Yesterday I had the pleasure of reviewing an early release of the upcoming story “The Adventures of Rex & Ted and the Strange Taco Tuesday: The Social Media Edition” by Michael Burton. This new release that becomes available on Monday, August 1st on Kindle is a hybrid story that incorporates social media-style illustrations along with its narrative to enhance the story. It is the first of this genre that I have ever had the experience of reading.
The story stars two teen-aged boys who have given up on school and their families to live together in a rundown trailer in the middle of the New Mexican dessert. They only return to school on Tuesdays for their favorite day - Taco Tuesdays! However, on this specific Taco Tuesday, they encounter new experiences that they - and their followers on Snapchat - will never forget.
This first of many in a series of graphically illustrated stories by Burton is quite amusing. It has a very Bill-and-Ted-meet-the-21st-century vibe (and if you’ve not seen that late 80s movie starring Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter, either watch it or ignore the reference above). Even though the two main characters in the story, Rex and Ted, are freshman in high school, this story seems to fit perfectly into the middle-grade genre. Kids at the mid-grade age will wish they were old enough for the independence and adventure that Rex and Ted experience throughout the story, yet are young enough to be enchanted by the incorporation of the millennial slang, pop culture references, and product placement sprinkled throughout the narrative.
In an article titled "Product placement in books: a publisher's point of view" posted to brandsandfilms.com, Caroline Goldsmith of Red Button Publishing is quoted as saying that product placement in writing "can give a story a sense of time, a sense of place and in some cases, a unique way of relating to the reader" (http://brandsandfilms.com/2014/11/product-placement-in-books-a-publishers-point-of-view/). Goldsmith's words here ring true with what Burton accomplishes in his story. His references to brands, products, celebrities, and other big names of 2016, prove that the knows and understands how to reach his target audience and connect with their own real-life, day-to-day experiences. Even though most of his references are explicitly stated, I thoroughly enjoy implicit references that make the reader think to their own experiences. One of my favorite moments in this short story was Burton’s allusion to the lyrics of a popular rap song by Yo Gotti; it truly appealed to my inner thuglife. But I digress…
Aside from the fact that Burton is extremely talented in his unique illustrations, he incorporates his drawings through the lens of a Snapchat story. For anyone who is not familliar with the popular social media app, the following part of this review - and possibly the whole premise of this story - are going to be slightly beyond you until you’ve come into the now in social media apps. His illustrations are not only hand drawn, but incorporate different Snapchat features and filters to add a complete new twist on what otherwise could have just been another digital storybook. Anyone who has ever ventured into the world of boredom and Snapchat filters will appreciate Chapter 3 of this story. Burton’s witty use of this social media incorporation into not only this, but the upcoming stories in the series, sets his release apart from others of this similar genre. It also provides a selling point to his target audience (young teens) as something they can connect with in their own, day-to-day lives.
One thing that stuck out to me (coming from a reader in my late twenties and not the intended audience of this story) was that, at times, the dialogue seemed incongruent with how most teenagers talk. It is clear that Burton did this purposely to keep the story appropriate and available for many age groups. As an English teacher, I interact with students of this age daily. With my knowledge of how the majority of them act, think, and speak, I kept waiting for Rex and Ted to call each other inappropriate names or make sexual innuendos. While the voices of the teens did not seem authentic to what I know of young teens in 2016, it is clear and understandable why Burton would censor the language in a story of this type to keep a PG rating for a younger audience, too.
The end of the story left off with a cliffhanger - loose ends in the adventure and the possibility of bringing in more characters and adventures. I assume that this is because Burton purposely wants to draw readers in for the release of the remainder of the upcoming stories in the series slated to be released later this year as a continuation of this story.
I really liked that, even though the story is about two young boys living on their own, dropping out of school (for everything but Taco Tuesday. LMFAO!) and their encounter with some supernatural elements - all situations which are not probable - it is also still a social commentary on the millennial generation, the infatuation with social media, the need to capture every moment in pictures and then share those pictures with others, as well as touching on the subjects of bullying (both in person and cyber-bullying) and other common teenage interactions (not feeling good enough for school, not fitting in with the "in crowd", relationship awkwardness and aspirations, etc.). The light-hearted way that Burton exposes these real-life issues shows that they exist but does not bombard the reader with darkness on heavy matters (which keeps the reading light for younger ages, as well).
Burton is a clever, creative, and talented artist in his storytelling and his artistry. I look forward to reading the remainder of the series as it is released.
A big thank you to author and illustrator, Michael Burton, for allowing me the chance to read, review, and share his work. If you're looking for a quick read and enjoy a younger-aged genre I highly suggest picking up this clever work. Again, it is available on Monday, August 1st for download on Kindle. If you would like to get in touch with author, you can follow his account on Instagram (@rex_and_ted) to interact, ask question, and receive updates on this and other upcoming stories in the series.
