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jarku's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Still trying to calibrate my ratings on the scale of "how did I feel about this book" rather than "should this book exist." It has no competition in constellating my adolescence into fiction. This is probably not useful to anyone else on this social network. Sometimes you just need a novel to remind you that, given any choice of adolescences, the one you'd fantasize about would have still seen you flounder. Unrelatably--for which I should remember to be grateful--Idlewild is also about ruining your whole life instead of allowing yourself to transition .
As far as trans stuff goes, I wouldn't have thought I had much in common with James Frankie Thomas. He has spoken of his moment of revelation coming to him as an "I'm like you," for instance; I had no such role models. But I did write slash and "queer theory" under an online identity meant to convince the one other man in the fandom--a cis gay graduate student--that I was one too. Idlewild showed me that these are kind of the same thing, two flavours of this soul-shredding mess I know innately and have never seen in writing before.
I don't get the sense that Thomas meant to write a YA novel (though I'm sure it would be very appreciated by a young reader with the kind of precocity shared by the characters), but if he were, I'd hold my breath for a sequel about Christopher. Off the cuff, I am immensely disappointed by Theo's flatness (-0.5 stars).
As far as trans stuff goes, I wouldn't have thought I had much in common with James Frankie Thomas. He has spoken of his moment of revelation coming to him as an "I'm like you," for instance; I had no such role models. But I did write slash and "queer theory" under an online identity meant to convince the one other man in the fandom--a cis gay graduate student--that I was one too. Idlewild showed me that these are kind of the same thing, two flavours of this soul-shredding mess I know innately and have never seen in writing before.
I don't get the sense that Thomas meant to write a YA novel (though I'm sure it would be very appreciated by a young reader with the kind of precocity shared by the characters), but if he were, I'd hold my breath for a sequel about Christopher. Off the cuff, I am immensely disappointed by Theo's flatness (-0.5 stars).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, and Racism
Minor: Addiction, Alcoholism, Biphobia, and Mass/school shootings
dystopia's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Lesbophobia, Homophobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Biphobia, Transphobia, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Racism, Fatphobia, and Classism
Minor: War, Suicidal thoughts, Alcoholism, and Pedophilia
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