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jowillread's review against another edition
4.0
“I squeezed your hand and looked at your face. It was lit up, not from the rising sun, but from within, and I knew mine must have been too.”
High points.
Questions the restrictions and preconceptions of gender. Brooklyn. Music. Love with no limits. Sunsets. No inhibitions. The dark side of growing up. The complex relationship between kids and parents who could never/refuse to understand. Summer. Basements. Sex. Dealing with loss. Looking to the future. Happy ending…thank god.
Low Points.
When I love a book, I always want it to be longer. I want to spend more time with the characters that I have come to know and love and their friends and experience the world they see…. But, maybe with less junkies.
So I’m stamping my foot and moaning because this book wasn’t long enough.
Also... I want to add another Low Point.
Not for the book… but for me.
Even though the two main characters had no gender, I couldn’t help but assign them one anyway. Throughout the book I kept looking for clues to see if Brezenoff gave anything away (“She must be a girl because boys don’t drink Vodka and Cranberry, do they?” “OK, he must be a boy because they wouldn’t assume a girl set fire to the warehouse, would they?”) But in doing that I realised I was just highlighting my own ridiculous and unfounded preconceptions about gender. (I have a male friend who could drink me under the table with fruit-based drinks… but I guess that wouldn’t take much for I am an absolute lightweight). Why can’t a boy drink vodka and cranberry? Why can’t a girl set fire to a warehouse? Absolutely no reason. After about three chapters I gave up because I realised I didn’t want to know what gender they were. It didn’t matter in the slightest. Gender identities are drummed into us from birth but this book effectively shows us they are futile and restricting. Love is love… it doesn’t need a definition or a label.
Hero, um… no, Heroine… I mean Hero. No, it’s definitely Heroine. Or are they…..a….?
Kid has quickly become one of my favourite narrators in any book. They have such a positive outlook on life and they remain hopeful, no matter how much crap is thrown at them. I don’t want to say anything more for fear I will spoil anything…. But it was a pleasure going on Kid’s journey with them.
Love Interest.
With Kid referring to Scout, who I like to call ‘the enigma’, as only ‘You’ it felt like I was being let in on a glorious and intimate secret, like I was reading a one-sided love letters and I was desperate to see the replies. As I read this book, I couldn’t help but think of those times on the bus where you eavesdrop overhear someone’s conversation and it sounds so fascinating and captivating and for the briefest of moments you feel part of it.
This book is written for just the two of them and that this is just the first chapter.
Theme Tune
Girl and Boy Song - Blur.
It’s pretty self-explanatory.
(Random aside: Look at those tracksuits! I wish it was still the 90s…. and that I didn't Damon Albarn so oddly attractive with his eyeliner and the aforementioned tracksuit.)
Angst Level.
10/10. This book made my blood boil so this section is going to turn into a massive, incoherent rant on behalf of Kid, who isn’t given the chance to speak for themself because they are written off by the people who are supposed to protect them from narrow-minded people as soon as times get hard.
Unfortunately I am not mild-mannered and my soapbox is prepped and ready.
It’s hard enough being a kid. It’s even harder to be a kid growing up with feelings that society has deemed ‘abnormal’ and ‘wrong’. And it’s impossible to grow up knowing your parents hate you because of something that is completely out of your control and one of the things that makes you who you are.
With the exception of Fish and, eventually Kid’s mum, all of the adults in this book were so intolerant and despicable. The police assume the worst, don’t care about the truth and dismiss them as sexual deviants. Konny’s parents didn’t care where she was and what she was doing… as long as it wasn’t under their roof.
And don’t even get me started on Kid’s dad.
This book covers the dark side of growing up in the urban jungle: runaways, teenage prostitutes, drugs, problems with parents, corruption.
But it also covers hope, friendship, understanding, solidarity, and above all, love without restrictions and labels.
Even though it may not seem it from the above rant (I did warn you!), ‘Brooklyn, Burning’ is one of the most positive novels I have ever read and the ending is so beautiful that it washes away all the intolerance and shows that love will conquer all. No matter how hard they try to quash it.
*deep breath*
Recommended For.
Everyone. People who have ever felt at odds with society. People who believe in unconditional love. People who appreciate beautiful, thought-provoking prose. People who don’t mind their preconceptions being challenged and then being unequivocally dashed. People who appreciate the raw urban beauty of the city. People who have always wanted to be in a band, even if they’re pretty sure a drum kit would implode as soon as you looked at it. People who like fruit-based alcholic drinks. People who have always thought that the sunrise is better than the sunset.
I received a copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
You can also read the review for this book and others and a whole lot of other exciting stuff on my blog here.
High points.
Questions the restrictions and preconceptions of gender. Brooklyn. Music. Love with no limits. Sunsets. No inhibitions. The dark side of growing up. The complex relationship between kids and parents who could never/refuse to understand. Summer. Basements. Sex. Dealing with loss. Looking to the future. Happy ending…thank god.
Low Points.
When I love a book, I always want it to be longer. I want to spend more time with the characters that I have come to know and love and their friends and experience the world they see…. But, maybe with less junkies.
So I’m stamping my foot and moaning because this book wasn’t long enough.
Also... I want to add another Low Point.
Not for the book… but for me.
Even though the two main characters had no gender, I couldn’t help but assign them one anyway. Throughout the book I kept looking for clues to see if Brezenoff gave anything away (“She must be a girl because boys don’t drink Vodka and Cranberry, do they?” “OK, he must be a boy because they wouldn’t assume a girl set fire to the warehouse, would they?”) But in doing that I realised I was just highlighting my own ridiculous and unfounded preconceptions about gender. (I have a male friend who could drink me under the table with fruit-based drinks… but I guess that wouldn’t take much for I am an absolute lightweight). Why can’t a boy drink vodka and cranberry? Why can’t a girl set fire to a warehouse? Absolutely no reason. After about three chapters I gave up because I realised I didn’t want to know what gender they were. It didn’t matter in the slightest. Gender identities are drummed into us from birth but this book effectively shows us they are futile and restricting. Love is love… it doesn’t need a definition or a label.
Hero, um… no, Heroine… I mean Hero. No, it’s definitely Heroine. Or are they…..a….?
Kid has quickly become one of my favourite narrators in any book. They have such a positive outlook on life and they remain hopeful, no matter how much crap is thrown at them. I don’t want to say anything more for fear I will spoil anything…. But it was a pleasure going on Kid’s journey with them.
Love Interest.
With Kid referring to Scout, who I like to call ‘the enigma’, as only ‘You’ it felt like I was being let in on a glorious and intimate secret, like I was reading a one-sided love letters and I was desperate to see the replies. As I read this book, I couldn’t help but think of those times on the bus where you eavesdrop overhear someone’s conversation and it sounds so fascinating and captivating and for the briefest of moments you feel part of it.
This book is written for just the two of them and that this is just the first chapter.
Theme Tune
Girl and Boy Song - Blur.
It’s pretty self-explanatory.
(Random aside: Look at those tracksuits! I wish it was still the 90s…. and that I didn't Damon Albarn so oddly attractive with his eyeliner and the aforementioned tracksuit.)
Angst Level.
10/10. This book made my blood boil so this section is going to turn into a massive, incoherent rant on behalf of Kid, who isn’t given the chance to speak for themself because they are written off by the people who are supposed to protect them from narrow-minded people as soon as times get hard.
Unfortunately I am not mild-mannered and my soapbox is prepped and ready.
It’s hard enough being a kid. It’s even harder to be a kid growing up with feelings that society has deemed ‘abnormal’ and ‘wrong’. And it’s impossible to grow up knowing your parents hate you because of something that is completely out of your control and one of the things that makes you who you are.
With the exception of Fish and, eventually Kid’s mum, all of the adults in this book were so intolerant and despicable. The police assume the worst, don’t care about the truth and dismiss them as sexual deviants. Konny’s parents didn’t care where she was and what she was doing… as long as it wasn’t under their roof.
And don’t even get me started on Kid’s dad.
This book covers the dark side of growing up in the urban jungle: runaways, teenage prostitutes, drugs, problems with parents, corruption.
But it also covers hope, friendship, understanding, solidarity, and above all, love without restrictions and labels.
Even though it may not seem it from the above rant (I did warn you!), ‘Brooklyn, Burning’ is one of the most positive novels I have ever read and the ending is so beautiful that it washes away all the intolerance and shows that love will conquer all. No matter how hard they try to quash it.
*deep breath*
Recommended For.
Everyone. People who have ever felt at odds with society. People who believe in unconditional love. People who appreciate beautiful, thought-provoking prose. People who don’t mind their preconceptions being challenged and then being unequivocally dashed. People who appreciate the raw urban beauty of the city. People who have always wanted to be in a band, even if they’re pretty sure a drum kit would implode as soon as you looked at it. People who like fruit-based alcholic drinks. People who have always thought that the sunrise is better than the sunset.
I received a copy from the publishers via Netgalley.
You can also read the review for this book and others and a whole lot of other exciting stuff on my blog here.
breadsips's review against another edition
4.0
A soulful ballad to young love, lost queer lives, musical awakening, and Brooklyn. This is a classic work that reveals, subtly at first, then all at once, how gentrification and its attendant forces (exploitation, exclusion, eviction) impact the lives of immigrants and the homeless.
galaxies's review against another edition
2.0
When I started reading Brooklyn, Burning I was really excited for it, because of the wonderful reviews it has received but at the same time I tried to keep my expectations low. With hype you always have to expect something not to live up to it.
Brooklyn, Burning didn't live up to my expectations. It is not a bad book. The writing is alright and I can appreciate how the Brezenoff never slipped in not revealing the gender of the main character. At the same time I found not knowing very frustrating and it makes it very hard to write a review and talk about Kid.
I couldn't connect with Kid which may be due to the writing style. Not my cup of tea. Kid's expectations on Fish's help struck me as odd that Kid would expect her to put herself on the line for a person she doesn't really know. And then Kid really gets her in trouble. I understand that Kid had a troubled life and still continues to do so but that doesn't make it any more okay and was one of the main reasons why I didn't like Kid.
The story centers around music and while I can appreciate music I've never felt a deep connection with it and all the main characters have a deep love for music. Which is why I found it even harder to connect with the book.
If you are a lover of music and don't mind the ambiguity of the main character then this book might be for you.
Disclaimer: An ARC has been provided by Netgalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.
Brooklyn, Burning didn't live up to my expectations. It is not a bad book. The writing is alright and I can appreciate how the Brezenoff never slipped in not revealing the gender of the main character. At the same time I found not knowing very frustrating and it makes it very hard to write a review and talk about Kid.
I couldn't connect with Kid which may be due to the writing style. Not my cup of tea. Kid's expectations on Fish's help struck me as odd that Kid would expect her to put herself on the line for a person she doesn't really know. And then Kid really gets her in trouble. I understand that Kid had a troubled life and still continues to do so but that doesn't make it any more okay and was one of the main reasons why I didn't like Kid.
The story centers around music and while I can appreciate music I've never felt a deep connection with it and all the main characters have a deep love for music. Which is why I found it even harder to connect with the book.
If you are a lover of music and don't mind the ambiguity of the main character then this book might be for you.
Disclaimer: An ARC has been provided by Netgalley and the publisher for reviewing purposes.
shybookstagramer's review against another edition
4.0
3.5. Took a little bit to get used to the second person narration.
surpriseitstaz's review against another edition
3.0
I’m not sure who this book is for. It’s touted as a YA novel, but the themes are extremely dark and the whole book is sad and depressing. I appreciate and respect the representation and the important message of how LGBT+ youths often experience houselessness due to unsupportive families, and also...can we please have some happier queer stories?? I’m searching for positive (or at least not a complete bummer) YA stories about non-binary/trans characters for a teenager and it’s so hard to find.
neurodivengeance's review against another edition
2.0
Ehhhh. This was fine but I didn't connect with any of the characters at all. Even when the issues overlapped with stuff I've experienced - abusive parent, homelessness, addiction, doomed love - I couldn't find it in myself to care. That's really rare - I have BPD for christ's sake. I have to conclude that this means the character development was lacking. They all felt flat to me - everyone seemed to basically have one character trait (except for Felix, who had an addiction instead of a character trait). Like, the book was fine, I finished it and it was an easy read, but I feel like it didn't give me much of anything. Also, whenever Kid's desire for others' bodies was described, there was always a mention of those bodies being slender - and one of the antagonists was personified as having a 'fat' face (none of the characters we were meant to be rooting for were described as anything other than thin so this felt deliberate). That pissed me right off.
angelina41's review against another edition
3.0
This story didn't really work for me. Too slow through most of the book and hasty wrap-up. I felt no connection to the characters.
randyribay's review against another edition
5.0
Quiet, sad, and beautiful. Excellent use of second person narration.
kmariec13's review against another edition
3.0
Overall, this is a beautifully written book. I feel like there were a few things missing, but the characters were pretty well developed and the writing was just gorgeous.
srousseau's review against another edition
3.0
Kid is on the streets of Brooklyn and the story takes place over the course of two summers. Kid finds friends, fairly safe places to be, and food on a semi-regular basis. A warehouse fire gets the police involved which pushes the story to a conclusion. This gives Kid a chance to work things out in his/her head, and with his/her parents. Through the course of the book you learn a lot about Kid, but not gender. You get the story through what is happening and remembrances of the last summer.
I had trouble connecting with any of the characters, but it was well written. The flashbacks could have been very confusing, but they were well done. The lack of gender in some of the characters is done very subtly so you don't realize that you aren't being given this information. Overall a good book.
I had trouble connecting with any of the characters, but it was well written. The flashbacks could have been very confusing, but they were well done. The lack of gender in some of the characters is done very subtly so you don't realize that you aren't being given this information. Overall a good book.