lot. He has this “teenage superpower” where he can tell who is ringing to the family’s phone—even though their family doesn’t have caller I.D. Jeremy’s best friend is a guy named Hector. Hector is pretty much like Jeremy (except that Connie never gets on his nerves!). Jeremy also has a girlfriend named Sara and they have gotten in fights before but still are together. 

Here are three segments I enjoyed in this book:

First, it was funny when Jeremy tried to teach his mom (Connie) how to tell who was calling on the phone without answering it. Even after learning from the master, she really was no good at it and decided it was impossible. Then the phone rings and her husband, Walt, reveals he also has Jeremy’s “power” of knowing who is calling just from hearing the ring!

It was also funny one time when Jeremy was going around the house shaking his head like he was listening to music at 7:30 in the morning. But when his mom asks him about it, it turns out he wasn’t listening to anything! And Connie decides that even Jeremy’s imaginary music gives her a headache.

And it was funny in one of the strips when Jeremy and Hector were walking past a giant banner that said, ”BACK-TO-SCHOOL CELEBRATION” and Jeremy added, “…Screamed the oppressors.”  (Sounds like my school!) 

People who like to laugh and like to read just-plain-funny comic strips will be the ones who enjoy this book. I would recommend Zits Unzipped for parents to buy for their 8- to 12- year-old because most kids like me definitely like to laugh.

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Tony Nappa is a seventh-grader who has authored three books: Lunch Box Laughs; Lunch Box Trivia; and Lunch Box Promises