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readandfindout's review
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Themes: 4.5 stars
Characters: 4 stars
Plot: 3.5 stars
Graphic: Racial slurs and Transphobia
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Bullying, Drug use, Religious bigotry, Abandonment, and Violence
Minor: Child abuse, Lesbophobia, Suicide, and Adult/minor relationship
shaunaxx's review
- 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
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Bullying, Drug use, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, and Religious bigotry
penofpossibilities's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.0
Minor: Alcoholism, Bullying, Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia, and Racial slurs
neglective parentmanon_misheck's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
5.0
•
What a beautiful story. This book weaved together self-discovery, exploration of sexuality, gender, and race, the experience of growing up, family, and friends. Coming out is different for every person, and it was a joy to follow Michael's discovery of what life can be like when you are truly able to be yourself. The author narrated the audiobook, and it was fantastic - I couldn't stop listening!
Graphic: Homophobia, Racial slurs, Racism, Bullying, Drug use, Domestic abuse, Sexism, and Sexual content
CW: consumption of alcohol and drugs by minors, bullying, homophobia, internalized homophobia, homophobic slurs, physical assault, domestic abuse, internalized racism, racial microaggressions, racial slurs, toxic masculinity, sexism, coming out themes, dubious consent, parental abandonment, poverty themeshalf_bloodreader's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Coming-of-age verse novel about identity, race, sexuality, drag. Ownvoices.
This deals with important subjects, it's a worthwhile read just for the learning experience, the perspective of someone who is mixed-raced never feeling like they're enough in their identity, their heritage. But worse is others from that community not thinking you're enough: “But you’re not black, you’re mixed,” says Nana. “No offense, Mike, but you said you’re Jamaican and Greek.” “Greek Cypriot,” I calmly correct her. “What I mean is: I heard there’s a Greek Society here. You could go there, too.”
Well Nana, you can put your opinion where the sun doesn't shine. Identity is not the same as making coffee. You don't measure half milk, half coffee, 3 sugars at XX degrees when it comes to a person.
What doesn't make it 5 stars for me, is something I, as a non ownvoices reader can judge which is the writing. Some poems were lacking, as were some parts of the novel itself. They lacked polishing imo.
Another thing I was disappointed by, is that there wasn't that much drag, although that was a key part of the novel's marketing. I was really looking forward to it.
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Homophobia
Minor: Drug use
sophieduncan's review against another edition
- 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
Graphic: Homophobia and Bullying
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, Misogyny, and Bullying
librariesoflindsey's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Homophobia, Religious bigotry, Sexism, Transphobia, Xenophobia, Racial slurs, and Racism
Moderate: Violence and Toxic relationship
Minor: Hate crime and Police brutality