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choicepotatoes_20240331's review against another edition
emotional
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
5.0
this is one of those books that makes me nostalgic for a life i never had. i mean, what would it have been like to have known myself at such a young age? what would it have been like to have come across adults, like lawrence, who *saw* me and made me aware, in both subtle and overt ways, that being the person i have turned out to be is 112% okay?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Sexual assault and War
astrangewind's review
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I am speechless. A Million Quiet Revolutions is the book I wish I'd had as a teenager, or when I wasn't sure if I was trans, or when I felt alone because no one understood or saw me as a man.
I thought that the "verse" aspect of the novel would be awkward, but it's not. The poetry is far from complicated or intense; it serves to move the plot forward gently. Robin's imagery has always been soft and real, and the imagery in this book is no exception.
The characters felt real to me. I saw myself in them, being unsure and confused and scared, and loving each other all the same.
We need more stories like this, of trans people being in love, where no one dies and everything is looking up at the end. Queer people deserve stories like this. I think every queer person should read this book.
I thought that the "verse" aspect of the novel would be awkward, but it's not. The poetry is far from complicated or intense; it serves to move the plot forward gently. Robin's imagery has always been soft and real, and the imagery in this book is no exception.
The characters felt real to me. I saw myself in them, being unsure and confused and scared, and loving each other all the same.
We need more stories like this, of trans people being in love, where no one dies and everything is looking up at the end. Queer people deserve stories like this. I think every queer person should read this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War
Minor: Sexual violence, Sexual content, Transphobia, Outing, and Deadnaming
exra's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
4.5
These two put into words things that have been on my mind for a long time. I am grateful that this story exists.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia, Homophobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Outing and War
sarahsbookstacks's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
“We’ve been erased from so much history. Someone needs to write us back in.”
This book was spectacular.
This book was spectacular.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Minor: War
abitbetterbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexual assault, Deadnaming, and Transphobia
Minor: Pedophilia, Dysphoria, and War
ang_mendoza's review
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia, Death, and Homophobia
Minor: Dysphoria, Antisemitism, War, Deadnaming, and Sexual assault
moonyreadsbystarlight's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This speaks beautifully about trans love and the importance of being able to see yourself in history.
Told through poems, this YA romance focuses on two teens, Aaron and Oliver, who are long time best friends and secretly dating. Both are coming to understand their trans identities and by digging further into Revolutionary War history, may have found trans soldiers who had fallen in love. They are thrown for another loop when Aaron moves away, and they decide to exchange letters instead of texts in honor of their revolutionary namesakes.
This is about first love, growing up, and contending with identity and history. I was a little concerned that this might dip into the ahistorical patriotic fevor that so often surrounds the founding of this country, but I was pleasantly suprised that there was some nuance and discussion about some of the issues (particularly through the Puerto Rican MC, Aaron).
There were some small parts that I could, perhaps, critique but over all, I really loved this. The descriptions of the love and tenderness in this story absolutely made me cry in the best way. And there were so many details about transness (some of which were different for each character) that I think were well done and important.
Told through poems, this YA romance focuses on two teens, Aaron and Oliver, who are long time best friends and secretly dating. Both are coming to understand their trans identities and by digging further into Revolutionary War history, may have found trans soldiers who had fallen in love. They are thrown for another loop when Aaron moves away, and they decide to exchange letters instead of texts in honor of their revolutionary namesakes.
This is about first love, growing up, and contending with identity and history. I was a little concerned that this might dip into the ahistorical patriotic fevor that so often surrounds the founding of this country, but I was pleasantly suprised that there was some nuance and discussion about some of the issues (particularly through the Puerto Rican MC, Aaron).
There were some small parts that I could, perhaps, critique but over all, I really loved this. The descriptions of the love and tenderness in this story absolutely made me cry in the best way. And there were so many details about transness (some of which were different for each character) that I think were well done and important.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria, Sexual content, Sexual assault, and War
elwirax's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Rep- trans, queer and hispanic MC, trans queer and Jewish MC, mentions of non-binary character, mention of lesbian couple, Black side character.
"I see your old name like a moth, dusty-winged and glowing. The name escapes out the open window and into the soupy August night, into forever."
A Million Quiet Revolutions was a great exploration of identity, love and rewriting queer people back into history. It was very touching to see Aaron and Oliver find and accept themselves and I love that this novel ended happily (it is all too often that queer and trans stories end in tragedy). There were many poetic and beautiful lines throughout. While the format didn't always work for me in terms of strong characterisation, it did enough to illustrate authentic characters and struggles. I enjoyed the main themes of identity, family bonds, religious hypocrisy and reclaiming history that worked together to really bring the story to life. There was also a further reading list at the end which I found to be a great addition on where to continue learning about trans and queer history.
There were some questionable choices that didn't really work for me such as having sex in a cemetery and the obsession/ romanticisation of war. Admittedly, the re-enactment weren't really my thing either. I understand the importance and symbolic meanings of these things in the novel and appreciate what was trying to be communicated but the execution wasn't my thing.
Overall, this was undoubtedly an important book particularly for trans and gender non conforming folk who get to see themselves represented. The war plot itself didn't really work for me but the representation and strong themes were great.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Transphobia and Deadnaming
Moderate: Religious bigotry, Sexual assault, and War
Minor: Sexual content
anonymous_traveller's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, War, and Outing
Minor: Rape
Strong TW for: Religious (catholic) abuse by priests and religious content (Christianity and Judaism.)
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