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melodyseestrees's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
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? It's complicated
4.75
This is a very sweet, almost cozy, read. It does kind of romanticize war though. It does show two different trans journeys- one extremely accepting family and one accepting but not talking about it family. There is an incident with a religious figure, one character's brother was assaulted by a priest and his reporting this uncovers a huge ring of sexual assault, and some character reactions around this event were really irritating. "How come they believe you but not me," when the one being believed is a victim of a crime. I wish we had seen more of the LGBTQ+ people at the one school. Aside from our two main characters and the mentions of that group there really isn't any notable queer characters outside of the WLW couple at the reenactment .
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Dysphoria, and War
Minor: Sexual content, Antisemitism, and War
melodys_library's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
4.0
I don’t know what took me so long to finish this. It’s a book in verse, so it should have been quick. I got distracted by library holds and due dates again.
I really liked this line in the book: “I wish everyone was allowed more room to be unsure.”
I really liked this line in the book: “I wish everyone was allowed more room to be unsure.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Pedophilia and Sexual assault
Minor: Sexual content
antijeffbozo_love2read's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming
Moderate: Sexual content, Transphobia, Violence, and War
Minor: Child abuse and Sexual assault
bookishmillennial's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews, I feel like a peasant and don’t like leaving them and most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book. I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not. Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial
I adore Robin Gow !!! This is only about ~120 pages but it was full of teenage angst, introspection, and discovery. Two teenage boys start their journey of figuring out their trans identities, and they come across two soldiers, who are named Oliver & Aaron, so they adopt those names! Aaron moves away so they navigate being long-distance on top of so much identity searching.
Robin actually grew up in Kutztown, the town where Oliver & Aaron's story begins, which I thought was so neat. Robin was inspired by the fact that women dressed as men to be soldiers to be part of the Revolution, and that many of them went on to live as men after the war. Robin wants to remind us that trans and genderqueer or nonbinary folks have always existed in history, but it was just up to whomever was telling the stories and documenting this afterward (which we know of course has been predominantly cishet white men). They also provide a great further reading list at the very end, on trans*, gender-nonconforming, and the two-spirit people's history.
I adore Robin Gow !!! This is only about ~120 pages but it was full of teenage angst, introspection, and discovery. Two teenage boys start their journey of figuring out their trans identities, and they come across two soldiers, who are named Oliver & Aaron, so they adopt those names! Aaron moves away so they navigate being long-distance on top of so much identity searching.
Robin actually grew up in Kutztown, the town where Oliver & Aaron's story begins, which I thought was so neat. Robin was inspired by the fact that women dressed as men to be soldiers to be part of the Revolution, and that many of them went on to live as men after the war. Robin wants to remind us that trans and genderqueer or nonbinary folks have always existed in history, but it was just up to whomever was telling the stories and documenting this afterward (which we know of course has been predominantly cishet white men). They also provide a great further reading list at the very end, on trans*, gender-nonconforming, and the two-spirit people's history.
"Really, I just thought the group
might make me feel even more weird and lonely
and like I didn't belong anywhere.
It was totally not any of those things
which was fucking refreshing. I didn't know
queer groups like Spectrum existed.
I've learned so freaking much from my friends,
and I'm not the only Latino for once!
I know it sounds selfish
but I don't think it really is selfish
to want to feel
like a family
It makes me think about
how much more I would like history class
if we talked more about queer people
and people of color
and people with disabilities
and people with different religious backgrounds
instead of just teaching about them
as side facts in a white guy's history.
What would a class about
the Revolution look like
thinking about those groups?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Dysphoria
Minor: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Antisemitism, and Religious bigotry
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: Deadnaming, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Transphobia, and Outing
averyprettyboy's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-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? No
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Deadnaming, Homophobia, and Transphobia
Moderate: Sexual assault, Religious bigotry, and Dysphoria
Minor: Pedophilia, Sexual content, and Antisemitism
pixeluce's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Transphobia
Minor: Sexual content
caseythereader's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Thanks to FSG Young Readers for the free copy of this book.
- My official review of A MILLION QUIET REVOLUTIONS is as follows: 😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️
- Seriously, this book is so good. It’s heartbreaking but also hopeful. I wanted to hug Aaron and Oliver so tightly.
- I love how this book talks about how queer people and people of color have been simply wiped from so much of our history, and how empowering it can be to find yourself in the past, or to write yourself into history.
- My official review of A MILLION QUIET REVOLUTIONS is as follows: 😭❤️😭❤️😭❤️
- Seriously, this book is so good. It’s heartbreaking but also hopeful. I wanted to hug Aaron and Oliver so tightly.
- I love how this book talks about how queer people and people of color have been simply wiped from so much of our history, and how empowering it can be to find yourself in the past, or to write yourself into history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Deadnaming, Sexual content, Transphobia, and Dysphoria
Moderate: 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, Transphobia, and Religious bigotry
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Dysphoria, and War
kelsreadsthings's review
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.75
i literally loved this book so much...i wish it was longer bc the ending felt slightly rushed but did i tear up? absolutely. i feel like i need to own and annotate this book. it's so beautifully written. i will be picking up whatever robin gow writes next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content and Transphobia