You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
My first book of Pride month and I loved it. I blasted through it in just 1 day. I love how Green writes, how he "breaks the third wall" (i.e. speaks to the reader in his own words).
This is a book, based during the horrible times of Section28 in Britain when LGBT books were banned from libraries, how librarians fought back and got those important books into people's hands. How the establishment played dirty (no surprise there) and how our community fought back. I really liked the historical elements of the book intertwined with the love story of two teen boys. And the message of history repeating itself ... well ... how prophetic !!
Will be available for FREE in Irish libraries soon.
This is a book, based during the horrible times of Section28 in Britain when LGBT books were banned from libraries, how librarians fought back and got those important books into people's hands. How the establishment played dirty (no surprise there) and how our community fought back. I really liked the historical elements of the book intertwined with the love story of two teen boys. And the message of history repeating itself ... well ... how prophetic !!
Will be available for FREE in Irish libraries soon.
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was fab! I loved it -
Maybye could add it from the bullies perspective if like. That but I loved it!
I recommended it
Maybye could add it from the bullies perspective if like. That but I loved it!
I recommended it
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Really did not like the writing style - trying to alternate between first person and throwing in a style like a screenplay
challenging
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Oh how I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!
This book is set in 1994 in the UK. Jamie is our main character who is gay. His librarian gives him a book about gay characters, and someone else wrote in it. They start a dialogue… and you’ll have to read to find out what happens next.
*spoilers*
Truly did NOT want this book to end. I was hooked immediately but just check out the brilliance of this writing:
“But I didn't understand that.
And nor do you.
And that is called dramatic tension.
Let's leave this chapter here. Significant events deserve emphasis, and very short chapters do that, don't you think?”
I devoured this book. And I also kept putting it down just to draw it out. It was incredibly well written. I laughed so much and cried more than a few times. The footnotes were fantastic. The love story was *chef’s kiss* amazing. The librarian Mrs. C was such a badass. Beth and Dan!! I loved Rob so much. I love Jamie’s mom and Keith was an unexpected surprise. Jamie had such good people in his life.
I loved loved loved how this story was told and the parallels to today are so well done. One of the footnotes says “ignorance is bliss, kids!” Because Jamie says in 30-40 years things will be better and gives examples. It’s so sad that Rob was right.
THAT ENDING THOUGH!!! I was living for the moment Jamie exposed Rob’s dad. The prom!! Shockingly, I cried. What a fantastic book.
This book is set in 1994 in the UK. Jamie is our main character who is gay. His librarian gives him a book about gay characters, and someone else wrote in it. They start a dialogue… and you’ll have to read to find out what happens next.
*spoilers*
Truly did NOT want this book to end. I was hooked immediately but just check out the brilliance of this writing:
“But I didn't understand that.
And nor do you.
And that is called dramatic tension.
Let's leave this chapter here. Significant events deserve emphasis, and very short chapters do that, don't you think?”
I devoured this book. And I also kept putting it down just to draw it out. It was incredibly well written. I laughed so much and cried more than a few times. The footnotes were fantastic. The love story was *chef’s kiss* amazing. The librarian Mrs. C was such a badass. Beth and Dan!! I loved Rob so much. I love Jamie’s mom and Keith was an unexpected surprise. Jamie had such good people in his life.
I loved loved loved how this story was told and the parallels to today are so well done. One of the footnotes says “ignorance is bliss, kids!” Because Jamie says in 30-40 years things will be better and gives examples. It’s so sad that Rob was right.
THAT ENDING THOUGH!!! I was living for the moment Jamie exposed Rob’s dad. The prom!! Shockingly, I cried. What a fantastic book.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
emotional
hopeful
Books like this make me really wish i could string 2 coherent thoughts together and write a proper review. However since all i am currently capable of doing is crying all i can offer is this:
READ THIS BOOK!!!!
It is SO fantastic. Jamie is such a lovable and charming narrator. It is SO funny and nostalgic (i had to put it down to actually cackle like 5 times). I felt all the emotions so intensely!!
Being based on a true story the discussions of section 28 (just the entire content actually) feel INCREDIBLY important, especially in the current political climate and the continuous banning of queer books in schools in the states.
I really am useless at putting my thoughts down on paper but the fact that i am trying i think speaks louder than anything i can actually manage to write. A SUPER strong contender for my favourite book of the year. Seriously just read it!!
READ THIS BOOK!!!!
It is SO fantastic. Jamie is such a lovable and charming narrator. It is SO funny and nostalgic (i had to put it down to actually cackle like 5 times). I felt all the emotions so intensely!!
Being based on a true story the discussions of section 28 (just the entire content actually) feel INCREDIBLY important, especially in the current political climate and the continuous banning of queer books in schools in the states.
I really am useless at putting my thoughts down on paper but the fact that i am trying i think speaks louder than anything i can actually manage to write. A SUPER strong contender for my favourite book of the year. Seriously just read it!!
Constantly witty, narratorily fresh: Section 28 'comedy' that enlightens, entertains and upsets.
Set at the time I was myself just about a teen in secondary school, this made me think back to lessons/conversations to see if I could remember how this all 'felt' - and I feel ashamed to say I can't recall ever feeling this world, these issues, were part of my sphere. Which makes me all the more glad I've seen inside Jamie's experiences.
One of the funniest narrators I've come across, Jamie constantly talks and jokes directly with his readers, planning future movies of his writing, having me laugh quite regularly. It was a riot of a book to read in that sense.
Of course the subject matter became quite serious and dark quite quickly, though not constantly - Jamie is of an age in the 90s when he hasn't realised his own sexuality, he's trying to find respect at school by organising a prom, he's working hard for his future.
But when his librarian hands him an externally innocuous book about nature that actually houses a (shock horror) book about two teenage boys experiencing the highs and lows of a same-sex relationship, his eyes are immediately opened to possibilities and his own internal, repressed feelings. And when he notices that someone else has written notes in the book, showing similar emotions... well, who wouldn't write back...?
Librarians of course ROCK. It's a life-changer of a position to be in, and Jamie's world is changed forever by this first act that leads to so many more, and opens the readers' eyes as well to the bigots, the open-minded, the young optimistic opinions that were all fighting for space in the time of Section 28 and the inability of schools to 'promote' or discuss homosexuality.
Enlightening now, with the hindsight of so much speedy social change. Some very potent moments of violence, love, bigotry and hate, it's not an easy book at times, but it gets its points across effectively and with so much joy, laughter and empathy.
For ages 14+.
Set at the time I was myself just about a teen in secondary school, this made me think back to lessons/conversations to see if I could remember how this all 'felt' - and I feel ashamed to say I can't recall ever feeling this world, these issues, were part of my sphere. Which makes me all the more glad I've seen inside Jamie's experiences.
One of the funniest narrators I've come across, Jamie constantly talks and jokes directly with his readers, planning future movies of his writing, having me laugh quite regularly. It was a riot of a book to read in that sense.
Of course the subject matter became quite serious and dark quite quickly, though not constantly - Jamie is of an age in the 90s when he hasn't realised his own sexuality, he's trying to find respect at school by organising a prom, he's working hard for his future.
But when his librarian hands him an externally innocuous book about nature that actually houses a (shock horror) book about two teenage boys experiencing the highs and lows of a same-sex relationship, his eyes are immediately opened to possibilities and his own internal, repressed feelings. And when he notices that someone else has written notes in the book, showing similar emotions... well, who wouldn't write back...?
Librarians of course ROCK. It's a life-changer of a position to be in, and Jamie's world is changed forever by this first act that leads to so many more, and opens the readers' eyes as well to the bigots, the open-minded, the young optimistic opinions that were all fighting for space in the time of Section 28 and the inability of schools to 'promote' or discuss homosexuality.
Enlightening now, with the hindsight of so much speedy social change. Some very potent moments of violence, love, bigotry and hate, it's not an easy book at times, but it gets its points across effectively and with so much joy, laughter and empathy.
For ages 14+.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Hate crime, Homophobia, Physical abuse, Lesbophobia, Outing
Minor: Sexual content