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4.53 AVERAGE
4.53 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This book will shatter your heart and heal something it you didn't know was broken.
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
tense
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: Hate crime, Homophobia, Violence
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
A stunning, heartbreaking, sweet and powerful story!
I'm a big fan of Simon James Green, I love the humour in his books, the absurdity, the teenage angst, the storytelling, the side-characters. All of them are unique despite sharing some common traits.
Boy Like Me is even more unique, it is heavier, this is an "origin story" of sorts, since it's inspired by real events in Simon's teenage years. It's writing style reflects this from the get-go, using script segments, footnotes, breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the reader.
A brave librarian ignores the homophobic and harmful "Section 28", a law which during the 90s in the UK banned LGBT material from schools, and hands over a disguised book with gay protagonists to Jamie. Jamie is questioning himself but is far from accepting himself, much more coming out.
He finds notes in the book written by another boy who had borrowed it from the library, and they start talking via messages written in the book. Jamie's world changes, as he discovers himself and gets to meet his mysterious pen-pal, who turns out to be so much more...
Boy Like Me is a brutal reminder of how horrible some aspects of the world were during the 90s (an era that is often romanticized in the media). There is homophobia, violence, bullying, teacher misconduct, abusive parents...it is not as easy a read as you would be used to from Simon's bibliography.
It's so powerful: despite all the hardships, the bigots don't get to win. Love beats bigotry, small step by small step, and every tiny action creates a domino, like the action of the school librarian in this story. And the dark aspects of the past should never be forgotten, because some kids suffered a lot until we reached the (not perfect but significantlly better than 30 years ago) current environment for LGBT teens.
This is a book that needs to be in all school libraries, promoted by every teacher who cares about the teens they teach, and read by every young adult who can get their hands on it.
Simon blended his comedic, cheerful and hopeful writing skill with his own experiences, and produced a masterpiece of a story, which punches you in the gut and makes you shed tears of joy.
I'm a big fan of Simon James Green, I love the humour in his books, the absurdity, the teenage angst, the storytelling, the side-characters. All of them are unique despite sharing some common traits.
Boy Like Me is even more unique, it is heavier, this is an "origin story" of sorts, since it's inspired by real events in Simon's teenage years. It's writing style reflects this from the get-go, using script segments, footnotes, breaking the fourth wall and interacting with the reader.
A brave librarian ignores the homophobic and harmful "Section 28", a law which during the 90s in the UK banned LGBT material from schools, and hands over a disguised book with gay protagonists to Jamie. Jamie is questioning himself but is far from accepting himself, much more coming out.
He finds notes in the book written by another boy who had borrowed it from the library, and they start talking via messages written in the book. Jamie's world changes, as he discovers himself and gets to meet his mysterious pen-pal, who turns out to be so much more...
Boy Like Me is a brutal reminder of how horrible some aspects of the world were during the 90s (an era that is often romanticized in the media). There is homophobia, violence, bullying, teacher misconduct, abusive parents...it is not as easy a read as you would be used to from Simon's bibliography.
It's so powerful: despite all the hardships, the bigots don't get to win. Love beats bigotry, small step by small step, and every tiny action creates a domino, like the action of the school librarian in this story. And the dark aspects of the past should never be forgotten, because some kids suffered a lot until we reached the (not perfect but significantlly better than 30 years ago) current environment for LGBT teens.
This is a book that needs to be in all school libraries, promoted by every teacher who cares about the teens they teach, and read by every young adult who can get their hands on it.
Simon blended his comedic, cheerful and hopeful writing skill with his own experiences, and produced a masterpiece of a story, which punches you in the gut and makes you shed tears of joy.
Beautiful YA story about being a gay teen under the UK's Section 28 laws. Great read for teens who are loving Heartstopper/Young Royals and want to learn a bit more
emotional
funny
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Growing up gay under the shadow of Section 28, this novel resonated with me in such a way that I couldn’t put it down. Simon James Green perfectly captures the experience of someone growing up gay in the 90s - both the fear of being discovered and the utter joy at finding out you’re not alone.
While the novel is largely a piece of historical fiction, it was (in part) inspired by the Southwark Diocese’s decision to ban the author from visiting schools in the area. At a time when the LGBT+ community are once again under attack (particularly younger LGBT+ people), Green’s prose deftly weaves together the history of Section 28 and modern themes and trends (the banning of LGBT+ books and the ostracising of LGBT people).
Filled with his trademark humour, believable characters and a determination not to sugar coat or talk down to younger readers, ‘Boy Like Me’ is not just essential reading for YA LGBT+ readers but essential reading for anyone who had ever felt different.
While the novel is largely a piece of historical fiction, it was (in part) inspired by the Southwark Diocese’s decision to ban the author from visiting schools in the area. At a time when the LGBT+ community are once again under attack (particularly younger LGBT+ people), Green’s prose deftly weaves together the history of Section 28 and modern themes and trends (the banning of LGBT+ books and the ostracising of LGBT people).
Filled with his trademark humour, believable characters and a determination not to sugar coat or talk down to younger readers, ‘Boy Like Me’ is not just essential reading for YA LGBT+ readers but essential reading for anyone who had ever felt different.
challenging
funny
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Upon hearing Simon James Green writing about Section 28, I was excited, yet scared. I wasn’t used to SJG’s writing style without there being a lot of comedy involved, and I am so glad it’s still present in this book and it shines through with something so damaging and heartbreaking. I loved the breaking of the fourth wall despite it taking some time to get used to, and still found myself laughing out loud like most SJG novels. It is an important topic which has come up again very recently in school libraries in America and it’s a shame Rob was right and history does never learn. There has been a lot of progress but also a few steps back too. A brilliant book that should be featured in all school libraries across the UK (and hopefully America).
