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yiddish_anarchist's review
5.0
Memorable
My partner and I both read this book at nearly the same time, unbeknownst each other.
A great compilation of queer short stories that I can't wait to share with friends.
My partner and I both read this book at nearly the same time, unbeknownst each other.
A great compilation of queer short stories that I can't wait to share with friends.
jackiehorne's review against another edition
3.0
4.0 for Levithan and Maguire, the best works in the collection. The collection didn't seem to be particularly about identity, or particularly directed to a YA audience...
Interesting to read this right after having re-read Forster's MAURICE, to see how far society has come in thinking about homosexuality...
Interesting to read this right after having re-read Forster's MAURICE, to see how far society has come in thinking about homosexuality...
esmewasreading's review against another edition
2.0
Unfortunately there were more misses than wins for me ðŸ«
justlily's review against another edition
5.0
The very first story here is a punch in the gut for anyone of the LGBTQ community and it had me head over heels for this book from the start. I could take or leave some of the stories but overall, this was incredible. And the forward is right. For a long time, teens couldn't find books about people like them. I know I couldn't find YA books about bi girls while I was struggling through high school as a bi girl. It's so commonplace now that I think we forget how special it is. This collection is an excellent reminder.
jadziadax's review against another edition
3.0
I desperately wanted to love this, as pansexual girl. And I did love some of the stories! Actually, most were really, really good. I especially loved 'Trev'.
The reason it's getting a 2 star rating is because of the story "A Dark Red Love Knot" by Margo Lanagan.".
(trigger warning for rape, abuse, and spoilers forthcoming)
In it, the MC has very clearly, in my eyes, been raped, yet he longs for the solider that did it, referring to him as 'my darling'. Trauma can result in these thoughts, yes. But the author did not make it clear enough, explicitly that it was rape and it was bad and horrible. I could compare this to the story 'Fingernail' where the narrator is not raped, but abused, and the story makes it clear it was abused and the narrator realizes this.
One review, by Barbara L. Talcroft, says that "Some teens will find themselves reflected in the stories; others will construct what meanings they can. It might be well to make clear to young readers that just as understanding and recognition of diverse sexual identities is desirable; rape, exploitation, and brutal sexual violence can never be tolerated or condoned as ordinary."
There lies my problem; in my opinion, "A Dark Red Knot" did not make that clear to young readers. As someone who is very near twenty and has a good understanding of rape culture, I got that it was rape and I knew it was wrong. I worry that not every reader would pick up on it and might think it was romantic, something to like, like the narrator did.
Maybe I read it wrong, it just felt that way to me. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I do hope I read it wrong and that to others it seemed to making a clear show of the fact it was rape and it was awful.
The reason it's getting a 2 star rating is because of the story "A Dark Red Love Knot" by Margo Lanagan.".
(trigger warning for rape, abuse, and spoilers forthcoming)
In it, the MC has very clearly, in my eyes, been raped, yet he longs for the solider that did it, referring to him as 'my darling'. Trauma can result in these thoughts, yes. But the author did not make it clear enough, explicitly that it was rape and it was bad and horrible. I could compare this to the story 'Fingernail' where the narrator is not raped, but abused, and the story makes it clear it was abused and the narrator realizes this.
One review, by Barbara L. Talcroft, says that "Some teens will find themselves reflected in the stories; others will construct what meanings they can. It might be well to make clear to young readers that just as understanding and recognition of diverse sexual identities is desirable; rape, exploitation, and brutal sexual violence can never be tolerated or condoned as ordinary."
There lies my problem; in my opinion, "A Dark Red Knot" did not make that clear to young readers. As someone who is very near twenty and has a good understanding of rape culture, I got that it was rape and I knew it was wrong. I worry that not every reader would pick up on it and might think it was romantic, something to like, like the narrator did.
Maybe I read it wrong, it just felt that way to me. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts. I do hope I read it wrong and that to others it seemed to making a clear show of the fact it was rape and it was awful.
kelleemoye's review against another edition
3.0
Some stories were 2, some 3 and some 4 stars so I averaged.
mesy_mark's review against another edition
3.0
I remember this book when I was a young teen. I was scared to have it in my possession because I was in the closet. (only to get out of it and then re-enter it ehn I came out as trans.) But now I have read this book, for the most part, enjoyed each story (but the last one was just not in my favorite at all).
In this collection of short stories that are geared towards young adults, I really enjoy the short stories (in no particular order) Fingernail and Trev. I couldn't believe that Julie Anne Peters' short story managed to get past the editing process. Not because it is a bad story but because it is an about sex in a more graphic nature that you wouldn't expect to read in YA.
Overall this book was okay and a nice read.
In this collection of short stories that are geared towards young adults, I really enjoy the short stories (in no particular order) Fingernail and Trev. I couldn't believe that Julie Anne Peters' short story managed to get past the editing process. Not because it is a bad story but because it is an about sex in a more graphic nature that you wouldn't expect to read in YA.
Overall this book was okay and a nice read.
doublen's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't like it at first. Some of the stories were hard to follow and I needed to use wikipedia to get background info on some stories. But the stories that really stuck out at me were the ones that won me over. The last one in particular made me cry so hard.
samsamabrasam's review against another edition
2.0
I was kinda dissapointed by this book. Some of the stories were good but some weren't...
caedocyon's review against another edition
4.0
Like any collection, there were ups and downs, but this one has some very high ups and the downs aren't too low.
David Levithan's and Emma Donoghue's stories made me cry. Jennifer Finney Boylan's was also great. Those are the most memorable, but when I flipped back through I found myself saying "oh yeah, that was good too. And that one was interesting."
Probably my least favorite was a very blah attempt at free verse by Julie Anne Peters, though I like many of her other books.
David Levithan's and Emma Donoghue's stories made me cry. Jennifer Finney Boylan's was also great. Those are the most memorable, but when I flipped back through I found myself saying "oh yeah, that was good too. And that one was interesting."
Probably my least favorite was a very blah attempt at free verse by Julie Anne Peters, though I like many of her other books.