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akaspiderlily's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
The most brilliant testimony and love letter to unsung black women and black queer folk I have ever read to date. I found myself in the chorus that crafts this story with the author, my history in its texts, my life in-the small corridors and poor dwellings- the loud, wayward habits of rebellious girls - the collective recounting of unmitigated assaults that have been distributed on our bodies and our identities. I loved it thoroughly, appreciated it even moreso.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Rape, Gun violence, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Grief, Murder, Sexism, Misogyny, Homophobia, Torture, Sexual violence, Racial slurs, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, Sexual content, Incest, Hate crime, Abandonment, Addiction, Sexual assault, Drug abuse, Medical trauma, and Lesbophobia
woodslesbian's review
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
This is an absolutely beautifully written, emotionally moving, thoroughly researched history book examining the lives of young black people migrating to the cities in the early 1900s. This text both sheds light on a group of people often forgotten by history and weaves a deeply compelling, intimate narrative about their lives and experiences. The text pays special attention to the way that desire and methods of intimacy that were often condemned at the time--common law marriages, young women's sexual needs, same-sex relationships, etc. were not just beautiful and captivating, but were a necessary tool for pushing back against a racist and classist society that placed rigid expectations on these young people. While told in a largely narrative style and inventing dialogue without direct records to achieve this goal, Wayward Lives indicated direct quotes with italics and has an extensive sources section as well. This was an incredibly valuable read that I very much recommend!