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4.13 AVERAGE
4.13 AVERAGE
SPOILER FREE REVIEW
big thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this one
This book made me incredibly happy. People have asked me before what is a book that makes me very happy and I never really knew what to answer. Now I do. This might be one of the cutest, most touching and most important stories about the LGBTQIA+ community I have read. The fact it is destined -at first- to younger readers makes it even more incredible because everything falls into place and the messages and meanings behind the story are simply stunning. Acceptance, pride and understanding when you still don't know what is happening in the world. This, right here, might be one of the reasons this book sounds so happy to me: the protagonist is twelve years old, and he has never been introduced to our amazing community before. And he discovers it in the best way possible: the London Pride.
Let's talk about this Pride. This is the happiest day of the year for so many people, some even call it gay Christmas, and I have never - ever - read such an amazing and right depiction of what pride is. The whole second part of the story takes place in this Pride, with some incredible characters. And even if the protagonist is facing some issues, the Pride is still the happiest place ever. Reading those lines, I was there, I was surrounded by those queer and joyful people, I felt so loved and so supported. I felt a bit of what it feels like to march in a Pride like this one. This was perfection, really. Not only the way the Pride is described but also the people our characters are going to meet. All are beautifully different and unique and, once again, let's remind you that Archie (the protagonist) is a kid. And reading about a soon-to-be teenager being introduced to such beauty and acceptance and positivity was an incredible adventure. All I want to do is to start the book all over again, just to feel a little bit of the London Pride once more.
More than just joy, this book also brought me incredible hope for the future generation. Because it isn't only a story about pride and colours and joy, but also about heritage, about how parents can teach their children to be more open-minded, to show them that being gay (or lesbian or bi, or/and aroace and/or trans, non-binary, etc...) is not this big of a deal and does not change a person. The is one of the most important acceptance lessons we can wish to teach the younger generations. And seeing it so beautifully depicted in a children's book? It was out of this world. To me, this is not only a children's book. This is a book I want to put into everybody's hands. Because it is never too late to learn and if a child can do it, so can anyone.>
Please, stop what you are doing and go read this book. Plus, it would be an amazing story to add to your Black History Month TBR and will make you so happy and so proud and so loved you won't want to put it down.
.
.
.
CWs & TWs: Divorce, mention of parents' fights.
Diverse reps: Black MC, black and gay supportive character, gay and black side character, a whole cast of queer characters of colours, drag queens.
big thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for allowing me to read this one
This book made me incredibly happy. People have asked me before what is a book that makes me very happy and I never really knew what to answer. Now I do. This might be one of the cutest, most touching and most important stories about the LGBTQIA+ community I have read. The fact it is destined -at first- to younger readers makes it even more incredible because everything falls into place and the messages and meanings behind the story are simply stunning. Acceptance, pride and understanding when you still don't know what is happening in the world. This, right here, might be one of the reasons this book sounds so happy to me: the protagonist is twelve years old, and he has never been introduced to our amazing community before. And he discovers it in the best way possible: the London Pride.
"'Gay,' I said flatly. 'You can say it. It's not like the bogeyman appears behind you with an axe if you say it three times in the mirror.'"
Let's talk about this Pride. This is the happiest day of the year for so many people, some even call it gay Christmas, and I have never - ever - read such an amazing and right depiction of what pride is. The whole second part of the story takes place in this Pride, with some incredible characters. And even if the protagonist is facing some issues, the Pride is still the happiest place ever. Reading those lines, I was there, I was surrounded by those queer and joyful people, I felt so loved and so supported. I felt a bit of what it feels like to march in a Pride like this one. This was perfection, really. Not only the way the Pride is described but also the people our characters are going to meet. All are beautifully different and unique and, once again, let's remind you that Archie (the protagonist) is a kid. And reading about a soon-to-be teenager being introduced to such beauty and acceptance and positivity was an incredible adventure. All I want to do is to start the book all over again, just to feel a little bit of the London Pride once more.
"'Look, what I'm trying to say is you don't just become a different person when you say you're gay'"
More than just joy, this book also brought me incredible hope for the future generation. Because it isn't only a story about pride and colours and joy, but also about heritage, about how parents can teach their children to be more open-minded, to show them that being gay (or lesbian or bi, or/and aroace and/or trans, non-binary, etc...) is not this big of a deal and does not change a person. The is one of the most important acceptance lessons we can wish to teach the younger generations. And seeing it so beautifully depicted in a children's book? It was out of this world. To me, this is not only a children's book. This is a book I want to put into everybody's hands. Because it is never too late to learn and if a child can do it, so can anyone.>
Please, stop what you are doing and go read this book. Plus, it would be an amazing story to add to your Black History Month TBR and will make you so happy and so proud and so loved you won't want to put it down.
.
.
.
CWs & TWs: Divorce, mention of parents' fights.
Diverse reps: Black MC, black and gay supportive character, gay and black side character, a whole cast of queer characters of colours, drag queens.
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A light YA read, told from the point of view of 12 year old Archie Albright. Focus on Archies dad coming out as Gay, and Archies desperation to maintain his relationship with his dad and to make things less awkward. To do so he enlists the help of his friends Belle and Seb. Lovely story
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really liked rereading this one - it’s a super sweet story about pride and acceptance ❤️
adventurous
emotional
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:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
slow-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:
N/A