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harpies's review against another edition
Can't believe I had to read about a rainbow bondage bear with my own two eyes.
ipushbooks's review against another edition
emotional
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? It's complicated
3.5
carolined314's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
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? No
4.5
A high school transfer provides a supportive queer nook for a young person to find themself. Mostly light, although home life is challenging and unsupportive and there is one brief, racist sexual assault.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Sexual assault
Minor: Transphobia
noahsingh's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Dysphoria
caseythecanadianlesbrarian's review against another edition
4.0
Another hi-lo #YA novel, this one #OwnVoices and set in Toronto, about a trans feminine teen who is going to a new arts high school, one where there are tons of other LGBTQ+ kids. They start off identifying as gay, then move to using they/them pronouns, then to using the name Veronica. (Another great story about a queer youth moving from one identity to another! It's especially nice to see representation for a trans feminine / assigned male at birth character who's exploring a possible non-binary identity. )
They are accepted into a ragtag group of queer kids, who are fierce and adorable as teens who've come out in the Internet age with a plethora of possible identities open to them (one is a bi trans guy and another is asexual and homorantic; another as "local mixed-race, fat, crazy, queer girl"). I felt such affection for these sweet queer teens who are passionate about social justice, supporting each other, and performing arts.
While the characters representing oppression were done a bit heavy-handedly (the music teacher and the main character's dad), I didn't mind much as they didn't take up a ton of narrative space. I was so taken with Veronica and their friends, as well as a super cute romance with Veronica's fellow Asian comic book nerd friend Kyle.
I really appreciated how the book took racism in the gay community to task. It also mentioned quite a few awesome queer creators like Mariko Tamaki and real queer and youth organizations in Toronto. Such a cool introduction for queer teen readers in Toronto and beyond!
My favourite quote from Veronica:
"Kyle breaks the silence. 'So in a battle between Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, who do you think would win?'
'Neither. They'd team up and take down whoever pitted them against each other. Then Captain Marvel would ask out Wonder Woman.'"
Haha, best answer ever!
FYI, the current description on Goodreads is not the one on the back of the book, which does NOT use he pronouns.
They are accepted into a ragtag group of queer kids, who are fierce and adorable as teens who've come out in the Internet age with a plethora of possible identities open to them (one is a bi trans guy and another is asexual and homorantic; another as "local mixed-race, fat, crazy, queer girl"). I felt such affection for these sweet queer teens who are passionate about social justice, supporting each other, and performing arts.
While the characters representing oppression were done a bit heavy-handedly (the music teacher and the main character's dad), I didn't mind much as they didn't take up a ton of narrative space. I was so taken with Veronica and their friends, as well as a super cute romance with Veronica's fellow Asian comic book nerd friend Kyle.
I really appreciated how the book took racism in the gay community to task. It also mentioned quite a few awesome queer creators like Mariko Tamaki and real queer and youth organizations in Toronto. Such a cool introduction for queer teen readers in Toronto and beyond!
My favourite quote from Veronica:
"Kyle breaks the silence. 'So in a battle between Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel, who do you think would win?'
'Neither. They'd team up and take down whoever pitted them against each other. Then Captain Marvel would ask out Wonder Woman.'"
Haha, best answer ever!
FYI, the current description on Goodreads is not the one on the back of the book, which does NOT use he pronouns.
michaelion's review against another edition
hopeful
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
It's been 3 years now since I've been a teen so I don't know what teens like anymore but this story came off really kiddish; except for when they talked about more adult things, then it felt weird and out of place. I remember talking about sex and kink and stuff before I was even in high school, but the rest of the tone of the book made me feel this story was written for kids around ages 9 to 13. It was in the teen section of my library, so that makes sense, but this book feels very pre-teen and not young adult.
Too many pop culture references. I had to google when Agents of Shield went off the air, which was surprisingly in 2020?! So that was interesting. Also referenced Glee twice. I should remove a star for that... I won't! But I should!!! Now, Riverdale on the other hand...
Too many pop culture references. I had to google when Agents of Shield went off the air, which was surprisingly in 2020?! So that was interesting. Also referenced Glee twice. I should remove a star for that... I won't! But I should!!! Now, Riverdale on the other hand...
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism and Xenophobia
Minor: Fatphobia, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Ableism, and Transphobia
sapphicshelf's review against another edition
Can't believe I had to read about a rainbow bondage bear with my own two eyes.
therainbowshelf's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I enjoyed this book and recommend giving it a read despite my low rating. It was a fun read and I never disliked it. The characters were sweet, and the book was very much a feel-good story. It captured the feeling of being an LGBTQ teen and being welcomed into your first LGBTQ+ friend group and safe space. The cast was delightfully representative, with trans characters, nonbinary characters, characters with diverse sexualities, Asian American and black characters, and autistic characters. I hope to see more work from this author in the future!
I have this book a low rating for a few reasons (and I should note that I don't always enjoy general fiction, and absolutely hated YA general fiction when I was a teenager, so some of these things might not bother someone who enjoys this genre): The characters felt underdeveloped. The way characters talked about LGBTQ+ issues established an expectation that everyone is familiar with LGBTQ+ terms and experiences, which may feel alienating for anyone (LGBTQ+ and others) not familiar with it. The conversations often felt awkward and forced. The main character's identity exploration seemed to go from resistant to transitioned way too quickly for the complex feelings that had been established early on. The fight in the music room and the outcome of the fight felt really contrived to me. The obsession the main character had over a crush made the sudden developments at the end of the book feel forced and super weird. Everyone's reactions to the casting of the play felt super weird, and nothing wound up happening with the play, so the whole situation felt like it had a lot of potential and fizzled.
I have this book a low rating for a few reasons (and I should note that I don't always enjoy general fiction, and absolutely hated YA general fiction when I was a teenager, so some of these things might not bother someone who enjoys this genre): The characters felt underdeveloped. The way characters talked about LGBTQ+ issues established an expectation that everyone is familiar with LGBTQ+ terms and experiences, which may feel alienating for anyone (LGBTQ+ and others) not familiar with it. The conversations often felt awkward and forced. The main character's identity exploration seemed to go from resistant to transitioned way too quickly for the complex feelings that had been established early on. The fight in the music room and the outcome of the fight felt really contrived to me. The obsession the main character had over a crush made the sudden developments at the end of the book feel forced and super weird. Everyone's reactions to the casting of the play felt super weird, and nothing wound up happening with the play, so the whole situation felt like it had a lot of potential and fizzled.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Religious bigotry, and Transphobia
Moderate: Body shaming, Ableism, and Sexism
Minor: Fatphobia
misssleepless's review against another edition
hopeful
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
4.0
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